Cottonwood?
Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey
>Anyone turned cottonwood? If so, please describe. Stuff I have has distinctive smell which I thought was elm, but leaf-site points to Eastern cottonwood.
Thanks
Mark
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Cottonwood?
Posts
Re: Cottonwood?
#2Re: Cottonwood?
TDaniel
>it will teach you how to sharpen your tools and to cut with the cutting-edge at 45 degrees. A spiral chip is a must to avoid torn spots. The grain can be very pretty. Be prepared to do a lot of sanding at best or get out the trick book.
TD
Re: Cottonwood?
#3Re: Has a distinctive smell.
Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey
>Shop took on the aspect of a locker room.
Re: Cottonwood?
#4Re: Has a distinctive smell.
Wolf Kiessling
>I've turned a couple of pieces of cottonwood and didn't think it smelled particularly bad. Not as bad as catalpa, anyhow. I just want to mention it also carves pretty good. Attached is the last piece I turned/carved.
Re: Cottonwood?
#5Re: Has a distinctive smell.
Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey
>Hi, Wolf,
See you've been busy. Got this stuff with a lot of color in it but don't know whether to turn it or burn it. It's dead wet and HEAVY.
Mark
Re: Cottonwood?
#6Re: Has a distinctive smell.
Wolf Kiessling
>What kind of color are we talking about, Mark? Most of the "colorful" cottonwood (make that all) I've seen has been predominantly blue to gray, not counting the regular white/creamy regular color.
My recommendation, if it's cottonwood, turn it..... (or carve it, you should know how)
Don't forget, all actual AUTHENTIC Hopi (maybe also Zuni) fethishes (not the ones churned out for the tourist dollar) are carved from cottonwood root.
Re: Cottonwood?
#7
Re: Has a distinctive smell.
Dick Hines
>I like cottonwood and yes it has a smell. I got the pieces I did dry from Barbara Gill. As terry said you need sharp tools and a good supply of 60 grit gouges. If you can get some from a crotch or where a limp intersects the trunk it has some fine figure.
Post a picture of the finished piece.
Re: Cottonwood?
#8Re: Got Color?
Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey
>Black streaks with areas of green, blue, tan/brown, sap stains in red that are oxidizing into a redish brown. Some colors intensify along the rings, others seem to pick an area to shade.
Yep, I'll post a pic when the rough is completed. Stuff is so wet and sloppy I need a powered wiper on my face shield!
Mark