Thread: The Powermatic 4224 has landed (in my shop)

Impressive Bill a great pick up.

Although I haven't seen or used one in the flesh, I love the build of the Powermatic. Great acquisition Bill, I'm envious. You'll be able to produce some quality work with that. Time to get it dirty!

In a year or so I'll be in the market for something of this quality however can't justify paying $5800 as opposed to the $4000 or so you've probably paid in the U.S. ($3670 after conversion!) Been looking at the Vicmarc's and Omega's over here, they're definitely on my radar.

Thanks very much.
You may want to contact Powermatic directly. Maybe they can help in some way. They are wonderful people to work with.

Good one Bill.!

I've always admired the"Mustard Monster".

I have about a ton of eucalyptus so I chucked up a piece and gave it a turn. The slow start and fully variable speed are going to be very useful features. It really made it easy to rough out the blank. Even though the piece was quite out of balance, the machine had no shake or vibration in any way what so ever. In addition, this thing is completely silent. Only sound I hear is a slight sound of air from the motors fan. So smooth and quiet. Sad part is, the blank still has a lot of moisture in it and if you know eucalyptus, you know it cracks on its own if not fully cured. Left it over night, came in the next day and it has little fine splits all over it. Oh well, at least I got to get her dirty for a bit. Soon I'll be putting my big segmented turning on it, then the fun will really begin.

Originally Posted by Bill Wyko

I have about a ton of eucalyptus so I chucked up a piece and gave it a turn.. Sad part is, the blank still has a lot of moisture in it and if you know eucalyptus, you know it cracks on its own if not fully cured. Left it over night, came in the next day and it has little fine splits all over it.

I have had luck with rough turning bowls from fresh cut timber and then submerging them in 50 - 50 % hand dishwashing liquid and water for 2 - 3 weeks.

I take the bowl out, let drain, and wrap in 5 to 10 layers of newspaper and let dry for a month. Then I rechuck and take a bit more off, making the wall thickness less than 10% of the diameter. I let the bowl lounge around the shop another month naked, and then final turn and finish.

Not absolutely fool proof, but it does cut down on cracking.

Richard Raffan has written, "you can do all of the favorite methods to prevent cracking, or nothing, some crack and some don't". Not an exact quote but the general idea.

Thanks very much for the advice. I'll give it a try. We're coming into the warm months here so that should work well. I literally have about 2000 to 3000 lbs of this wood. The tree was almost 4 feet in diameter. It all has anchorseal on it but I'll try to rough out one and do as you say. I'd like to get some of this on the lathe so you way will help. Thanks very much.

Bill,

Bill,

What a treasure. I have good luck with new big rounds by splitting them down the middle and stacking them flat side down on a pallet in the shade. I suspect shade and 50% humidity is in short supply in Tucson.

I usually cut my logs into bolts twice as long as the diameter, so that if there is checking or splitting in from the ends I can cut off the ends and use the center.

I heat with wood so nothing goes to waste.

If you have not done so, make a bowl using the center of the log as the bottom. The grain pattern is wonderful.

The bowl at the bottom is locust. The pith was off center so 2/3 to 3/4 of the log was above the eventual bottom of the bowl. The tree was mostly dead with the white part of the bowl the only live part. A friend cut it down for firewood and I conned him out of two pieces.

You do nice turnings.

Three horses, that should spin anything you manage to attach to it with power to spare.

Nice acquisition, looking forward to piccies of your output.

Thanks very much for the advice, I'll put it to use. The bowl you have pictured is beautiful. I just did a vessel of illusion, I don't know what the wood is but it looks very much like yours. Is that wood very hard? If so, I think that's what it is. Thanks again for the advice (and the picture.)

I agree, I don't think I'll ever slow the motor down. It's such silky smooth power too. I love the fully variable speed and the reverse. I'm so spoiled now.

Originally Posted by Bill Wyko

Thanks very much for the advice, I'll put it to use. The bowl you have pictured is beautiful. I just did a vessel of illusion, I don't know what the wood is but it looks very much like yours. Is that wood very hard? If so, I think that's what it is. Thanks again for the advice (and the picture.)

Locust is the hardest wood I have encountered. It picks up silica so it dulls tools quickly. Years ago I cut up a dry piece for firewood at dusk and saw sparks coming off the chain saw chain. I investigated, thinking there was a nail or wire, but found nothing but wood.

Below is a bowl from 1/2 of a locust stump, I told my consignment shop that I thought it was a $100 bowl. The owner agreed, and said lets price it at $95, it sold in a week.

Your Illusion is wonderful, it could be mesquite.

Black Locust: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/us...d/244black.pdf

Bugger the chit chat Bill!! Get onto those segmented turnings!!