Newbie cherry gloat

[Steve Busey]

A friend at church came up to me yesterday and said: 'I've got something for you.' He had seen me admiring a walnut tree on a mission trip to rural Tennessee last month. So he talked his neighbor into the remaining 5 foot cherry stump (the neighbor had cut off all the main branches earlier this year).

There was cracking on the neighbor's cuts, but it's still solid and damp inside (Bob had to cut it in half to get it in his trunk). I've sealed it for now. Any thoughts on how I might utilize this piece?

http://www.grrrr8.com/images/cherry1

http://www.grrrr8.com/images/cherry2


http://www.grrrr8.com/images/cherry3

[Glenn Hodges]

Turn some bowls from it.

[Steve Busey]

Turn some bowls from it.

Thanks, Glenn - that's the ultimate goal! I was wondering how the experienced turners might pull a blank out of the crotch areas of the logs. Is that region a good candidate for bowl blanks?

[Bernie Weishapl]

Yep that is a excellent candidate. Cut it in half right down the pith if you are going to turn it right away. Use a template to cut you a round blank and turn away. Should give you a few nice bowls out of what you have.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Nice looking wood Steve! You should be able to get a number of bowl or hollow form blanks from all that cherry! I agree with Bernie - cut it right down the pith if you can turn it right now. Sealing it is good but I would rough turn as much as I could as soon as possible - something about cherry that loves to crack - at least for me!

Best of luck to you and have fun! Nothing more enjoyable than turning green wood!