I have to do some tree thinning and have a bit of oak, cherryand black walnut that are among the trees mixrowaving have to go. I jam it full of things to dry so I cut down on the wasting the electricity, Usually let it microwaving wood for turning on for 36 hours and never had a problem with too much cracking or moving, most are burls that I use. I have used a microwave before, short bursts is the ticket. I have turnered green walnut into pepper mills. When I took my Aspen out, parts of it were more like Ash.

Is the piece of wood from the root area? Was the wood dropped on rocky ground? Check for rocks and dirt, both can dull a chainsaw very quickly. Remove all hazards that you can see before you start to cut. When you do cut rough wood, cut slowly so you can stop if you see sparks starting to fly! Always cut your blanks oversize. It makes the pieces easier and safer to control.

Use cradles or other pieces of wood to keep a log steady if you are using a chainsaw to cut out bowl blanks or to trim to size. To cut a round in half use the chainsaw along the length of the round, parallel with the grain, rather than across the top. When you are about an inch from the ground then stand the round-up and cut out the last bit. This will be a lot easier and less wearing on your saw.

Cut or split your rounds in half as soon as possible. This will let the wood move as it dries and greatly reduces the chance of splitting your wood. Build jigs that you can use to hold a log steady as you flatten one side of it. I built a cradle for use in my planner. Once I have one good flat surface I can use a band saw Microwaving Wood For Turning 10 to cut out bowl blanks or the table saw to produce billets for spindle turning.

You can use a crosscut sled with clamps, on your table saw to trim rough wood. Keep your fingers away from the cutting action of your power tools. If you are planning on drying the wood then you should cover the ends of the wood with paint, wax, or a wood sealer. Green wood can split very quickly as every spot you cut the wood is a place that it can now lose moisture. You can turn green bowls to a rough state.

The thickness of the bowl should be 10 percent of the diameter of the bowl. Attach your bowl blank to a faceplate and mount it on the lathe.

Be sure to pull your tailstock up to support the blank. A rough bowl blank is out of balance and the tailstock gives the needed extra support. When you turn on your lathe use a slow speed and stand clear of the firing zone. The firing zone is at right angles to the lathe where the bowl blank is. This is the direction the wood would go if it flew off of the lathe.

You want to match the size of your faceplate to the size of your turning blank. Most lathes come with a faceplate this size. Make sure it will fit on the arbor of your lathe. Try to attach the faceplate on a flat surface if possible. Go slow in shaping the outside of the bowl since you will be initially cutting a lot of air. Once you have rough turned the bowl then let the bowl dry for a few months. While drying the rough turned bowl, cover the bowl with brown paper, over the outside of the bowl, taping it closed over the opening.

This will hold the moisture in and prevent the bowl from drying out too quickly, preventing cracking. After drying the rough turned bowl slowly in your shop you are ready to finish it on the lathe. Place the dried blank on a faceplate and turn the bowl to a finished shape and it will now stay round. You can also finish a green bowl to a thinner-walled bowl and then enjoy the natural warping that takes place as it dries.

Consistency in the thickness of the bowl is what allows the wood to change shape and not split. For spindle billets you should let the wood dry out if you need to maintain the circular shape of the spindle, that is if you are fitting the piece into a drilled hole. However, if you are going to finish the piece then the finish you use would allow the work to dry slowly over time.

Most spindle turnings are quite small and finishing with carnauba wax provides enough of a sealant to eliminate the dangers of cracking or splitting as the item dries.

Of course, you could wax the ends and wait awhile before turning with the wood if you thought it was still too wet. I turned a Kraut Pounder out of the piece of firewood above. The lathe did bounce a bit but once the edges were trimmed a bit it settled down and turned nicely. Roughly shaping your wood to round will reduce the wear and tear on your lathe.

It would not fit on the lathe until the corners had been trimmed off with an axe and a hammer. That was a piece of really rough wood. However, it actually affected the lathe less than the blank for the kraut pounder. Keep checking the driveshaft and the tailstock to ensure that your wood is always securely attached to the lathe. So head out to your stash of wood and get some wood ready for turning. What piece of wood has you excited about turning?

What challenges have you faced in preparing your wood? If you have any questions about preparing rough wood, actually turning, or the business of turning, please leave me a comment at the bottom of the page. These posts are for you, the woodturner. If you like turning projects or articles related to the business of turning then please sign up for the Turning For Profit newsletter.

Generally, it comes out once a week and has links to the current articles, a bit on what I am up to, and usually a question for your response. You can sign up on the right sidebar or just a little lower on the page.

I love woodturning and sharing with you. You can follow me on Facebook as well. Thank you for allowing me to join you on your woodturning journey. Have fun and remember to turn safely. I look forward to reading more of your recommendations. I would like to make rolling pins and finish with beeswax. A moisture meter will help dictate when it is turnable. I have turnered green walnut into pepper mills. The hole in the center helped dry it quickly with no wourping. Turn safely.

Have you ever wondered what the differences are between acrylic and polycarbonate glass? George Vondriska explains what sets them apart and discusses some of the various woodworking projects that require each type. Watch and learn which type factors into your next woodworking plans. Remember me. Lost your password? Privacy Policy. LOG IN. Search for:.

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