Thread: Purchasing Wood for Turning

I have to disagree with Brendan. Part of the satisfaction I get is collecting the wood, cutting it up, roughing out, setting aside to dry and finally turning the piece. If you look at it purely in terms of cost of equipment, time spent etc you'd be better off just going in to a craft gallery and buying a turned piece already made. It's like people who buy a boat and equipment to go fishing to get "free" fish. I get the satisfaction of looking at a finished piece I have made knowing I have been responsible for its full journey.

Brendan can of course speak for himself but I understood him to be simply saying that free timber costs - in equipment, time and storage space.

I agree with you Nalmo that there are satisfactions in being in charge of the whole 'supply chain', and in fact these days I can only source large bowl blanks via finds or donations.

As for fishing, some recreational fishers do their own hooks, rods and flies/lures but many simply prefer just to fish.

As for Big A's original proposition I reckon if it ain't free, it ain't good enough to turn! - my best turnings have come from bought blanks.

By all means use finds; they can have a great story attached, it's gratifying to give someone back a bowl from a bole (!) they've donated and the lumps may be useful to learn on.

Originally Posted by brendan stemp

Is there such a thing as free wood.

I often get given logs but there is still a lot of effort, time and expense in breaking them down and drying it. There is the cost of the fuel and oil for a chainsaw, (you need to have spent money on the chainsaw in the first place), there is the bandsaw and the electricity to run it, the consumables such as blades or chains and end sealer, and then you need the space to store the wood as it dries. There is also the cost of transporting it from the location to your home. Perhaps a trailer is needed, these cost money. And then there is the waste.

Brendan

This is a very cynical approach of yours, but I happen to wholeheartedly agree . It is a development of "Is there such a thing as a free lunch?" No: Not really.

If you already have all the gear then it is relatively inexpensive after you have deducted your fuel costs and consumeables and for many of us it is our enjoyment.

In that regard I also agree with Nalmo. In fact I have just spent two hours at the table saw cutting up a metre of grey box (eh...it might be white box...or a hybrid..nobody can tell outside of a laboratory) just under 150mm square. I first cut it out of the bush about 20 years ago. I have been putting it to one side for all that time saying to myself "one day."

Although it has a story behind it, it also has pin hole borers so in fact after all this time it will only be for "practice" wooden planes before I get some good stuff, which I'm going to have to .....bbbuuyyy . On top of that it has the same amount of figure as a concrete floor and also what seems like the same density.

As far as your turning blanks are concerned, go with whatever suits .

Regards
Paul

I can happily see both sides of the argument. Brendan makes a living out of turning so he has to take ALL costs into account and try for a profit at the end of the day. For myself though, I fully agree with Nalmo - just love being in the drivers seat for the entire journey because I turn purely for enjoyment

Last time I got a trailer load, I roughly counted the time taken to block down the blanks inc. sealing. It was about half an hour for each. These were about 20cm octagons. So if I counted my time at a nominal $50 per hour that was $25 per blank. Add to that at least 25% for labour on-costs, plus more for insurance. Then add machinery depreciation and running costs, sealer and storage costs and waste disposal.

It's not a matter of whether you're a gentleman turner or a production turner - either way you incur costs. It's just a matter of whether you want or need to count them and pass them on to the recipient of your work.

Originally Posted by nalmo

I have to disagree with Brendan. Part of the satisfaction I get is collecting the wood, cutting it up, roughing out, setting aside to dry and finally turning the piece. If you look at it purely in terms of cost of equipment, time spent etc you'd be better off just going in to a craft gallery and buying a turned piece already made. It's like people who buy a boat and equipment to go fishing to get "free" fish. I get the satisfaction of looking at a finished piece I have made knowing I have been responsible for its full journey.

I'm not sure on what point (the points that I actually made) you disagree. I accept that it is a somewhat cynical point of view (I would call it more pragmatic) and I'm guessing it is this sentiment you disagree with not the points I made.

I too love going out into the bush and sawing up some wood and I wouldn't suggest (and haven't suggested) for one moment that this isn't a satisfying aspect of our hobby. I also feel privileged that we in Australia can do this so easily compared to many other countries.

All I was saying is that there is no "free wood" out there. Whether you enjoy getting it or not, whether you turn for a living or as a hobby, it is very rare that we get free wood.

