Kathy Marshall
05-12-2011, 3:35 AM
Got a call from the tree trimmers yesterday. They had cut down a large eucalyptus and asked if I would turn a bowl for the tree's owner. I said, sure thing, and stopped by after work to pick up a log.
It was definitely a big tree, some of the logs were probably over 30" diameter. Knowing eucalyptus can crack if you even thing about looking at it, I tried to find one that hadn't started cracking and checking too bad yet. I ended up with 1 short log about 16" long x about 15" diameter, and 1 longer log about 30" long and a little larger diameter.
I have not had this type of euc before. It has a chocolate brown bark that reminds me of felt and the wood was lighter, more of a golden pinkish rather than the dark salmon and orange/salmon I've seen in the other 2 types of euc I've turned.
It was a bit of a job to get the logs in the truck, these things were Heavy! The smaller log I was able to lift up to the truck (but it wasn't easy) I'd guess it was close to 100 lbs. The larger one I couldn't lift more than an inch. Finally had to grab another log then tipped the big log over onto it, wrestled it into an upright position, then tipped it onto the tailgate.
Got home and got out the chainsaw, cut out the middle 2" to get rid of the pith, then cut the logs into 6 bowl blanks.
These are the 4 blanks left (turned 2 already).
194413
This is one of the blanks and the bowl I turned out of it last night. This wood cuts just as nicely as the other eucs I've turned, but it does dull the tools pretty quick (maybe high silica content). This has a coat of BLO, it's about 9" diameter. So far, it seems that this type of euc doesn't crack or warp nearly as bad os the other euc. A couple little cracks I was able to stabilize with CA, and a little warping while I was turning the inside, and when I looked at it tonight it still looks round.
194410 194417
This is a pic I took of it tonight. Was getting late so the light level outside was pretty low.
194416
This is the bowl I turned tonight. This is the other half from the log I turned last night and this one has just a little bit of figure. In this pic the bottom is done and it's sanded to 800.
194415
In this pic it has a coat of BLO.
194411
When I took it out from between centers to mount in the chuck, I noticed that the wood had turned completely black where the spur drive was (the tips of the spur drive also turned black) obviously some kind of reaction between the wood and the metal.
194414
Bowl #2 is finished with just a coat of BLO and 10 1/2" diameter.
194412
The pictures don't show the try color, but try to imagine a golden color with pink overtones. Looking forward to turning the other blanks, and possibly cutting one of the bigger blanks into some HF blanks.
Thanks for looking!
As always critiques and comments are welcome.
It was definitely a big tree, some of the logs were probably over 30" diameter. Knowing eucalyptus can crack if you even thing about looking at it, I tried to find one that hadn't started cracking and checking too bad yet. I ended up with 1 short log about 16" long x about 15" diameter, and 1 longer log about 30" long and a little larger diameter.
I have not had this type of euc before. It has a chocolate brown bark that reminds me of felt and the wood was lighter, more of a golden pinkish rather than the dark salmon and orange/salmon I've seen in the other 2 types of euc I've turned.
It was a bit of a job to get the logs in the truck, these things were Heavy! The smaller log I was able to lift up to the truck (but it wasn't easy) I'd guess it was close to 100 lbs. The larger one I couldn't lift more than an inch. Finally had to grab another log then tipped the big log over onto it, wrestled it into an upright position, then tipped it onto the tailgate.
Got home and got out the chainsaw, cut out the middle 2" to get rid of the pith, then cut the logs into 6 bowl blanks.
These are the 4 blanks left (turned 2 already).
194413
This is one of the blanks and the bowl I turned out of it last night. This wood cuts just as nicely as the other eucs I've turned, but it does dull the tools pretty quick (maybe high silica content). This has a coat of BLO, it's about 9" diameter. So far, it seems that this type of euc doesn't crack or warp nearly as bad os the other euc. A couple little cracks I was able to stabilize with CA, and a little warping while I was turning the inside, and when I looked at it tonight it still looks round.
194410 194417
This is a pic I took of it tonight. Was getting late so the light level outside was pretty low.
194416
This is the bowl I turned tonight. This is the other half from the log I turned last night and this one has just a little bit of figure. In this pic the bottom is done and it's sanded to 800.
194415
In this pic it has a coat of BLO.
194411
When I took it out from between centers to mount in the chuck, I noticed that the wood had turned completely black where the spur drive was (the tips of the spur drive also turned black) obviously some kind of reaction between the wood and the metal.
194414
Bowl #2 is finished with just a coat of BLO and 10 1/2" diameter.
194412
The pictures don't show the try color, but try to imagine a golden color with pink overtones. Looking forward to turning the other blanks, and possibly cutting one of the bigger blanks into some HF blanks.
Thanks for looking!
As always critiques and comments are welcome.