Still converting wood

[Dalboy]

Even though I had cut the logs down I needed to cut many into rounds which help free up space as I have some under a cover in the garden. Managed to now cut 68 into rounds and have 90% of it all under cover and even then still have some more.
I will be glad when it is all done so that I can get some more turning done. I have some ideas that I want to have a go at.

This is what the wood pile is looking like as of today including old stock and I am still wondering if I can fit it all in.
In the first picture the smallest blank at the front is 4"diameter to give an idea of size.
In the photo with the stack in front of the window is some rounds that need sealing.
The last picture is the last bit to be sorted

 

[Penpal]

Derek there is potential and foresight displayed in your pictures. I used to watch Richard Raffan and others like him rough turning new bowls from a ton or two of burl etc,one guy had a swimming pool to keep his in water. He had eight kids I often wondered bhow they felt. Space must be at a premium at yours mate.

Peter.

 

[yorkshireman]

Nice little stash Derek mate, I’m quite envious

 

[Cumbrian Craig]

Whoh. That is a wood collection I would love. I wouldn't know where to start!!

Regards

Craig

 

[Dalboy]

Whoh. That is a wood collection I would love. I wouldn't know where to start!!

Regards

Craig

And none of this was brought from a timber yard. Just a few bowls pens and an odd breakfast.

 

[Dalboy]

At last finished all of the wood that was outside under a tarp so now all sealed under cover and in stick. Started with 128 pieces cut from the logs then once cut into rounds and hollow form blanks gives me a good amount to turn and that is after I gave 18 pieces away this now gives me a total of 102 bowl blanks and without getting on my knees to count the hollow form blanks a rough guess of 40 to 50. Some I will eventually rough turn to speed up drying. I am expecting some losses but with that amount should still give me a good amount.

 

[Neil Lawton]

Nice one Derek!
I've been blanking up for the turning shed and splitting for the burning shed for two days now. I'm beginning to seize up already!:monkon:

 

[Dalboy]

Nice one Derek!
I've been blanking up for the turning shed and splitting for the burning shed for two days now. I'm beginning to seize up already!:monkon:

Only two day Neil you must be getting old I started this lot before Christmas and like you have to take it easy now to get and do some turning have a couple of ideas that i want to do

 

[Neil Lawton]

Only two day Neil you must be getting old I started this lot before Christmas and like you have to take it easy now to get and do some turning have a couple of ideas that i want to do

Yes I'm now officially a lightweight as far as exercise is concerned, and a heavyweight as far as weight is concerned!
Thinking about it, the drive has not been totally free of wood for at least 4 years now. I managed to shift the blocks of Horse Chestnut that Ali kept backing into, because there wasn't enough room for the car yesterday, then more Robinia, ornamental Cherry, and a load of Yew logs turned up last night as I was tidying up.

 

[Dalboy]

Yes I'm now officially a lightweight as far as exercise is concerned, and a heavyweight as far as weight is concerned!
Thinking about it, the drive has not been totally free of wood for at least 4 years now. I managed to shift the blocks of Horse Chestnut that Ali kept backing into, because there wasn't enough room for the car yesterday, then more Robinia, ornamental Cherry, and a load of Yew logs turned up last night as I was tidying up.

The problem being is that you could end up spending more time converting than turning but then you need all that wood for teaching:wink:

 

[Penpal]

Hard to knock back free timber.

Peter.

 

[bigbob]

Nice lot of wood Derek. I know I have asked this before and have checked my posts for your reply but think a lot of old posts got deleted when the forum was rejigged last year so sorry for the same question but what paint do you use on the green wood is it vinyl?

 

[Dalboy]

Nice lot of wood Derek. I know I have asked this before and have checked my posts for your reply but think a lot of old posts got deleted when the forum was rejigged last year so sorry for the same question but what paint do you use on the green wood is it vinyl?

If you mean what paint I used on the first seal then it was just any old emulsion paint as long as it seals the end grain. Once cut into rounds I then sealed with a slightly watered down PVA again as long as it seals the end grain the reason for PVA and not using the emulsion again means I can see the grain for when I select it to make a project as it dries clear. You can use end grain sealer from somewhere like Chestnut Products.
Hope this answers you question like most things in drying it is a gamble but so far I have had quite a good success using this method I also have had some split but that could be down to the way I cut the wood or even the type of wood used as some will split very easily

 

[bigbob]

Thank you Derek I will try your method I have no problems with pen blanks once cut I seal the ends with wax and wait or use the microwave method if time is a problem. Turning bowls is a new experience for me and searching google and watching utube on how to treat wet wood has turned up more answers than I was expecting causing confusion on what method to go for. Some wet turn and put the bowl in paper bags others wet turn and boil the bowl some just seal the wood and wait for years. I have a promise of some cherry wood in a couple of weeks so will buy some cheap emulsion from Wickes or Toolstation and get cracking.

 

[Neil Lawton]

Might be worth mentioning here. When people say about sealing with PVA they don't mean the wood adhesive. You can use it but it's a bl##dy expensive way of doing things.
I normally use Paraffin wax to seal bowl blanks. It is relatively expensive but I get a much higher success rate than other methods. I can do 12" wide x 6" deep blanks just by using a cheap camping stove and a roasting tray. You can also save by buying wax for candle making rather than the pellets woodworking suppliers sell.

Anything bigger than that and I use PVA medium, or contractors PVA as it is also known. This is not actually an adhesive so don't try to glue anything with it! It is a sealer that can be watered down for better penetration if needed, and is very cheap by comparison with the other methods.

 

[bigbob]

Thank you Neil I have been eyeing up a big candle Mrs Bob has in the front room think I will remove it to the shed and see if its absence is missed and after a couple of weeks it will be out with my Swedish army stove and a empty tin of beens (or a full one if she takes humbridge at the missing candle). I will not be turning anything bigger than 11" as I only have a little Nova Comet II Lathe.

 

[Dalboy]

Might be worth mentioning here. When people say about sealing with PVA they don't mean the wood adhesive. You can use it but it's a bl##dy expensive way of doing things.
I normally use Paraffin wax to seal bowl blanks. It is relatively expensive but I get a much higher success rate than other methods. I can do 12" wide x 6" deep blanks just by using a cheap camping stove and a roasting tray. You can also save by buying wax for candle making rather than the pellets woodworking suppliers sell.

Anything bigger than that and I use PVA medium, or contractors PVA as it is also known. This is not actually an adhesive so don't try to glue anything with it! It is a sealer that can be watered down for better penetration if needed, and is very cheap by comparison with the other methods.

I did use PVA glue but only because it was starting to thicken so brought a new one but if it had run out I would have used the contractors one for sealing as it would have worked out as only £9.99 for 5 ltrs compared to the price of the wood glue:wink::wink::wink:

 

[Penpal]

Depending on the length of your stored cherry if it is longer after sealing store it vertically, it dries better this way.

Peter.

 

[Dalboy]

Just when I thought I had finished found some older stock which I put to one side as there was not enough to cut into rounds well that definitely is it now until the next lot of logs turns up. I have checked under any covers and even looked under rocks and no more to cut except the ones that I want in logs.
And the good part is that all the offcuts have been collected and taken away for me saves me having to load the car and run to the tip possibly three trip would have been needed

 

[wm460]

So much wood so little time.