myrtlewood log

[byron constantine]

I have a 15" dia x 15" myrtlewood log and i am wanting to cut it so i can
make a salad bowl set out of it. I am not sure of which way to cut it as
i don't want to mess up. Should i slice it down the center and make two
halfs and go from there? This log was cut about 3 or 4 years ago, so it
should be plenty dry. I hauled it back from Oregon. Any ideas would be
helpful.
Thanks, Byron

[Mike Vickery]

I would mark where the pith is on both sides of the log and then cut straight though the pith. but that is just me and I never deal with dry logs.

[Christopher K. Hartley]

Byron, be cautious about thinking that the log is dry just because it was cut a few years ago. I just cut open a Hickory log that had been cut for over two years and it was extremely wet. I would take out a center slice where the pith is and end up with two halves.

http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/logcutting.html (Best)

http://www.customwooddesign.com/turninggreenwood-1.html

http://www.seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/2006/03/cutting-large-pieces-of-wood.html

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/woodlot_page4.htm

http://www.memphiswoodturning.com/from_the_tree.htm

This probably seems like overkill but I know how I felt when I was asking the same question. Hope it helps.:)

[John Hart]

Yep..I agree....cut right down the center lengthwise through the pith...then chunk up the two halves. Two halves make a whole lotta fun. Get it? Two halves make a whol..... Ok.....sorry.:o

[Roger Bell]

You are going to really like the smell once you start turning it. One of my faves.

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

My simple opinion.

1. a 15" diameter Log will take 15 years to dry unless it's in death valley.

2. The best way to get rid of the Pith is to draw a line through the pith; add two more lines 1/2" either side of the middle line. Cut these lines and you should not have "pith" problems. Now, what to do with pith. Cut down either side of the pith, then cut the rest of the pieces into 1" strips. These can be used for pen blanks.

Bruce