Green or Dry Which Do You Prefer

[Wilford Bickel]

If all things are equal - price, quality, etc. Would you prefer to turn a bowl out of green wood, dry it in some manner and then turn again or would you prefer to start with a dry blank that is harder and will dull tools faster but can be taken from start to finish?

Now for the reason for this question. I am preparing to load my kiln for the first time (upright freezer with light and dimmer switch) and made the decision just to make the first load blanks that were not rough turned. I love the way green wood cuts but hate having to return the bowls as I have lost a number to warpage and cracking. While you have to sharpen more often I find that I personally am happier starting with a dry blank.

Just wondering how others felt - am I the odd one???? 😕 🙂

Wilford

 

[woodwish]

I do love the way green wood turns, and have rough turned a bunch due to a surplus around here from Hurricane Ivan last fall. But I do find the frustration of cracking, warping, etc. to be a real problem. All things being equal I would much prefer to use dry wood, although dry wood can also have some pressure built up in it that causes problems. Dry wood does dull tools but I still like the idea of starting and finishing a bowl in a reasonable time period, just don't really have the patience to always use green wood. I see another storm is heading this way, guess I need to tune up my chainsaw?

 

[Mark Mandell]

I turn everything green except for platters. On a few occasions I have gone straight to finish dimensions and then let the piece deform as it drys, but I do prefer round and therefore double turn most all of my bowls.

Hollowforms I turn green, let sit, then final turn.

Platters are the only thing I will start from dry. With say 9/4 stock, I cut them roughly round on the bandsaw, glue on a tenon block, and go from there.

M

 

[MichaelMouse]

I still like the idea of starting and finishing a bowl in a reasonable time period, just don't really have the patience to always use green wood. I see another storm is heading this way, guess I need to tune up my chainsaw?

Why can't starting and finishing within reasonable time period be starting a green one and finishing a dry one? It's just a bit of mental preparation and some storage space for you to get the best of both worlds. Green can make such a mess That I prefer to cover the other cast iron in the shop and rough a few days in a row rather than do it over and over.

Also means I can do my dry work when the shavings come in handy for fire starting.