Catalpa wood

[Roger Chandler]

Well, today is a day where myself and about 4 others from our local turning club are going to cut a northern catalpa tree. It is already down, and had to be removed because it was causing trouble for the well at this place.

I understand it is also known as "cigar tree" and has grain similar to ash. Diameter is about 20 inches and has double trunks of about 20 feet long. Should yield some turning wood for the guys.

Anyone know how catalpa is to turn. sand and finish?

[charlie knighton]

Roger, ya know the rule, no pictures, it did not happen, but i will be interested in some pictures of your project, i have never turned any, and would like to see what it is all about, sounds like you will have plenty of wood

thanks for tempting us

[Bernie Weishapl]

Be interesting to see some of it turned Roger. Free wood is always good turning wood.

[Dan Hintz]

I think the Turner's Forum should institute a new rule...

Free wood is shared with everyone within a 150 mile radius.

[Roger Chandler]

Here are a few pieces of the Catalpa tree........on the way home I went to 3 stops and dropped off a few pieces at each place. We actually left some on the ground, and took away 2 pickup loads. This stuff has beautiful grain, and one of our guys said he did some research last night and saw furniture and gunstocks and a lot of other items made from it, so it should be nice.

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[Reed Gray]

I turned it a few times, and didn't like it. Color was dark tan maybe, but not a color that sells well. It has a sweet smell to it that I wasn't sure if I really liked, or it was sweet to the point of making me nauseous. It cuts fine. When dry, it is very light in that when you pick it up, you expect it to be heavier. Just doesn't feel right.

robo hippy

[Roger Chandler]

I turned it a few times, and didn't like it. Color was dark tan maybe, but not a color that sells well. It has a sweet smell to it that I wasn't sure if I really liked, or it was sweet to the point of making me nauseous. It cuts fine. When dry, it is very light in that when you pick it up, you expect it to be heavier. Just doesn't feel right.

robo hippy

Reed,

This is pretty heavy so I think it has a good bit of moisture in it. This tree is tight grained in the growth rings, so I am hoping the wood will be stable.

I plan on taking most of this to the turners club meeting on Saturday morning.......the other pick up load will be there as well, after a few pieces are taken for the guys who cut this morning, and we will spread the wood around to whoever wants some for their turning stock.

[Roger Chandler]

Roger, ya know the rule, no pictures, it did not happen, but i will be interested in some pictures of your project, i have never turned any, and would like to see what it is all about, sounds like you will have plenty of wood

thanks for tempting us

Yeah Charlie, I know! Seems like this is a no anticipation zone, only an after the fact zone, and that is only if you have pics!!! ;):D:p:D

[Dale Miner]

What Reed said.

Wood carvers like the stuff tho'.

[Roger Chandler]

I think the Turner's Forum should institute a new rule...

Free wood is shared with everyone within a 150 mile radius.

Dan,

If you are willing to come and get it, then I certainly am willing to give you a few pieces! Actually, I am taking my load to the turners meeting to give it away on Saturday.........come by and pick up a few. PM me, and I will give you info!

[steven carter]

Roger,

I like Catalpa, it does end up very light so you can turn a little thick and it still not be heavy. Here is a link to one I did about 4 years ago:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?58119-Catalpa-Bowl&highlight=

Steve

[Roger Chandler]

Roger,

I like Catalpa, it does end up very light so you can turn a little thick and it still not be heavy. Here is a link to one I did about 4 years ago:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?58119-Catalpa-Bowl&highlight=

Steve

Thank you Steven! I am liking what I see! That is a great bowl you turned!

[Richard Madden]

Some people call it white walnut. It sometimes has the same look, though lighter in color and weight. Heck, if I was closer, I'd come get some. I'm thinking back to many, many years ago. I think we used to call this a lady cigar tree. In fact, we might have smoked some of the "cigars".

[Roger Chandler]

Some people call it white walnut. It sometimes has the same look, though lighter in color and weight. Heck, if I was closer, I'd come get some. I'm thinking back to many, many years ago. I think we used to call this a lady cigar tree. In fact, we might have smoked some of the "cigars".

Richard,
When I was a kid we called the "Monkey Cigar" trees. I guess that was because you had to be able to climb like a monkey to get up there and get one while hanging on the tree. Who knows?!! The guy who had this one on his cabin property is a college professor and wood turner, so from what I hear he is pretty reliable in his knowledge about things like this, and he says Catalpa.

[Mark Cothren]

I turned it one time... a fairly large bowl. One thing I can tell you from my experience is that every single piece of metal in my shop that the curls/moisture touched ended up rusted like acid had been poured on it. The wood is very soft and prone to tear-out. But I will say that when I finally got it finished up it looked pretty nice (the wood, that is).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/woodturning/CatalpaBowl02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/woodturning/CatalpaBowl.jpg

[Roger Chandler]

Thanks for that information, Mark! I think I will have to make sure the ways on my lathe are nicely protected with a fresh coat of wax before I turn any of this. Most of the haul is going to all the group members of our club that will take some of it.

The pics you guys have posted does look like the wood we got, and it does have a nice grain to it.

[Pete Jordan]

I turned a couple of hollow forms and they turned out pretty good. As stated, it is very light like balsa wood and the grain can be very interesting.

[Roger Chandler]

For those of you that have some experience with catalpa........would it be a good candidate for the DNA drying process?

[Roger Chandler]

some say that Catalpa is light "like balsa" [see Pete Jordans post above] what I cut today is not light at all, I know it is wet now, but that is what prompts my question about DNA drying.........let me explain.........

If the wood dries to be very light , would it still be a candidate for DNA drying process. My hope was to rough turn something while it is still green, and also get some DNA and do a soak, but was wondering if since some say Catalpa dries to be very light anyway, would a DNA soak put way too much stress on the wood, and make it useless?

[David E Keller]

The finished pieces posted above are very reminiscent of ash. It looks like it would be a good wood to try sand blasting or wire brushing if you've had a hankering to do something like that. Ebonizing followed by liming wax might also make for an interesting look. I've never turned it, but I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

As for the DNA, I can't imagine why it wouldn't be a reasonable choice for speeding up roughout drying.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Roger - hope you keep some choice pieces and give this stuff a shot! Looking forward to seeing your results!

[steven carter]

Roger,

The catalpa I turned was turned using the DNA method, works just fine. I was surprised when I finished the bowl how light it was since the wet blank felt pretty normal.

Steve

[Richard Coers]

A good dust mask is needed with this stuff. The dust seems to "get me" in the throat when I start sanding. I'm not a big fan, but it can have some really nice chatoyance when the light plays over it. Sharp tools needed for sure as the early growth likes to tear on end grain. Good luck!

[Roger Chandler]

Roger - hope you keep some choice pieces and give this stuff a shot! Looking forward to seeing your results!

Steve,

I did keep 4 pieces........the two you saw on the tailgate of my pickup, one of which when I cut it off the large log, unbeknown to me, it had a barn pole spike in it,:eek: which I cut through with my chainsaw...:eek::eek:....that made the last cut of the day....:(......now I have to sharpen my chain, because it really did a number on it.

I also kept 2 others, and will maybe make a hollow form after I get my monster setup from Randy...........oh, the anticipation.........and the wait!!! :D

[Mark Cothren]

I've only turned the one piece. I soaked it good in DNA and then let it sit on the drying rack for a few weeks. My bowl was about 16-1/2" wide, over 7" deep, and thick-walled... so I don't remember it being lightweight. What I do remember about it is that it moved very little as it dried.