JohnU
Member
I like to use self cut lumber and blanks mostly because of my funds, or lack of, for buying some of the high end turning woods out there. I found myself cutting up some pen small burl the other day and remembered reading a couple posts of people asking to see the process of cutting from burl and log to blank, so I pushed the pieces back together and got out the camera.
I dont claim to be an expert or even list this as instruction, but I have been using self harvest wood for the past year now and decided to share what works for me.
I found this small burl attached to the base of this tree cutting and decided to see what I could make of it. It was very dark and weathered but I hoped it held some beauty inside.
I planned my cuts for little waste, and used my bandsaw to slice the wood in 1 1/8" thickness. This leaves room for error, not so straight cuts, and shrinkage.
Next I cut the slabs to square blanks. I started saving all of the cuttings so I can try my hand at some of those worthless wood resin blanks we all see.
With the use of a few old cake pans and some denatured alcohol, I soak the blanks for 1 to 2 days, depending on the moisture in the blanks. I judge this by how much runs out when cutting. You can get the DA for about $13 a gallon. I filter and reuse after each process, so a little goes a long way.
Ater the soaking period I wrap each blank in a double layered half sheet of newspaper, folding the ends closed while rolling and held shut with masking tape. I throw them all in a box and place in a warm place. My shop is a little cold so I store them in the back of the utility closet. Now comes the hard part... Waiting for 30 to 40 days. After the wait, I take only a couple out first and unwrap, watching for a couple days to make sure there is no change, checking, bending, etc. This is how I know they are good to go.
After that they go to the blank rack and await their transformation!
The 2 lower shelves are self cut and dried. Ive had success with oak burl, sycamore, maple, box elder, cherry, mulberry, and osage orange. Great turnings all!
I dont claim to be an expert or even list this as instruction, but I have been using self harvest wood for the past year now and decided to share what works for me.
I found this small burl attached to the base of this tree cutting and decided to see what I could make of it. It was very dark and weathered but I hoped it held some beauty inside.
I planned my cuts for little waste, and used my bandsaw to slice the wood in 1 1/8" thickness. This leaves room for error, not so straight cuts, and shrinkage.
Next I cut the slabs to square blanks. I started saving all of the cuttings so I can try my hand at some of those worthless wood resin blanks we all see.
With the use of a few old cake pans and some denatured alcohol, I soak the blanks for 1 to 2 days, depending on the moisture in the blanks. I judge this by how much runs out when cutting. You can get the DA for about $13 a gallon. I filter and reuse after each process, so a little goes a long way.
Ater the soaking period I wrap each blank in a double layered half sheet of newspaper, folding the ends closed while rolling and held shut with masking tape. I throw them all in a box and place in a warm place. My shop is a little cold so I store them in the back of the utility closet. Now comes the hard part... Waiting for 30 to 40 days. After the wait, I take only a couple out first and unwrap, watching for a couple days to make sure there is no change, checking, bending, etc. This is how I know they are good to go.
After that they go to the blank rack and await their transformation!
The 2 lower shelves are self cut and dried. Ive had success with oak burl, sycamore, maple, box elder, cherry, mulberry, and osage orange. Great turnings all!
