Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
advise on cutting a burl
Doug
>I have a burl slab (maple I think) that measures 16 X 16 X 9 inches thick. I would like to make two or three vessels from it. In order to take advantage of the burls - or is it eyes - should the vessels be end grain or side grain - or does it make any difference?
I tried to add a photo but could not get it small enough.
Re: advise on cutting a burl
Georg Waldhof
>I'm not sure it matters much with a dense, close grained wood like maple. Of course, a lot is going to depend on the size and style of the vessels you want to make. 16x16x9 would make a few shallow 16 plates, or a group of nesting bowls up to 16x16, in which case your dealing with whatever direction the grain is going if the block is mounted on a faceplate.
on the other hand, if you split the block into two 8x8x16 sections you could mount it either with a jaw chuck, or something - or mount it like turning a spindle, and make a goblet type vessel, in which case you have two. I would incline to having the grain run parallel to the lathe bed in that case.
its kind of your call there.
Good luck
George
