Least Favorite Turning Wood ?

any spalted that tears out

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Re: Least Favorite Turning Wood ?

JanManuel

>I hate turning pine...if I have to, I charge extra for turning it.....

I am with you Brad

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>I hate turning Wenge. Seems to fall apart just about the time I am getting it to the right thickness.

Mark

Re: Least Favorite Turning Wood ?

John Lucas

>I think the stuff I turned the other day is called Brazilian Cherry. It's dry and often used for flooring. Man does that stuff tear out easy. Even a razor sharp skew doesn't work. I found the best tool was a small gouge. I guess because you were taking such a small bite.

I don't mind Wenge. I love to make my hand mirrors by bleaching the Wenge. The chocolate wood bleaches while the dark wood doesn't so get something that looks like Zebra wood only more contrast.

Purple heart tears out too but it looks so darned good when it ages it's worth it.

Another wood that sucks is Wysteria. Long fibers pull out and the wood warps so bad you can't put it back on the lathe.

Re: Least Favorite Turning Wood ?

Wood Spinner

>Colorado Aspen has to be the worst. Not much color and no matter how sharp the tools you have to start with 40 0r 60 grit to sand to the pull out.

I HATE IT. It makes me feel like I don't know how to turn

Good turning and be safe

Bill

Re: Least Favorite Turning Wood ?

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>Hi Brad,

I've only done a few pieces of it, but I think cypress is the most problematic wood I've turned. I found the tearout to be awful and just couldn't get a smooth finish.

I'm sorry to hear others complain about wenge! I just last week bought a 6x6x2 chunk from Woodcraft to play with! I'll be extra careful for the barbs and leave it a little thick :)

Interesting thread.

Mike

Wake, soccer, sleep, repeat in Apex, NC!

Re: Least Favorite Turning Wood ?

Duane C.Leach

>I hate Cotton Wood. No color, Fibers pul out, and has a foul smell Like horse urine.

I will 2nd that, Cottonwood = horse urine

John Crissman

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Red Oak...

Peter Teubel

>...is not allowed in my shop (green wood, that is). To me it stinks to high heaven.

But Often Awesome Figure !

Barbara Gill, Remlik Virginia

>I have a love/hate relationship with cottonwood. Of all the native woods in Eastern Va. it probably has the most dramatic figure. I don't mind the smell; it reminds me of horse saddles. The tearout can be a problem but it samds well.

Re: Red Oak...

John Lucas

>I feel about Red Oak like Barbara does about Cottonwood. The smell doesn't bother me and I really like the look of a finished piece but I hate all the rust the wet wood creates. I feel like I need a Hazmat suit for the lathe, tools and anything else metal within 10 feet of the lathe.

Cottonwood

Dave Winters, Steamboat Springs, CO

>I don't mind the smell so much, but the problem is my wife HATES the smell. So much so I have to keep a change of clothes in the shop for turning it and shower immediately after. Hey, SWMBO, right? But it can have good figure in the crotch area and can get good burls.

That was beautiful! I will try it again,

John Crissman

>but with a clothespin on my nose!

Re: Basswood!!

DaveZ

>Akin to turning a rubber ball.

Re: Red Oak...

DaveZ

>I can deal with red oak, but fresh pin oak smells like puke )-;

Re: Cottonwood

TDaniel

>It also smells like the crotch area.......

Re: Cottonwood

Dave Winters, Steamboat Springs, CO

>Ooh, that response really stinks. Good one though. Here's another Cottonwood crotch bowl.

Re: Least Favorite Turning Wood ?

EagleS.C.

>I'll take any ones Wenge,

I don't have any problems with it,

makes great pens.

The center pen is wenge with centerband cut on end grain and a piece of antler thrown in for contrast

Re: Cottonwood

Bernie

>cotton wood platter did not notice a bad smell??

Red Cedar

Ric

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Re: Least Favorite Turning Wood ?

Barry Turner

>Did you see my Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) bowl at the July TAW meeting? That stuff is difficult to turn.......hard, heavy. I really didn't find tear-out to be such a problem, though.