How would you turn a log with the 'pith' gone

[Don C Davis]

I got several logs out of a tree that a snowstorm took down in my backyard and several of the logs which I had cut in half (vertically) have the center portion, what I am assuming is the pith portion-very soft or missing in them. I was wondering how you folks would go about mounting and turning such a piece of timber. I was thinking put a faceplate on the bark side of the log, and then hollowing out the 'rotted' missing portion til I got a shape I wanted in good wood and then turning the out side-bark side to shape it up but I thought 'well durn I would have open ends on my bowl' because the missing center portion--so I didn't know what to do with that....

Advice/input other than throw out these pieces is appreciated!

 

[hockenbery]

To turn bowls I would make a chainsaw cut parallel to the bark at the edge of the rot.
Then prob with a screwdriver to find solid wood. The cut where the solid wood is.
If I have enough evaluate the depth and diameter that a bowl or platter would have.
The turn it or not.
If I decide to turn I cut the blank round on the bandsaw.

May make spindle blanks if it isn’t deep enough for a bowl.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

Turn it with voids (open space) where the pith should be

 

[Don C Davis]

I'm going to try and add some pics of some of the logs I am talking about--just for reference

 

[Don C Davis]

Gerald I'm leaning toward that--I just tried to add some pics of the logs I'm talking about--first time posting pics here!

 

[Dennis J Gooding]

Don, looks some pretty serious checking besides the rot. I would have serious reservation about the end value of the project and the safety involved.

 

[hockenbery]

You might get a NE bowl from the one piece. It looks pretty dried out with lots of bad cracks and checks.

If it has sentimental value go for it. Otherwise there Is too much good wood around.

If I get hollow log 10-15” diameter they make nice hollowforms with windows. The holes let the shavings out.

Here is where you might try a Natural Edge Bowl



This is how a hollow form can work

 

[Richard Coers]

You sure that should be stacked next to the house? Any termites along with the carpenter ants? Considering the end checks and the possible active insects, I'd have that either in an outdoor fire ring, or yard waste bag. PRONTO Edit; sorry, just read the request not to respond with throwing out. Better get it isolated and in a kiln to kill the bugs. PRONTO

 

[Don C Davis]

Thanks for the input folks, it is remarkably bug free--perhaps because it was harvested (cut up) just shortly after a severe winter storm which may have frozen all active bugs--that was actually the first thing I was concerned about. If I trim an inch or so off the ends, all those cracks get cut away--so they aren't real deep so far--but I accept I made need to burn some of it up....

 

[Bill Boehme]

That wood looks like it has some really soft areas. If you decide that there is something that you would like to turn from it, I think that it woulde be worthwhile to use Minwax Wood Hardener to give it some strength. If the wood hardener soaks in really deep which I think that it will, let it dry for a week or two to make sure that it is completely dry all the way through. Otherwise, you could get sprayed with pockets of uncured wood hardener. DAMHIKT

 

[Don C Davis]

Thanks Bill, I had actually thought of that possibility--I appreciate it, just for general FYI, I turned a pepper mill from a 4" diameter branch section that was 12" long and it came out stable and beautiful--it's white oak, so it's prone to splits...

 

[Bill Boehme]

Actually, when it comes to white oak, the uglier the log, the more beautiful the turned wood.

 

[Gary Beasley]

If you were intent on an endgrain vessel you could mount on the faceplate before trimming the check on that end and turning a recess on the other end to glue in another piece turned to fit. From there its all up to you.