Which chunk of Mesquite would you take

Re: Which chunk of Mesquite would you take

Bobby

>Ron,

Either piece would be well worth having. Mesquite has some beautiful grain pattern. The crotch might present more of a challenge but would make an excellent turning, IMO.

Bobby

Re: Which chunk of Mesquite would you take

Joe Fleming

>I too would pick the gnarliest piece. Mesquite is very stable and the more wild the wood, the more interesting the piece.

Joe Fleming - San Diego

Crotch -- always.

Brad Vietje

>

Re: Crotch,(in a heartbeat!)

DaveZ

>

Crotch me too.

steve antonucci

>

Re: Which chunk of Mesquite would you take

Steve Russell

>Hello,

Humm... I turn lots of Mesquite, thousands and thousands of pounds every year. Mesquite is a mixed bag. It leads a hard life, sandstorms, borers, high winds, D-9 dozers on the rampage, etc.

It is by far, my favourite timber, but it disappoints me as often as it inspires me. I have processed about 75 crotches of Mesquite. I have yet to find the crotch that makes me drop my jaw.

Some have been nice, but many have had a split down the "Y", thus preventing the feather from forming. So many times I have had a magnificent crotch (on the outside) and opened it up to find the dreaded split, no feather, no figure and another disappointment.

This is the way of Mesquite. It is one of the most beautiful timbers in the entire world, but you sometimes have to really love it, to work it. Ah, the memories of rough turning green Mesquite, full of grubs with a face only a mother could love... Splat, splat, splat! At times, you need wipers on your faceshield. :-(

Having said that, I would opt for the straight piece. Smaller crotches may have little, if any feather and may well have have grown with the dreaded tension eliminator, the crotch split.

YMMV, but I have almost ten years of working with tons of Mesquite and I know it well... Whatever you decide, good luck to you and best wishes in all of your turning endeavours!

Steven D. Russell

Eurowood Werks Woodturning Studio and Advanced Research Centre

The Woodlands, Texas

Machinery, Tool and Product Testing for the Woodworking and Woodturning Industries

Note new email: steverussell@houston.rr.com

Re: Which chunk of Mesquite would you take

Sean Troy

>I have to agree with Steve. I turn a lot of the mesquite here in Arizona. I'll take a straight log any time . You have a much better chance of getting good clean wood with out the stress cracks and the grain is much easier to plan with. Godd luck what ever way you go, sean

Re: Which chunk of Mesquite would you take

bill hale

>Sorry Steve and Sean

I would opt for the croch. I have turned some dramatic fire. Yes the straight wood is beautiful but the possibility of a realy great piece far outweights straight. Even if it does not have the fire it still will be great.

With Sean and I living in AZ. we, fortunately, get a lot of mesquite at almost no cost.

Good turning and be safe

Bill