Spalted river birch

[Duffy Poindexter]

Holiday greetings to everyone!

I lurk about on this sight, learning as I go and rarely share, but I was blessed with a fantastic load of river birch logs that had been piled up for about two year. Most of it was highly spalted and wormy as well, but I got it just before it rotted to mush. Thought you might enjoy some of the pieces I have turned so far. Most of the forms are pretty simple, but I just wanted a "canvas" to show off the color and texture.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/aprayinbear/IMG_0124.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/aprayinbear/IMG_0131.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/aprayinbear/IMG_0126.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/aprayinbear/IMG_0129.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/aprayinbear/IMG_0127.jpg

All Comments Welcome!
Enjoy:)

[Michael Menzli]

I know these patterns well..have a ton of river birch to clean up..cool how you caught the wood spalting before it went punky..something I have struggled with...did you use any fortifiers to help? They look great!

[Duffy Poindexter]

Micheal,

No, no hardeners, etc. with the exception...... Sometimes I would semi finish the outside and put a heavy layer of high gloss oil finish and let stand over night. Seemed to give a little more body to the wood the next day when I finished. Not sure if it helped or not.

I think I lucked out with the logs because the guy who gave them to me had covered them with a tarp, so it minimized the wood decomposition. I still have about a half dozen logs to split. Hope they are equally as nice.

Happy Turning!

Happy Turning!

[Scott Hackler]

Wow Duffy, that is some fantastic wood! I am really favoring that first bowl. Something about the shape and of course the wood makes me want to hold it in my hands and study the piece. Nice work!

[Jim Burr]

Duffy, you could have turned a rock out of that wood and it would look amazing!

[John Keeton]

Duffy, I would guess you caught that wood in the nick of time! Looks great and those are some good forms, particularly the first four images.

[Dan Forman]

Incredible! I have found Waterlox, a wipe on finish, to be helpful for stabilizing somewhat punky maple for a final cut. I applied it pretty heavy to let it seep into the grain, but my wood wasn't nearly as dramatic as yours. These are really nice bowls.

Dan

[Neil McWilliams]

Love that 'devil's face' on the third bowl. Ever fill the voids with color? I've used bondo to fill deep voids, then fill the last 16th to the surface with nail polish of a bright color. It holds up under the poly I apply on top.

[David E Keller]

Good grief! That's some serious spalt! These pieces would be great for some selective bleaching if you ever get bored with gorgeous spalted figure alone.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Wow! That is quite the wood! Nice variety of forms! Usually when I come across wood that spalted... it is already to far gone to turn! Nice job!

[Baxter Smith]

Great stuff! It does look you got it with little time to spare!

[robert baccus]

Turn-turn-turn quick---spring will bring compost! if you want a foolproof method of saving that soft stuff, send me an e-mail(reasonably easy)--------------old forester

[Bernie Weishapl]

That is some really nice looking wood. Normally like the others if I get a piece with that much spalting it is way beyond turning. I do like the bowls but my favorite is the first one.

[Bill Hensley]

Glad you shared, that wood is too nice not to. Especially like forms 1 and 3.

I tried to turn some birch once, got so frustrated I gave up on it. It came off of someone else's wood pile and ended up on mine. May have to revisit some birch.

[Duffy Poindexter]

Thanks Everyone,

Its hard to see from the photos, but the wood is also filled with worm holes. Sometimes I fill holes with crushed stone. I'd like to try filling some of the worm holes with crushed turquoise, or carnelian.

I also agree with what many of you have said..... #1 & #3 are my favorites. I don't mind admitting that I turn by the seat of my pants, never knowing what the final form will be.

Learning as I go.....

Thanks Again!