I'll be right over here in the corner with the popcorn. Did you resist the urge to turn it on with that strap still on it just to see what it would do?
If you really can't resist risking it... try strapping tape - that's the packing tape with strings in it.I thought about that for about 250 milliseconds, but dismissed the thought immediately due to the weight of the ratchet. I also thought about putting a big rubber band around it when I go to finish the inside. It was flexing pretty dramatically.
I thought about that for about 250 milliseconds, but dismissed the thought immediately due to the weight of the ratchet. I also thought about putting a big rubber band around it when I go to finish the inside. It was flexing pretty dramatically.
I've turned a lot of hackberry like this with good luck. I had to stabilize a lot of it though.I have been tripping over this piece of sugarberry for a year. I decided to turn it, knowing some of it might be punky. First step, get it trued up.
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Lots of tearout in the pith.
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I've turned a lot of hackberry like this with good luck. I had to stabilize a lot of it though.
I would stop and apply some minwax wood hardener, or soak in some cactus juice and heat for a couple hours. Minwax is easier but I let it sit a few days before hitting it again.
If you really can't resist risking it... try strapping tape - that's the packing tape with strings in it.
Good luck!I'll try that next time. I'm mostly over the hump on this one.
Those type of projects are a lot of work but look nice when done.I think it will live. When that crack formed, it threw everything out of whack. I wasn't aware of it for the first few seconds. Continuing to turn with that crack and all the flexing left a lot of tearout and unevenness with the interior walls. I cleaned it up the best I could. I was tempted to use a scraper to smooth things up a bit more, but experience has taught me that on woods like this, it just makes things worse. So, I have some sanding ahead.
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Steadyrest?I'm staying with it for the challenge.
On dicey pieces, I like to wrap the outside with pallet stretch wrap before doing the inside. Even if it breaks up it doesn't go too far.
Kent-
Thanks for posting this. I have been fighting with Flaming Box Elder which, similar to your wood, is past it's prime. End tear out has been horrible and nothing I have done with sharpness of tools, lathe speed, or different grinds has eliminated it. Other turning friends have advised that it is a good candidate for the firepit, but it is so beautiful and unusual for our part of the country, I just can't let it go.
I am going to try your sanding sealer method on bowls I have turned rough and dried. Any idea how much or how many coats of SS you applied? I was going to immerse the rough turned bowls in SS and let them there for a week or so, but some of these are 15" or more in diameter and it will take gallons and $$$ to do that. Your method is cheaper and quicker and the results (thanks for the pics) speak for themselves.
Wally
That is consistent with the way wood warps around the pith as it dries.It's about the size of my thumb.
Looks like it was worth the effort. Nice.Well, it made a bowl in the end. It has a very odd depression next to the pith on the inside. Like I had bad catch, but I did not. It's about the size of my thumb.