I HATE when this happens!!! - maiden voyage

[Roger Chandler]

Well, took a few minutes to do the inaugural run of the new Delta midi 46-460.......I must say I am fairly impressed with the little machine......I put heavy cuts on it and never bogged it down in the middle speed range nor when I sanded on the low belt speed ranges.........very nice indeed!

Then it happened.....:eek: .......you know, when you almost have the turning completed! The Stonewall Jackson white oak is approximately 350 years old, and whenever I turn it, I never know what will happen! :confused: I need to get some of this wood taken care of and sent to museums, etc who are asking for pieces for their display, so I decided to sort of take care of the inaugural run and make something from the SJPT at the same time.

I was on the lid, and the thing exploded on me! :eek::eek::eek: I hate when that happens! No catch.......just came apart....I think it is because this tree has some serious windshake after 3-1/2 centuries of storms, winters, droughts, floods and everything mother nature threw at it. I had a good one going, but alas.......to no avail! :(

[Jim Underwood]

Y'know I think it's a clean enough break I'd epoxy it and finish it up.

[Steve Mawson]

Yes you did have a good one going, looked to be a very nice piece. So what are you going to do? Another one or get out the glue? I agree with Jim from the looks of the picture

[James Combs]

Y'know I think it's a clean enough break I'd epoxy it and finish it up.
Or even some CA would work. As a matter of fact if I were turning it I would be tempted to try and stabilize the whole think after the repair with maybe a soak in some Cactus Juice (http://www.turntex.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=121). Roger you might want to look into CJ for future SJPT projects as well.

[Roger Chandler]

Yes you did have a good one going, looked to be a very nice piece. So what are you going to do? Another one or get out the glue? I agree with Jim from the looks of the picture

Steve........since I was making this one for the Miller-Kite House museum [One of General Jackson's temporary headquarters] I want it to be fairly pristine.......if that is possible.........I think I will have another go at another piece of the wood. thanks!

[Roger Chandler]

Or even some CA would work. As a matter of fact if I were turning it I would be tempted to try and stabilize the whole think after the repair with maybe a soak in some Cactus Juice (http://www.turntex.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=121). Roger you might want to look into CJ for future SJPT projects as well.

Thanks for that link, JD........I might have to look into one of those vacuum units........oh, this vortex!:D

[Bart Leetch]

Thanks for that link, JD........I might have to look into one of those vacuum units........oh, this vortex!:D

Roger we have cookies too.:eek::D

[Roger Chandler]

Where 'ya been Bart? Good to hear from you........are you still making curlees out in the PNW?

[Richard Coers]

Cactus Juice will not fill cracks. It only stabilizes soft or punky wood. When you see cracks like that as you turn it, it's gonna come apart nearly all the time. Lucky it didn't hit you in the face!


Thanks for that link, JD........I might have to look into one of those vacuum units........oh, this vortex!:D

[Roger Chandler]

Cactus Juice will not fill cracks. It only stabilizes soft or punky wood. When you see cracks like that as you turn it, it's gonna come apart nearly all the time. Lucky it didn't hit you in the face!

Thanks Richard.........I did not see the crack until after it came apart........I guess it was hidden and when it was spinning I did not notice it..........I am thankful it did not hit me as well!

[Bernie Weishapl]

I agree with Jim that it looks like a clean break. I would definitely use some good epoxy and put it together. You might be surprised and barely see the line. I did that on some Russian Olive. It worked extremely well.

[Roger Chandler]

Well, I took Jim's suggestion........used CA glue [medium] and the broke piece stood proud of the surface of the bowl part. :( ...even though I clamped it and wrapped it with strapping tape to pull the piece in tight. Looks like I will have to find another piece suitable for this and give it another go........thing about it is that for the museum, I do not have to put a lid on it.....they said a bowl would be great, so we shall see what develops.

Thanks for the suggestions folks.......much appreciated! :)

[Baxter Smith]

Too bad it broke and your repair didn't work. I was going to suggest that perhaps burning the repair/glue line would make it look like a natural crack (Similar to the one in the lid).

[Reed Gray]

Hmm, those stress cracks can be invisible. Maybe try a little mineral spirits on it before it is finished, or even a 'thunk' test where you rap it with a knuckle and notice if the sound rings or thunks. Thunk meaning a crack. Ounce of prevention..... Hate invisible flaws like that....

robo hippy

[Roger Chandler]

Thanks Reed.........I guess in retrospect, I should have stopped the lathe more often and inspected the piece......everything seemed to be going fine until pop! :eek: You know how when you are doing a piece and you seem to be on a roll.......that is where I was with this, and was at the last bit of making the lid and getting ready to shape the knob.......hard to make yourself stop when you are that near the goal line! :D

[Jamie Donaldson]

You forgot the ol' Jordan saying about "life is too short to turn..#*&^%$#....wood!" And besides, that wood is REALLY OLD, and most woods degrade with such age! I would throughly inspect it as I turn, and tape it with filament tape just to be safer.

[Roger Chandler]

You forgot the ol' Jordan saying about "life is too short to turn..#*&^%$#....wood!" And besides, that wood is REALLY OLD, and most woods degrade with such age! I would throughly inspect it as I turn, and tape it with filament tape just to be safer.

Jamie......those very words have run through my mind several times as of late.........because the historical significance of the tree, and the many requests for items from it, we will just have to try to find the pieces that will work........sometimes this is a hit or miss proposition, and I will try to look more for those hairline cracks and be more attentive while the turning is in process.......thanks!

One of our club members has called this Jackson Prayer tree wood - "the most challenging wood in captivity" .:eek:....I think he got it right! ;)