100+ Yr Old Heartwood Yellow Pine --> Bowls

[Tom Hartranft]

Some years ago, my Dad gave me some posts from his front porch at the house where I grew up in years ago in Penna. The house was built late 1800s and the porch added early 1900s. I've been using the porch post wood sparingly for special things and this year decided to try turning some things for my Mom for Christmas as a special treat from that old house where she set up housekeeping 70+ years ago. The posts have a lot of character ... nail holes, cracks, bruising darkenings, etc. So when I started I didn't know if I could get solid enough pieces to withstand the turning forces. But I managed to complete 2 out of 3 blanks that I cut off of the porch post ... small crack propagated to failure on a 3rd blank during turning. The old wood is very dry and somewhat brittle which made end grain chip-out a challenge, but managed to get most of that smoothed over. I finish coated the two bowls with paste wax and put a spinning coat of BLO on top of that. Wanted a soft, breathable, and tactile finish for the old wood so it takes on some natural patina with handling. They go in the mail tomorrow back to Penna as a Christmas present ... nothing unique about the turnings, but the wood memories are 'priceless' to me and Mom.

Cross-cut handsawing a piece off of one post. I subsequently ripped the cut-off piece with the grain then bandsawed the two blocks round for turning in traditional bowl blank fashion.

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/tjh_020/1212%20Porch%20Post%20Bowls/IMG_1920Small.jpg

Here are some photos of one deep bowl (6" dia x 3" deep) and one deep plate (6" dia x 1" deep). The posts were only 6-1/2" square so 6" dia was as large as I could go. 'Character' marks can be seen on the deep bowl ... couple of nail holes on bottom and some darkened wood on side; there are others on backside. That's ok as I like to see character in wood. I kept the sides and bottom of the deep bowl thicker than I normally would for a bowl to lessen likelihood of of the old wood failing during turning. The deep plate appeared to be a solid piece so I did go fairly thin on its walls and it held up well.

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/tjh_020/1212%20Porch%20Post%20Bowls/IMG_1926Small.jpg

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/tjh_020/1212%20Porch%20Post%20Bowls/IMG_1927Small.jpg

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/tjh_020/1212%20Porch%20Post%20Bowls/IMG_1928Small.jpg

[Russell Eaton]

Nothing like a bowl with a story! I bet you mom loves it. I really like the grain in it.

[Michelle Rich]

this is what is so cool about turning..using something with a history & giving it a 2nd job. Good for you

[Doug W Swanson]

I also love reusing wood for stuff like this. Love the story, too!

[Eric Gourieux]

I'm sure your mom will love them. Great story and great memories!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Nice work Doug! Always love it when we can preserve some family history through turning! I am sure your Mom will love these!

[Lee Koepke]

Fantastic.

I recently turned a bowl with similar history - 102 yr old high school that we had to tear down - and gave it to the Superintendent that I have been working with. He not only graduated from that school, but taught there, coached there, and was its principal.

My shop smelled like Christmas for a week!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Really nice bowl and love the stories that goes with it.

[Dave Carey]

What a treat. And beautiful work as well!

[curtis rosche]

How was the wood to work with? I have turned a bit of wood like that, it tore out alot unless I had a fresh edge. and had to be careful when sanding or it got a little wavy.

[John Sanders]

Gosh I do love wood with a story. I recently did several small bowls for a neighbor who brought me a roof beam from his great-grandfather's barn. As close as we could figure the barn was built in the 1820's. . . . oh an the Oak was dry!!!!