BOWL BLANKS FOR DUMMIES

[Drcal]

I am mostly a pen turner but I want to try other stuff. I have dabbled in turning small clocks and candle holders but I am not great at it. Recently I purchased some beautiful blanks- no cracks - great blanks, but I have never turned some of the woods.

The ones I got and have never turned are
-sassafrass
-honey locust
-shag bark hickory

Can someone help me with which one is the easiest to turn?
and
Which one finishes best?

Thanks.

Carmen

 

[David Keller]

Hickory and locust are both fairly hard woods. I've not turned sassafras, but I'll bet it's the softest of the three... As a bonus, I'm told it smells nice(root beerish). Hickory and locust both take a nice finish, and I've seen sassafras finished very nicely. YMMV

 

[keithware]

I would agree with that. My very first bowl was a piece of sassafrass. It turns easily and smells great.

 

[bitshird]

The Shag Bark Hickory will finish up nicely, but is pretty hard, the Honey Locust is also hard but will finish better than the hickory as it usually has a tighter grain, the sassafras is beautiful not extremely hard, fairly close grain and smells great in the shop. what type finish do you plan on using??

 

[Drcal]

not sure about a finish. I haven't turned anything bigger than a bottle stopper in years. Any suggestions, Ken? .......or anyone?

Carmen

 

[keithkarl2007]

Depends on the bowls intended use. If it is for food, use a food safe finish, walnut oil can be used but i think there could be a problem if the person using it has a nut allergy.