Hi everyone,
I'm a woodturner working with wood that is first dried in a humid region (until equilibrium moisture ~14-16%), then wrapped in plastic and transported to my workshop, which is very dry (RH ~10-12%). I open the plastic bags every night to let moisture escape, and after a few months the wood gets quite dry (probably below 10% MC). However, I always get some cracking in the first days, and now I'm facing another issue:
**The problem:**
When I turn a bowl or a cup from this very dry wood, one side of the piece (usually the inside of the bowl) becomes fuzzy, with raised fibers that feel like velvet or tiny torn strands. But the **back side of the same bowl** (the exterior, turned immediately after with the same gouge, same speed, same sharpness) is perfectly smooth – almost glass-like.
**My questions:**
1. Could it be related to the wood's anatomy (vessel elements, supported vs unsupported fibers) – and if so, why only on one side?
2. What specific tool geometry (gouge flute shape, bevel angle) or cutting technique should I change?
3. Should I stop turning this wood completely dry and instead turn it at a higher MC (say 12-15%)?
4. Any finishing tricks (hot oil, shellac, burnishing) that permanently remove these fibers without losing detail?
**Additional context:**
The wood has been slowly acclimatized through perforated plastic bags over 4 weeks before turning. I get cracks occasionally, but the fuzziness is my main headache now.
Any advice from experienced turners who work with very dry hardwood would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
