Liquid Amber...any good for Turning

[skot]

My inlaws have just had the tree loppers in to reduce their 40 year old Liquid Amber to a stump. i asked them to save logs from 150mm to about 400mm diameter for woodworking at a later date.

Now I have about 2cubics in log form (some forks). I can slab it into 50 mm thick planks and wait a couple of years, but I'd like to know if anyone has turned this species of wood and how did it turn out

[Auzzie turner]

I was able to get some liquid amber not long ago. If you know how to green turn, then do it gree, because it will split quite easily. It is one of the best timbers I have ever turned. I was able to get a finish off of the chisel on a vase I was working on, I was able to start sanding at 1500 grit!! Use gouges for best results. Excellent wood, Keep it!!

Regards............Joash

[skot]

Thanks Joash,
I'll store as much as I can

[Tony Morton]

Hi Skot
yes the timber is liable to split at ends and near heart but with some perserverance you will end up with some realy nice timber to work . Colour not startling ends up a creamy grey some grain cuts very cleanly although hard.

Cheers Tony

[Bodgy]

I'm about to turn an ice bucket out of LA. Start tomorrow.

I'm an extremely in-expert turner, with a lathe that turns Forum lips upwards at one corner. The LA is still green, two months RIP. I've slabbed some and its seems easy to work, we'll see how it works out.

According to His Worshipful Zederator, Lord of the Ether, Keeper of the Fora, it makes great axe handles.

Acting on his advice, I've made lots of chisel handles etc out of it.

Let us know how you go.

[rsser]

Only turned one bit ... had no figure and a boring colour; also was porous and soaked up a ridiculous quantity of finish. Salvaged from the inner east of Melbourne; may have taken after its owner ;-}

[turnerted]

Hi
I got a load of liquid amber last Christmas and have turned quite a few bowls out of it .I found it is very nice to work with. Colours vary from chocolate to cream . All my bowls were turned green and I found it distorts more than most when drying so allow plenty to spare when you rough turn .

Ted

[lubbing5cherubs]

Hmmm I must be stupid. I was having Liquid amber as Beer in the amber bottles. I did not realise it was wood...LOL
Toni