I scored some crepe myrtle today. Most is in the 6-7" range, but a few chunks might be big enough for a small bowl. I have never turned this wood. Anybody out there that has and if so, what does it look like?
[OP]
Contributor
I scored some crepe myrtle today. Most is in the 6-7" range, but a few chunks might be big enough for a small bowl. I have never turned this wood. Anybody out there that has and if so, what does it look like?
Contributor
If you can find some curly pieces like where the trunk flares out then it will make some beautiful pieces. Otherwise it can be very plain.
Contributor
Wally, not only is is plain, but all I’ve ever had cracked like there’s no tomorrow! It makes great tool handles, as it’s pretty hard wood. Good luck!
Don't let it bring you down,
It's only castles burning,
Just find someone who's turning,
And you will come around
Neil Young (with a little bit of emphasis added by me)
Board member, Gulf Coast Woodturners Association
Moderator
I've only turned a few small things. 6-7" is pretty big for ornamental crepe myrtle, at least around here!Originally Posted by Wally Crawford
I've successfully dried a number of crepe myrtle blanks by cutting the round into smaller pieces for spindle turning and sealed well. I don't think I've ever had a big enough piece for a bowl, unless it could have been a tiny bowl! Turns well for finials and such.
JKJ
Contributor
From what I've seen, you need to turn it to a thin finished wall when wet. It moves quite a bit, but that is part of it's appeal.
Friend of the Creek
I have turned Christmas bell ornaments out of Crepe myrtle of just this size for several years. I usually use prunings and coat the ends as soon as they are cut with Anchor seal, then store out of sunlight for 6-9 months before turning. This has given me good results with minimal cracking. My experience with fresh cuit summer wood is that it tends to crack.
Contributor
I took a forked piece of crepe myrtle and cored it right down the center to about 3" of the bottom. Put a tenon on the end for turning, OBTW. Each fork was ~3" in diameter stem if I remember correctly. The ideas was to make vase. Turned the outside and it started cracking. I realized the fork was probably going to split apart as well. I poured epoxy into the cored hole and filled the cracks with epoxy (which interlocked with bottom fill). Really made a nice vase. I happened to have a glass vase that fit well. SIL wanted it really bad. Wish I had a picture.
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