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Thread: Which of these for turning?

  1. #1

    Which of these for turning?

    It was a pure stroke of luck finding some good turnin' wood in this parch NW Arizona area but today a local urban harvester offered me the following species, at a price of course. Which would be best for woodturning?

    Elm
    Ash
    Koa
    Eucalyptus
    Willow
    Cypress
    Some type of tree that has a spiral or twisted trunk. Maybe it Cypress but can't recall.
    A few others that I can't remember

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Roseville,Ca
    Posts
    455
    I thought Koa was only found on the Hawaiian islands.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Elmodel, Ga.
    Posts
    798
    All of the above.
    My Dad always told me "Can't Never Could".

    SWE

  4. #4
    I have not turned koa, willow or cypress though I am familiar with willow and cypress. Willow seems stringy and cypress is rather bland and IMO lacks interest. Ash and elm are pleasant to turn and have grain and color that I like, though I have heard comments about elm having an odor. I do not have a sense of smell, so that isn’t a factor for me.

    Left click my name for homepage link.

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Dwight Rutherford View Post
    I thought Koa was only found on the Hawaiian islands.
    I didn't actually see the Koa but was told it was in a pile somewhere on the property. I'll know a little more tomorrow when tagging the pieces. Mimosa was another wood pointed out that I couldn't recall before. And one more, the name also forgotten, with striking yellow heartwood. Again, I'll know more tomorrow. Can't wait to get some of it home.

  6. #6
    Turned elm, really nice turning wood. Can't say about the others

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Atikokan, Rainy River district, Ontario
    Posts
    3,540
    The top 4 are your best ones in most cases, but it depends on the specific tree and species, as not all are equal.
    Have fun and take care

  8. #8
    The Koa is probably just an acacia species common to AZ, like shoestring acacia or acacia salgina. Doubtful if it's Acacia Koa. I've turn eucalyptus before. The piece I used was pretty beat up, but it does turn a nice reddish color with BLO.

    I'll have to post a pic later as it is on my phone and I'm currently using my tablet..

    The mortar and pestle I'm using for a pic is from an acacia saligna (Port Jackson willow) tree that died in my yard when we had 4 consecutive nights of below freezing temps in Phoenix. I cut the tree down and left about 4 feet of trunk. A few years later, this spalting was the result.
    Last edited by Michael Costa; 11-17-2018 at 3:03 AM.

  9. Yeah, no way there is koa in AZ, but if you do have access to it I bet it would be nice to work with. I have worked with it, but never turned it. It saws and generally works nicely. I used it in making musical instruments and used left over scraps in making small boxes. It is a beautiful wood and a joy to work with.

    Some of our local club members made some beautiful projects in Eucalyptus.

    I think Elm is nice to work with if you can get it.

  10. #10
    20180428_112550.jpg

    This is probably the eucalyptus

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    lufkin tx
    Posts
    2,054
    All the species listed can grow in any suitable climate--tropicals of all kinds are planted all around the globe if the weather permits. Also there are hundreds of species that go by those common names. Old Forester

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    San Diego, Ca
    Posts
    1,647
    Elm
    Ash
    Koa
    Eucalyptus
    Willow
    Cypress

    First, I think that you should look at the ends of the wood pieces. Chances are the urban harvester may NOT have sealed the ends and there could be a bunch of checking/cracking. So, take a look at the wood first and eliminate any wood where you can't get a decent blank.

    I have harvested some black acacia and it is very pretty. I think that it is in the same family as Koa. The sapwood is light and the heartwood is almost black and lots of chatoyance (cat's eye shimmer).

    Elm can be pretty. I think that it is good to turn.

    Ash is a well behaved wood. Turns great. Minimal tearout. Seems pretty stable.

    eucalyptus? I think that there are 120 different varieties. I recently turned some red gum Euc. It turned okay when wet. But I started with an 11 inch platter that turned out to be 9" x 11" oval. It warped horribly. And it was so rock hard that sanding was almost impossible. Some of the pieces warped so badly (and yes I took a bunch of precautions) that they also badly cracked. Some of the more behaved Euc that I have turned was pretty bland. So, I have mixed feeling about paying for Euc.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Chicago Heights, Il.
    Posts
    2,136
    Contact some of the clubs in Arizona. Turning quality can vary quite a bit in different regions. I talked to a turner in North Carolina a couple weeks ago. He said their cherry isn’t as nice as the cherry from the northern U.S. I know willow up here is soft and stringy. Ash can different because of growth rings. Local turners know a lot about what are the best in your area. If you join a club you will probably have access to free wood. Clubs have people offering wood and many members have saws.
    Member Illiana Woodturners

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Fredericksburg, TX
    Posts
    2,576
    The Mimosa mentioned makes good turnings but some are allergic to the wood. I have enjoyed turning over a dozen pieces from it up to a 16" bowl. A Danish Oil type finish really brings out some good grain pattern and wood reminds me of some Hawaiian Koa. I pick up any available over 4" diameter.

  15. #15
    I'm in Phoenix and mesquite is hands down the overall best in my opinion. Easy to get for free, turns well, finishes well, and looks beautiful.

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