Palm Timber Issues

[Mark James]

I've been absent, but still poking in the shop at times. These are my current struggles with using Palm as end caps. Previously they turned fine, recently have given me fits. I did get the five I needed done, then switched the Palm for the middle section and had an easier time. With the ends of the Palm protected by the Royal Poinciana, there was less chance for a catch. Also, maybe my tool skills were better after numerous blowouts on the first five.

 

[wm460]

They are beauties Mark.

 

[alan morrison]

Classy looking pens, Mark. What are the timbers other than the palm?
Alan

 

[fortress]

A very nice job done Mark, those blanks are most impressive.

 

[Phil Dart]

THey look great Mark. Did you use a gouge on the palm or a carbide cutter?

 

[Penpal]

Beautiful work Mark,I know about Palm and it can be beautiful and beast.

Peter.

 

[Penpal]

Beautiful work Mark,I know about Palm and it can be beautiful and beast.

Peter.

 

[Bill Mooney]

Well turned & finished blanks Mark.
When I sand palm I start at 100 grit. With the lathe turning at approx 800rpmI put a big drop of superglue on my abrasive & run my abrasive along the blank from one end to the other to cover the blank in glue & immediately start to sand. The dust mixed with the glue fills the open grain & I then sand as normal. This gives a nice smooth finish. Hope this helps.

 

[Les ELm]

They all look great.
Nicely turned and finished.

Les

 

[angelo49]

I've never used Palm but they look great Mark!!

 

[Penpal]

Thanks for the clues Bill.

Peter.

 

[Mark James]

Classy looking pens, Mark. What are the timbers other than the palm?
Alan

G'Day Alan. All are Palm and Royal Poinciana. The Palm was very dense and the Poinciana was soft. They are common in the Caribbean, and these 10 are an order for a strata company in the Cayman Islands using woods folks will have seen. This is a picture of a Royal Poinciana Tree at the airport in Cayman, very common all over the island.

 

[Mark James]

THey look great Mark. Did you use a gouge on the palm or a carbide cutter?

G'Day Phil. I used a 3/4" roughing gouge for 3/4 of the turning, the finished with a Sorby Micro spindle gouge (red handle): Buy Sorby 888HS12 12 Piece Modular Micro Turning Tool Set

I have gotten to really like the Sorby set for pens. For whatever reason, my carbides just didn't feel right for the Palm (I have a Magic Skew and Easy Wood Carbides).

Cheers.

 

[alan morrison]

Thanks for the reply Mark.
My sister lives on the Gold Coast in Queenland and those Poinciana are used as street trees and are very common there.
I had no idea the timber looked like that.
Alan