HEART PINE

[Chips n dust]

I have a customer who has a piece of heart pine and would like me to turn a pen for him from it. Has anybody had any experience with turning this wood?
Thanks in advance guys and gals.
Trevor

A day without sawdust is like a day without sunshine.

 

[Bev Polmanteer]

I've used it for other things and find it very soft wood.

 

[Guest]

Heart pine is a soft eoof per se, coniferous.
As far as it beong soft, I doun't konow.
Once it has dried it will make nails cry.
Wild grain pattern but that may be lost is something as small in dia as a pen.
1x4 heart pine flooring runs $5.00 a LINEAL ft.
African blackwood is a hard wood and it turns like butter.

 

[jwoodwright]

I've turned a lot of wood. Some was supposed to be hardwood and layered me in "ribbons". Some was supposed to be "soft" and spewed hot dust as the gouge went to it.

The only way you'll know for sure is to work it. Often you'll end up using a 100 grit "gouge" on "wild" stock...[]

Let us know what you find.[]