Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Crab Apple gloat - I think??
Ricc Havens
>A friend just cut down a crab apple tree and another one is coming down this weekend. He said I could have all I want.
I know I'll have to seal it and already have anchor seal.
But, as a newbie is this a decent wood to turn? Should I expect to be able to do bowls and stuff or just small items like pens and bottle stoppers.
Thanks for the input
Ricc Havens
Elkhart, IN
Re: Crab Apple gloat - I think??
Mike Schwing from Maryland
>It turns superbly! But it moves/warps/distorts more than any other wood I've worked with. The crabapple tree I worked with had tons of voids/bark inclusions in it, and I was too new of a turner to really work with them well.
If you're going to cut them into blanks for storage, I'd recommend sealing the entire blank, not just the end grain as they can crack pretty readily not fully coated.
Crabapple also spalts very well! Leave a chunk sitting on the ground for the summer.
Here's a bowl of spalted crabapple I turned
Enjoy your gloat!
Re: Crab Apple gloat - I think??
Brad Vietje
>Like Mike says, it turns very nicely -- I recommend either thin turnings from green wood, or sealing a rough-turnrd bowl completely to dry it. You can also try experimenting with soap or boiling your rough-turned bowls before drying them.
Unless you are going to turn something real thin, don't leave the pith in the turned piece; this wood loves to crack radially away from the pith.
Safe Spinning,
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT