More good news

[Super Ry]

Its been 36 hours and I turned my first new scrap of wood on the new lathe. Sooo much fun. I can see the exit to this hobby getting father and farther away. On my way to HD to buy the face sheild I started looking at the trees thinking "I wonder how many bowls that would make?" :7

My brother works at a construciton yard that has a LOAD of left over pine beams from a house they built some years ago. These are BIG - 8 to 16" diameter and 20' long! I have free reign of the place!! Exxxcelleeent!!!!!! Bro's checking on renting a chain saw from HD (hes used one before so I won't be trying this blind).

Figure the tools will be sharpened later this week (if I can wait that long) and I'll lock myself in the shop FOREVER!!

[Dario]

Ryan,

You will soon learn that not all woods are created equal...woodturning wise. Pine is not among the ones you will ideally turn.

Sorry.

Dario :)
[h4][font color = "blue"] Innovate or Stagnate[/font]
[font color = "red"]"I count my blessings more than my misfortunes"[/font][/h4]

[Super Ry]

:(

Seems to be the only thing we have avalable here. The blanks where I bought the lathe were 20 to 30 bucks a pop. Not much practicen on stuff that pricey!! Amazon better hurry up with that book order :)

[Dario]

Never buy blanks from those places if you can avoid it. Their prices are outrageous!

EBay is a good source...not sure how much shipping will be to you from California or Oregon but they have some awesome wood from those places.

Dario :)
[h4][font color = "blue"] Innovate or Stagnate[/font]
[font color = "red"]"I count my blessings more than my misfortunes"[/font][/h4]

[BigDaddy]

Ry,

Get yourself a chainsaw ... I know it sucks .. but you'll need one ...

Find a local tree removal service near you .. stop in there, tell them your a wood turner .. ask them if they have any logs for ya .. get the big logs .. 12+ inches in diameter, generally they'll have ... they'll usually give it to you pretty cheap, i can fillup the back of my truck for $50, and i've gotten maple, ash, and oak ... the back of my truck filled will yield about 20 - 30 bowls per load ...

i agree though as pine is the one wood you won't want too turn, too soft, and too grainy and it will tear out a lot on you ...

[Limey]

Hey Super Ry...don't let them bozos discourage ya'

You can turn pine..honest...OK it isn't the easiest but on the other hand it will tell you a lot about your technique and how sharp you can get your tools..:) :)

Goody goody practice stuff... Up here in the frozen North, Maple is very cheap and easy to obtain so we are a bit spoilt but I guess down in the arid tundra you have a choice of tumbleweed or nothing.

Have a go ..if it's slow grown stuff which it almost certainly is at that size you are going to have some fun...


Limey

[quartlow]

Hey anything free is worth a little practicing on!!! Gives you a chance to improve on tool technique for when you get the good stuff. I won't tell you about all the cherry I turn.....into firewood that is. Us yankees amy have to live in the snow part of the year but at least we don't have to import turning stock!! }> }> }>

[dubdrvrkev]

In our region (I am in Gilbert) we have some trees that are great for turning and good for trading if you get a enough of it, Mesquite, Ironwood, etc. But in the mean time Ebay is a pretty good souce. You should also look into your local turning club. I know some people in the AZ Woodturners Assoc. are doing a bulk buy on maple that I hear has burls, figure, birdseye, and about anything else you want. You may be able to get in on it still if you are interested. I still buy my wood because I don't have a chainsaw and, so far, really don't have the ambition to go hunt trees.

[WoodMangler]

Turn it ... almost any dried wood will turn... this is SYP from an old nasty 2 X 6 I found... it don't look too good but I learned from it... and that's what works - time with a gouge in your hand :)

http://www.woodhelp.com/2%20by%206%20bowl%20002.jpg