Thread: Dirty Grey Camphor Laurel

Originally Posted by corbs

Don't discount your grey Camphor as unusable. You can still use it to work on your forms and then disguise the colouring with any of the below methods or introduce carving/burning to your process.

Also, don't discount what others will like. I've had pieces that I was going to burn which friends/family/clients have fallen in love with. Just because you don't like it doesn't necessarily mean it's not a keeper


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Very nice stuff corbs, and you've given me some good ideas. What is the white in the second and third pics?

I've got some ubeaut water-based dyes, so I might have a play with some of the grey CL scraps and see if I can find a colour or combo of colours that will disguise it a bit. (I don't usually use dyes and stains, but in this case...)

For this bowl, I considered black paint, rubbed back and coated with a clear finish, but didn't want to cover up the timber to that degree. It might as well be a plastic bowl then.

I could introduce burning into the process, but I don't have a fireplace.

Carving is an idea that I've been toying with too, but not necessarily to cover up the grey in CL.

I didn't make any of those bowls, just posted them as examples of what could be done if you wanted. I'm assuming the white will just be a paint of some sort

Steve befriend your local tree cutter, local Jims gardens services listen for the familiar sounds of chainsaws at work close by.These people now days have to pay at tips to have dumped. Know anyone in the RFS SES they often do loppings etc, local council, etc etc. Put the word out your after FREE wood wish you were closer but then again i maybe able to pass on some to you if neighbour will bring down. She is in Nowra almost weekly for work at a Reception Centre.

Originally Posted by corbs

I didn't make any of those bowls, just posted them as examples of what could be done if you wanted. I'm assuming the white will just be a paint of some sort

Plenty of food for thought. There are obviously many ways to skin this cat. I saw some good examples of burning last night, too, among other things. I just need to learn to let my imagination run a bit.

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Steve befriend your local tree cutter, local Jims gardens services listen for the familiar sounds of chainsaws at work close by.These people now days have to pay at tips to have dumped. Know anyone in the RFS SES they often do loppings etc, local council, etc etc. Put the word out your after FREE wood wish you were closer but then again i maybe able to pass on some to you if neighbour will bring down. She is in Nowra almost weekly for work at a Reception Centre.

Jim's is a good idea. I'll have to try to track them down. There's also another fairly large mob here that do tree lopping, so I'll keep an eye and ear open and see if they can help out. I might need to pay them a few bucks to cut things small enough to carry on the pushbike or in a taxi. Couldn't ask them to do that for nothing.
I haven't turned green wood yet, but I've done enough reading to know what to do re rough turning and drying. Saw an interesting article on boiling rough-turnings to speed the drying process, too.
As mentioned, I'll also get onto the firewood guys.

I've had a few people say they'd bring me some tree offcuts etc, but none have come through so far. Once I've been at it a while and more people know what I'm doing, things will improve.

Mate, I'd be forever grateful if your neighbour could bring a bit down, to help get the ball rolling. I could send her off with a little pressie for her trouble - I've got a couple of dozen finished pieces just sitting here doing nothing. Turnings, carved boxes etc. I'd be happy to give you some $ too. If it does look like happening, sing out and I'll PM you my address.

Meantime, while I get some sources organised, I have a few nice pieces of timber left and can keep laminating up my box timbers to make blanks as well. Makes for expensive blanks though.

I'll get started on some serious timber hunting tomorrow and see what I can come up with.

Originally Posted by Hermit

I might need to pay them a few bucks to cut things small enough to carry on the pushbike or in a taxi. Couldn't ask them to do that for nothing.

Steve if the bits are too large to carry if they are working close to home for a "few bucks" they may even drop it off in which case you could end up with some nice sized bits. If that is the case keep the trunk/branch as long as possible and seal the ends put in a cool and shady place to help slow down the drying

Steve when I check with her where she goes to down there and yes Pm you address please.

I have just acquired some nice fresh cut Fig but not much left well except for a little piece but its spoken for until he decides otherwise.

Originally Posted by Dalboy

Steve if the bits are too large to carry if they are working close to home for a "few bucks" they may even drop it off in which case you could end up with some nice sized bits. If that is the case keep the trunk/branch as long as possible and seal the ends put in a cool and shady place to help slow down the drying

Thanks Derek, I'll see what I can sort out.

I've got a good spot to store green timber, under the house.
My shed is really hot and dry, it gets up to 50C on the hottest Summer days if the doors are shut, so I won't be storing it there. I already have a lot of trouble with cracking and movement, in dry timber.

I'm just working out a plan of action for the day. First up, there's a creek only half a mile away that's lined with trees, so I'll take one of the dogs for a walk soon and see what's laying around.

I live on a main road with plenty of traffic, so maybe I should make a big sign and put it out the front.

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Steve when I check with her where she goes to down there and yes Pm you address please.

I have just acquired some nice fresh cut Fig but not much left well except for a little piece but its spoken for until he decides otherwise.

Thank you for that Ray. I'll pop you a PM.

The fig looks nice. I used to live in an area full of all sorts of nice timber including fig up until 10 years ago, in the mountains 40km behind Coffs Harbour, near Dorrigo. In some ways, I wish I still lived there. Wouldn't be having this problem.

Steve
When I first started turning, the local the council workers were removing two large trees in the street near my house.They were happy let me take what ever I wanted.I took back a slab of beer to give them and said I consider this an investment . I often run into them when I am doing my morning dog walk and have received heaps of timber from them .I have even come home to find a burl that they had left in my front yard.
Ted

Hi steve,
a good way of getting free wood is your local
power line guys that cut and chip just about
everthing around here so be quick and ask
You have nothing to lose
Just a thought
cheers smiife

Originally Posted by smiife

Hi steve,
a good way of getting free wood is your local
power line guys that cut and chip just about
everthing around here so be quick and ask
You have nothing to lose
Just a thought
cheers smiife

Thanks Ted and smiife. More good ideas. The beer especially.
I've started putting the word out with everyone I know to tell me if they see a tree being felled anywhere.

I'll get something sorted out pretty quickly.

Hi Steve the grey is not spalting but sap stain which I am afraid will not change. If you get freshly cut timber meaning cut today and you get next day apply a anti sap stain product. You probably will get the anti sap stain from a timber mill or the guys supplying the mills. Here in RSA I use a anti sap stain which is water base and then apply a sealant that is water based wax one maker calls it Hydro Wax. Hope this helps cheers Roger C

Originally Posted by Roger C

Hi Steve the grey is not spalting but sap stain which I am afraid will not change. If you get freshly cut timber meaning cut today and you get next day apply a anti sap stain product. You probably will get the anti sap stain from a timber mill or the guys supplying the mills. Here in RSA I use a anti sap stain which is water base and then apply a sealant that is water based wax one maker calls it Hydro Wax. Hope this helps cheers Roger C

Thanks Roger. I hadn't heard that before. Unfortunately, most of my Camphor Laurel arrives already dried, well after cutting. I'll have to take more care in future when I buy it, and if buying online I'll quiz the seller more closely to ensure it's not full of grey.

Meantime, the bowl is coming up better with the coats of Danish oil. I'll post some final pics in a couple of days after a couple more coats.