Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Turning willow?
newbie
>I have what you might call "the mother of all bowl blanks". It's a piece of black willow, about 27" in diameter and 3" long. Fresh cut.
I've sealed one end with paint and am waiting the paint to dry to flip it and paint the other end.
I know willow is very soft. Pushing a pocketknife into the endgrain makes me suspect this log is harder than most.
Anyway, any hints on turning pieces of it? Also, is this a species likely to explode in a catch?
Re: Turning willow?
Richard Allen
>The paint is likely to soak up into the end grain a fair amount (as much as an inch). You said 3" long, did you mean 3 feet long?
Willow tends to fuzz a lot making clean cuts a challenge. Plan on sharpening and honing your bowl gouge. Be sure to pay attention to your cuts. If you aren't getting a clean cut, try a different angle of attack. Once you find a cut that gives you the kind of results you are looking for try to stay with that cut.
If the blank is 3 inches long then I wouldn't hold much hope for it. A 3" blank of willow is going to be difficult to secure to the lathe. Cutting end grain is problematic with most woods and very difficult with willow. The paint is going to soak in and reduce a good portion of the length of wood you can turn.
Good Luck
Richard
Re: Turning willow?
Don Orr
>Don't forget your raincoat if you turn it green!