Do you think this will turn?

[Chillicamper]

I cut down a large Wisteria a few years back at my parents house. Whilst trying to tidy the shed a bit earlier, I found a section of Wisteria branch that I had saved and put aside to dry. I roughtly squared it up to see what the wood/grain is like. It has a fairly fibrous grain.

So what do you reckon the chances of turning it and getting a decent pen out of it? Any tips for dealing with more fibrous woods (other than keeping the tools really sharp). Would it be a candidate for stabilising (not that I have the kit to do that at present).

Any thoughts gratefully received. It looks to have interesting colour, so I'd like to try and not cock this up.

I've got enough of this branch to get another 2-3 pieces out of it at least if it works.

 

[Woody]

Any wood is worth trying sharp skew would be my choice of tool part turn then apply super thin C/A glue and continue stop and re apply C/A as needed there is no reason why it wont work

 

[bassethound]

That sure looks good enough to try as Woody said!

 

[Grump]

Do you think this will turn?

It don't matta what we think, if you wanna spin it then go ahead and spin it.
There are many things you wouldn’t think have been on a lathe, look at turning a cabbage it's on you tube init?

 

[Jim]

Follow Woody's advice David, and we should be seeing a Wisteria pen in the forums ..

 

[billyb_imp]

You've got nothing to lose by giving it ago, hope we see the resulting pen soon

 

[paulm]

Yup, just like Woody said.

 

[Penpal]

Think thats a challenge it is but to me it has promise you invited comment on other fibrous grain the Palm tree is one that can be stunning and a real trial, I have some called Black boy commonly here in Australia that is positively tubed roots the botannical spelling escapes me but it sounds like Xanthorea it can be beautiful turned requiring care as well. I like your approach just doing it finding, cutting drying turning it sounds like it could have sentimental value coming from your place as well.

Peter.

 

[Dalboy]

If in doubt try it out is what I say

 

[Bill Mooney]

Give a go. Just because it doesn't dress right doesn't say it won't turn nicely. Iroko is a prime example. It doesn't matter which way you dress it you get torn grain but it turns ok WITH SHARP TOOLS.

 

[Chillicamper]

Cheers for your ideas and tips chaps. I will not have much of a chance to get in the shed for the next week or so, too much other stuff happening with kids etc. But I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

 

[wm460]

It should turn out great.