Anyone who's turned Black Locust, your thoughts? I just brought home enough to do a dozen bowls. Can get more Tuesday but have heard mixed reviews from 2 people.
Wow, love the vase! Tell me about the dye.I have turned several pieces and like it very much. It is a hard wood when dry and has a prominent grain pattern which can give some interesting effects if you do any fluting or grooving on the piece. Here is a sample of a vase that I grooved and dyed. View attachment 20501
How much makes it worth the trip? I might have taken more than I can turn soon. But also, there's at least one more, perhaps two, coming down in the next few months. PM me, let me know what you're thinking.If you have any extra I'd gladly take a trip over to Bainbridge to get some
I've turned 3 of the small pieces (8" or so), they'll be twice-turned. I've seen pictures of NE bowls from Black Locust with the bark, but wow -- the bark on these pieces is really thick and hilly. Seems like if I want to turn one NE, I should turn it to final thickness. Yes or No?? It's not been too difficult for regular turning so far. The tree has been down for more than the month the owner stated, but there's perceptible moisture in the shavings. The first bowl was drier, the two I did today pretty moist.On twice turned pieces it gets really hard when dry but is still worth doing.
it is on the heavy side for functional bowls. Some pieces have fairly thick bark if you want that on the NE bowls.
The original color is not appealing, I'll give you that for sure! I think I'll probably try fuming a couple of pieces, it might be attractive (similar to the chestnut bowl that seems to intrigue people). The search I did for images of BL bowls turned up some interesting specimens. The grain is striking, and a couple of people took advantage of that in unexpected ways.Black Locust is pretty hard, but not 'Bodark' which is another name for Osage Orange. It can be greenish/yellow to yellowish, and that color doesn't sell well for me. As it ages it goes amber similar to Osage. That color does sell better. Some can be allergic to it. Makes great fence posts, mallets, and can be used for long bows.
robo hippy
I go for final thickness and turn NE once. Most of NE have oval shapes and the warping as the green wood dries accentuates the oval. Most NE Bowls are turned once. I sand off the lathe when the bowls are dry. These are organic shapes deriving much of their design from the way the bark edge is lined up on the lathe.Seems like if I want to turn one NE, I should turn it to final thickness. Yes or No?? It's not been too difficult for regular turning so far. The tree has been down for more than the month the owner stated, but there's perceptible moisture in the shavings