Sources of wood for turning

[Glenn M]

Hi groovers,

As some of you may have seen in my other thread the purchase of a lathe is imminent.

So anyway, about a year ago I was at a mates house and he had the fire going. He asked me to go and get an extra couple pieces of wood from the bag of wood out back. I couldn't believe my eyes at what I pulled out. This beautiful big piece of red coloured wood. Weighed about 10kgs and didn't appear to have any cracking or splitting. As I have wanted a lathe for many many years I straight away fell in love with this piece of wood and didn't want to let my friend burn it *sigh*.

So anyway, long ramble short, if you needed a "quick fix" is it feasable to go and buy a bag of that red firewood at the local service station, or am I really showing my inexperience badly here?

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Glenn
www.woodworkbooks.com (http://www.woodworkbooks.com)

[RETIRED]

Gooday.

If it's wood (although that ain't necessary), no cracks or other surprises it can be turned.

Depends on the skill of the operator as to whether or not you can make something of it. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

Firewood has yielded some mighty fine turnings over the years, particularly the red gums and most other eucalypts.

I say that if it looks good, is sound and safe then go for it. If it is your 1st time at turning don't try any thing fancy, learn the PROPER way to cut first then do the fancy stuff.

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Ian () Robertson
"We do good turns every day"

[Glenn M]

G'day ,

Thanks for the reply.


If it is your 1st time at turning don't try any thing fancy, learn the PROPER way to cut first then do the fancy stuff.

You don't have to worry about that, I can see weeks and weeks of spindle work ahead of me as I practice with the different chisels. My wife has something in mind for me to make over and over and over which is fairly simple but will allow me to play with basic shapes on the lathe for a while. Any fancy experimenting will be a while away becuase I certainly don't want a chisel though my foot http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks again.

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Glenn
www.woodworkbooks.com (http://www.woodworkbooks.com)