My basement smells like apples!

1/11/04, 11:34 PM #1

Mike Schwing from Maryland
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My basement smells like apples!

Mike Schwing from Maryland

>It really, actually does. Here's all I could manage to round today before I just plum wore myself out. You can see the size - a 12" rule is on the table. Could have gone bigger but I can't turn bigger. Even the small blanks are big for me.

George - you asked if its prone to cracking - you bet it is. Also extremely prone to warping and distortion - which I really like. The only things I've not had crack on me were finished very thin and wet. This stuff - who knows. I'm going to try the normal roughing out/coating/waiting to dry, unless I want a wavy, artsy bowl.

You experienced guys - the apple I've thus far collected had been coated all over w/ anchorseal. I wanted to know if you thought, please, that it'd be OK the way pictured, or should I just finish off the top and bottom w/ anchorseal as well. Pic below. Thank you for your comments in advance.

For anyone not seeing fresh cut apple before - the red won't stay red, it'll turn a creamy brown.

Re: My basement smells like apples!

1/12/04, 1:20 PM #2

Jim Pugh in Ohio
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Re: My basement smells like apples!

Jim Pugh in Ohio

>I have found that putting green wood sealer on all raw surfaces is worth the time/material. Also, these blanks will sometimes only be stable for a few weeks before they start cracking so watch them and rough them out as soon as you can.

I have also found that putting the coated blanks in a plastic bag extends the length of time before they crack. Yes, they might mildew a bit but that mostly turns off.

A wood expert once told our turning club that fruitwood cracks readily and a 50% yield is about normal.

Re: My basement smells like apples!

1/12/04, 6:25 PM #3

Molly Winton
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Registered: 1/4/04

Re: My basement smells like apples!

Molly Winton

>I agree with Jim. Rough turn the bowls as soon as you are able, and then coat the entire roughed bowl with anchor seal. I think you'll have a better chance of success that way. They'll dry faster too. After rough turning and anchor sealing, babysit them for about 2 weeks checking them twice daily. If a check begins hit it with CA right away. After about 2 weeks, then watch them for about one more week checking them daily. After that you should be able to put them on a shelf and ignore them until it's time to final turn. One other option is to boil them for 3 full hours after rough turning and before applying the anchor seal.

Re: My basement smells like apples!

1/13/04, 4:29 AM #4

Bob Hackett
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Registered: 12/28/03

Taming apple

Bob Hackett

>I`ve had some luck with both apple and lilac by freezing pieces after roughing.I get less distortion and alot less losses due to deep checking.The wood seems to finish better too.

One of my friends(Pete Aslyn)claims to have cut his losses to less that 10% using the LDD soak method when using apple.He`s getting some large bowls which are thicker than what I`ve been turning,he carves a pie crust rim on them and leaves alot of sapwood included.Quite an amazing feat as anyone who has tried to turn large pieces from apple will tell you.

The common theme seems to be roughing as soon as possible.I don`t know anyone who has had any luck keepin apple blanks "in the round" till dry.I`m not counting those attempts that started out as bowl blanks and ended up platter blanks as any kind of success.

Mainely,Bob

My basement smells like apples!

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