Engelman Spruce

[William Young]

I was in the city today and as usual I always check the Windsor Plywood odds and ends bin. I spotted this 30" long piece of quarter sawn engleman spruce and the guy there told me it was a wonderful turning wood and he has used some of it himself for turning. I had my doubts because it is one of the softer woods but I took his word for it.
I am wondering if anyone here has had good luck with turning this particular wood and what would you suggest would be the best choices to make from that piece.

BTW, the reddish colored wood there is Honduras mahogany and it is all spoken for because I have more orders for those spurtles (Scottish porridge stirring sticks 😉 ) that I have already made a dozen of. I can get six out of each piece.
W.Y.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Turns fine, just a touch brittle on the latewood, so a bit more sensitive to picking up unsupported grain than shorter-grained softer stuff. Low tool pressure prevents crushing the softer early wood.

Pretty, too. Vases and boxes from the spruce, with maybe a finial or top from the mahogany.

 

[William Young]

update

Here is an update on the englman spruce.
I knew one end had some small cracks in it so I cut that end off today and used it as a practice piece. A little glue and sawdust took care of the cracks.
That guy that said it was a good turning wood sure was right.
I made this 4 " x 7" goblet and that had to be the nicest turning "dry" wood that I have used so far.
When I get around to it, I may try one with captive rings and see how that goes.
W.Y.

 

[dkulze]

That's pretty nice, Will. I like the white/cream look to the wood.

I know you are an expert scroller. Do you do burning also? If so, that might be a real nice canvas wood for secondary artwork. Specially on platters and tall vases.

Is that spruce local to you up there?

Dietrich

 

[William Young]

Dietrich;
No I have never attemted any wood burning yet . Although I have seen some mentions of people using old guitar strings wrapped on a couple of pieces of dowel to burn lines in pens as well as other larger turnings. I have dozens of old spare guitar strings in various thickness's (E,A,D,G,B,E) so I intend to try that some time.

I don't think that engelman spruce is local to me although I do live in the midst of softwood forests. Mostly lodge pole pine,, ponderosa pine, fir, spruce, tamarack etc. None of which have ever given me such turning enjoyment as that piece of engleman spruce. I think it came from a guitar manufacturer just as the honduras mahogany blanks did. They are what is left over after sawing out the neck, heel and head all in one piece for guitar necks. Super high quality selected and kiln dried woods for what they are originally intended for.
That Engleman spruce turns like butter and sands just beautifully.
W.Y.

 

[MichaelMouse]

That's some old, slow-grown stuff there. Sounding board material, as you said, which is why it was QS. Probably not kiln-dried, though. Acoustic folks are sort of particular. Folks in Italy used to waterlog their wood, then dry it for stringed instruments. Up here, with two perfectly good native species, they bring the stuff in for Christmas tree plantations. Also that ugly Scots pine. Squirrels and chickadees have made them permanent residents.

You needn't get as elaborate as guitar strings for lines on the lathe, though if you have a supply, it's a use for old ones. I use the annealed steel wire they sell for picture hanging. Slow enough to carry heat that it will burn in well. Use the parting or beading tool, or the toe of your skew to establish a groove before burning, or you might be chasing wire downhill a lot.