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Bluff oak

if it is oak, split into blanks, put it in cardboard barrels the day tree comes down, add dry shavings, wait 4 to 6 months, it is not a 100% foolproof system but you should get some turnings

i have no experience with Bluff Oak (Quercus Austrina) but have turned southern red oak
 
Bluff oak is a white oak and prone to spliting if the pith is left in the log. I would cut not only the pith out, but at least one inch away from the pith. I am one of the few members of my club who likes oak. There are two ways to turn it:
  • The easiest is to find a dead tree with lots of character which is not too hard for white oaks such as post oak. When it is standing and long dead, it is generally stable. White oak will stand for many years without decay. Red oak, on the other hand will hardly last a season.
  • One way that I like is to turn it wet. It turns wonderfully, but you need some experience with oak to anticipate the movement. Stay well away from the pith and turn it thin. It will warp, but that is fine with me. Another option might be to partially turn it and then let it dry for a couple weeks before finishing it.
Another oak that I really like is Coastal Live Oak. I would never consider cutting one down, but if one is available because of a storm, I like to get the wood right at the ground level and even a bit into the root area. The wood in this part of a Live oak is very beautiful and it has no splitting problems at all. In fact, the entire trunk is very good. I suggest turning it green because it is as hard as heck when dry. Green Live Oak is also extremely heavy, but it is an absolute joy to turn. I have not had any problem with turning a piece in a single session when using a ground level piece with its tight interlocking grain. The only bad news is that it is fairly rare in North Texas because these trees are extremely long lived and hardly ever fall or blow down or die. Some of them along the Texas coast have survived many hurricanes.
 
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turning oak

My experience with green oak is somewhat mixed. As far as interesting peices, you need to find twisted croches, or root because it is a long grain wood, boring unless you do something with textures or ribs or something to develop another interest in your design.
It also is full of tannin acid wich will leave black acid residue of your tools and any metal it touches. I turned a few block, left it for a day, came back to the shop and found rust and black residue on all my tools, all my other lathes and any other metal surface.
I avoid it unless it is seasoned really good.
Cleaning your tools is not fun.
Gary
 
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