What is this & how can I use it?

[Joe McMahon]

Several years ago I received this piece of wood from a Secret Santa. I didn't turn at the time so it went into the corner in my garage. Well I have started turning (just) and because of the cracks in it, don't have a clue of exactly what species it is and the best way to use the wood. It is marked 8" X 3"".


http://http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k262/joemac18/Sale/P1010001-4.jpg


http://http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k262/joemac18/Sale/P1010002-4.jpg


http://http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k262/joemac18/Sale/P1010004-4.jpg

http://http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k262/joemac18/Sale/P1010005-3.jpg

[Steve Vaughan]

That's quite a piece of wood. I see a winged bowl of some type, and I see several small hf's and a small bowl or two. There's a ton of bottle stoppers and pens I suppose.

[Tim Leiter]

With those cracks and checks I would just cut it up into as many useable pen and bottle stopper blanks I could get out of it, if it is a hardwood. I don't know what kind of wood that is but with that white sap seepage could it be a pine tree? If its pine I wouldn't use it for anything, it would be too soft. JMHO

[George Morris]

Looks like cherry.

[curtis rosche]

that my friend is a bowl in hiding

[Steve bellinger]

Looks like cherry.First thing i thought of also.

[Mike Cruz]

I thought Cherry, too. Looks like it may have been a burl that had the cap cut off of it.

You could go the route of cutting it into pen and bottle stoppers, or just have at it and rough out a bowl. When it is dry, fill the cracks with resin, or epoxy mixed with dye, shavings, or coffee grinds. Then finish it up. It is one thing to throw away wood that is yours, that you "obtained". But gifted wood ought to get the old college try. If you have a band saw, cut slab into a blank, making sure there is enough scrap that you could get at least one pen or bottle stopper out of it...just in case the bowl doesn't work out. That way you could at least have something from your secret santa wood.

[Joe McMahon]

Mike, I think that is a good plan. Thanks!

Joe

[Jim Burr]

That sir, is a chunk of wood and it can be used in dramatic fashion! NE bowl/platter comes to mind...or a ton of pen blanks!

[Kelvin Burton]

Joe,

I'd use it just like it is. This platter (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/album.php?albumid=727) started out looking quite similar to that!

[Bernie Weishapl]

I agree that you could do a lot of things. I do agree with Mike filling the cracks with resin or epoxy then turned into a platter, bowl, etc.

[Joe McMahon]

AS I said, I am a new turner. I have watched the DVD's, seen the u-tubes and joined the local woodturner's club. Still I am doing things alone and with a lot of trial & error. I have yet to turn a bowl or platter so I sure don't want to experiment with this piece of wood. I am very grateful for all of the input and ideas thsat I have received here.

In the mean time, I'll keep plugging away.

Thanks again, Joe

[Michael Menzli]

cherry can have white seepage..this is no where close to a pine tree :) .. id say im with the cherry crowd...about 90% sure..I think you can work around the cracks..they dont appear to be real pith cracking..just simple end checking..unfortunetly i find that cherry tends to really crack after it starts. Id do my best to cut that stuff out and turn a nice ne bowl

[John Keeton]

Joe, one thing to consider might be to use a glued on waste block for your chuck tenon - and, I would orient the piece such that the bottom of the bowl would be the top side in your last pic. That will show the most figure.

That is definitely a burl and should be an absolutely beautiful piece of wood when finished.

[Joe McMahon]

I would guess I should follow Mike's advise & first fill the voids with epoxy colored with ground coffee, then cut the round on the bandsaw, then glue on a block for turning like John suggested. One question though, what type glue should I use to add the block?

[Mike Cruz]

Joe, I would cut it out on the band saw first before filling the cracks. Otherwise, you will A) use up more epoxy than you need to, and B) may not get enough all the way in where you need it. On that note, if you cut it on the band saw, then rough it out, THEN epoxy it (as long as it will stay together long enough for that), you will use only the epoxy that you REALLY need, and you will be more likely to get an even fill.

[John Keeton]

I would guess I should follow Mike's advise & first fill the voids with epoxy colored with ground coffee, then cut the round on the bandsaw, then glue on a block for turning like John suggested. One question though, what type glue should I use to add the block?Joe, I use 5 minute Harbor Freight epoxy for just about everything unless I have the time for Titebond, which would be the preferred method. Locate the center of your round, using a compass draw a circle just a hair larger than the waste block, apply Titebond and using the tailstock in the center of the waste block, jam the assembly against the open jaws of the chuck overnight. Then, while still jammed, turn a tenon on the wasteblock - flip it around and chuck it. Quick, simple and foolproof - just spin it fairly slow to cut the tenon and you will do fine with medium tailstock pressure.

Mike is correct in that you should rough turn it, then fill the cracks with epoxy and your choice of filler. Then when you finish turn it, you will level the epoxy and make finishing so much easier.

[Jim Burr]

Another idea, giver you are a new turner, is to wrap it and store it while you build skills. Come back to it when you have some soild skills in hand. I have several dozen chunks like that;)!

[Bill Wyko]

Don't know what the wood is but I would rough it out for a NE platter. Fill the cracks with epoxy and turn it down the rest of the way.

[Jamie Donaldson]

It appears that the wood has been sealed on the faces, and I would be very cautious about trying to secure it for turning with any type of glue!