Replies

1. 
   ErnieConover | Jan 27, 2006 02:59am | #1

   You have obviously been at the Williamsburg Furniture Conference and have an interest in early furniture. Prior to about 1820 most spindle turnings were done green for a variety of reasons. One was reduction (bringing the wood from log form to something you can work with)and green wood can be sawed and split (a process called riving) to usable turning billets easily. Secondly is ease of working. Green wood turns like butter (the tools still have to be very sharp and to long bevels)which is important if you are using human power--especially your own. All this is to say, turning on a spring pole lathe is a great exercise in learning to sharpen your tools well.

   If your are using a modern power lathe it really does not matter whether you turn wet or dry: however, if you have a source of green maple it will be much cheaper. Also for Windsor Chairs (the theme of this years conference) it is traditional. I really like riving the billets and turning green for you get great ribbons of wood that quickly engulf you. While our forefathers would have used a draw knife to rough size their billets after riving a modern 1-1/2" roughing out gouge negates this need. Just chuck up a riven billet between centers and have at it. You know when your are round when the ribbon coming off your gouge is continuous.

   I am looking forward to next years Williamsburg Furniture Conference. I am planning on doing some spiral turning on the Foundation's great wheel lathe. I have added a photo of some open spiral work

   Regards,
   Ernie Conover