Greg Coleman
05-14-2010, 7:04 AM
The church I attended as a youngster had a HUGE magnolia in the cemetery. I remember it well as the shade was wonderful during hot summer revivals. Some time during my adventures in the U.S. Navy it became unstable and had to be taken down. The church community really misses that tree.
A couple weeks ago I was gifting some wood to a young cousin. He turns game calls and has become quite good at it. As I talked to his father I mentioned that I had made pens for another church staff from a walnut tree that had to be removed. He asked if I would turn some items from the old magnolia that used to be in the cemetery. I told him I would be honored to do it if I only had some. His eyes lit up and proceeded to pull a chunk of the trunk from his garage. It is 14" round and 18" or so long. It was even coated with Anchorseal. He even gave me the rest of a 5 gal bucket of the Anchorseal.
I slabbed off a chunk yesterday. 3-1/2 x 3-1/2. My plan is to turn a pair of candle sticks. The wood inside is a light cream color with hundreds of worm/bug holes. Prolly what killed it. I don't see any active ones, but plan to have my buddy in the pest control business place it in the next house he tents.
My question is what are the turning characteristics of magnolia? Any thing to watch for? Any ideas for items besides candlesticks? Are there any woods of similar characteristics that I can practice on? Any help is much appreciated.
Greg Coleman
A couple weeks ago I was gifting some wood to a young cousin. He turns game calls and has become quite good at it. As I talked to his father I mentioned that I had made pens for another church staff from a walnut tree that had to be removed. He asked if I would turn some items from the old magnolia that used to be in the cemetery. I told him I would be honored to do it if I only had some. His eyes lit up and proceeded to pull a chunk of the trunk from his garage. It is 14" round and 18" or so long. It was even coated with Anchorseal. He even gave me the rest of a 5 gal bucket of the Anchorseal.
I slabbed off a chunk yesterday. 3-1/2 x 3-1/2. My plan is to turn a pair of candle sticks. The wood inside is a light cream color with hundreds of worm/bug holes. Prolly what killed it. I don't see any active ones, but plan to have my buddy in the pest control business place it in the next house he tents.
My question is what are the turning characteristics of magnolia? Any thing to watch for? Any ideas for items besides candlesticks? Are there any woods of similar characteristics that I can practice on? Any help is much appreciated.
Greg Coleman