I saw the utility people cutting trees a couple of days ago so I went back on Saturday morning and threw a few hunks of wood into my truck. I got some nice red mulberry which I’ll use for tool handles and the like. I also got some hunks of what appears to be maple. One piece of maple has large dark stains on the ends which I didn’t think much of until I cut off some unusable wood on one side and discovered the handiwork of the ambrosia beetles. So now it appears that the ambrosia streaks go all the way thru the sapwood area of the hunk. I’d really like to turn some pieces which would prominently feature the ambrosia streaks.
My qiestion is what are my best options for bandsawing the piece. Should I try to get one big 12” diameter very open bowl, should I try to get several smaller bowls, say 6-7”, or should I try to get a big platter with ambrosia stains over the whole surface? I could also consider a tall vase-like piece with the grain running vertically. Either way I go I think I’d rather turn finished thin-walled pieces rather than rough turn thick pieces and take a chance they won’t crack as they dry.
I appreciate any suggestions. I think I’ll go back and see if there’s any more of this tree left.