I suppose at the heart of this point is the comparison between buying timber from a merchant and collecting it yourself and the suggestion that one comes with a cost while the other doesn't. This is the proposition I disagree with and that is why I have no problems buying timber from the merchants even though I have access to ample supplies in the Wimmera.

Brendan

Nicely put.

Regards
Paul

There ain't no free lunch.

Some of us have more time than money, and some more money than time.

Some of us turn for a living, and a lot more turn for fun and hope to sell a few pieces once in a while.

I have been heating with solar and wood for about 15 years, it saves money at the expense of time, some inconvenience, and at times a lot of labor.

I have several years worth of heating and turning fodder around the house and I am always on the lookout for more. As I cut up timber for heating I set aside any interesting pieces for bowls, mushrooms, weed pots, etc.

I love discovering what interesting figure is hidden in crotches, stumps, and twisted trunks.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Free is good, I have however, bought & sold timber for turning.... not just an old bit of pine or a gum tree & I have never bought or sold a lump of mango timber but, some of the nicer stuff that is hard to get in your area is worth paying for.

Your post got me thinking. Given many "up north" have a take it or leave it attitude to mango (the fruit) what so they think about an object made from mango wood ? Do they sell to locals easily ? Maybe mango turnings need to travel a few thousand km south to gain exotic status.

Originally Posted by dabbler

Your post got me thinking. Given many "up north" have a take it or leave it attitude to mango (the fruit) what so they think about an object made from mango wood ? Do they sell to locals easily ? Maybe mango turnings need to travel a few thousand km south to gain exotic status.

Maybe the nails, starpickets, rocks & water pipes you find in most back yard trees has something to do with it.

This is a fascinating thread and I dare say that every point for and against have their validity and its a case of horses for courses.

But bottom line is that 'turning' is the motivation behind it all and we do so according to our various resources and abilities and or goals etc.

I admire those who take the plunge to go professional and it cant be only the money in the decision. Also I am heartened by the success of this forum that suggests to me that art of turning is alive and well here in Australia and else where.

What the 'art' needs now is a greater awareness/appreciation in the community so all will benefit further and it can grow .

To buy, or not to buy, that is the question.

When first starting out I tended to buy the odd blank because it looked good and my intentions were to create a masterpiece from it.

However my best decision was to join a club. I now have blanks of many shapes and sizes and really have no need to purchase any. I am in this position because of my willingness to share with fellow members. Sharing is low cost and brings enjoyment to others who enjoy doing so.

By talking with others, e.g. neighbours, tree surgeons, members of others clubs, members of craft groups you would be surprised how many offers are made of free or share woods.

"Free" doesn't matter when you create something special and it remains in your personal collection. I have a few items that I could never part with whether I purchased the wood, found it among the firewood or swapped with others.

Allan.

I think that there needs to be a line of distinction drawn between amateur and professional turners.

Professional turners must certainly take into account their time (at a $ value) for sourcing raw materials, preparation, drying, storage etc. so I can understand why they may prefer to purchase blanks, as they can readily convert these into a saleable product.

Mere amateurs (like myself) take a different path. People have told me that they like what I've made and I should sell it at a market. My usual response is: You go stand there all Sunday, sell it for whatever you can and we'll split it 50/50. So far no-one has taken me up on this. I've worked out that even if I were to sell some items for what people have thought they would be worth, by the time you take into account the time trying to sell it, on top of the time to make the item, it works out at only a few dollars per hour.

I get fun and satisfaction out of making things and giving them away, that's all the reward I need.

Of course, if you're a professional, you have to look at things differently.

Originally Posted by dabbler

Your post got me thinking. Given many "up north" have a take it or leave it attitude to mango (the fruit) what so they think about an object made from mango wood ? Do they sell to locals easily ? Maybe mango turnings need to travel a few thousand km south to gain exotic status.

Hi Dabbler,
The other problem with mango wood, is that it is so variable in colour and grain patterns. I personaly dont bother with it, because I usually ony get one good lot of timber for each 10 trees cut up. i think it is to do with the type of mango that it is, I.E. common, Bowen Special, turpentine, peach, R2E2 and on and on. Usually when I get the trunks, no one knows what type it was so no way of doing a cross check,
rgds,
Crocy.