pecan and beech.....?

[Odie]

I can get some pecan and beech.....but, never tried any.

What's your opinion of these woods for bowl turning?

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As long as you're at it, tell us about some woods you don't like.......for whatever reasons.



At one time I hated domestic Cherry, because it was a real pain to sand........so, I thought. What I've found is that Cherry is a decent wood, but only for those who can get a great cut straight from the steel, prior to sanding.

ooc

 

[Alan Trout]

I have never turned beech but have done quite a bit of pecan. Dry pecan is often called pecancrete. It can be pretty hard stuff and tough to turn. Wet is turns nicely. It is an open grain wood much like ash. Its color can go from very pale white to yellowish to a darker redish brown to brown color and can have streaks of both. The right piece can make a very pretty bowl or hollow form.

Good Luck

Alan

 

[Vaughn]

I've turned one piece of pecan. It was very pretty stuff, and Alan is right...pecancrete is a pretty good description. It did cut and finish nicely, though. I'd turn more if I could get it. No experience with beech.

Woods I don't like? So far I've only found one hardwood I'll refuse -- yellow stringybark eucalyptus. Not only does it crack and warp faster than you can cut it, it's very acidic when wet and causes instant corrosion on a waxed lathe bed. (Or at least it did on mine.) I roughed a few green pieces and they smelled like hydrochloric acid.

 

[MichaelMouse]

American beech behaves badly. Which is why a fairly abundant wood is so rarely seen unless you haunt the pallet yard. It's mostly whitish sapwood with a handsomely yellow-brown heart. Warps like mad, sapwood spalts rapidly.

It turns great green or dry, polishes great, though I think I have had more failures when drying beech than with any wood. Between its short grain and weakness in the rays, it splits rapidly in shapes and conditions which preserve the cherry and birch sitting beside it.

When the freshest survives, its sort of plain. If it's spalted, can be gorgeous.

In order, naked spalted, naked clear, finish clear.

Added, views of face and end.

 

[Gretch Flo]

spalted beech

For some reason spalted beech always reminds me of a palamino horse. per Michaels's first picture. Haven't turned much of it in the last few years. I do recall alot of warping. Not much crotch figure as I recall either. Gretch

 

[Richard Baker]

Try the pecan at least once. No real problem turning but sanding was quite a chore. Smooth finish cuts are best, as usual.

 

[Odie]

Try the pecan at least once. No real problem turning but sanding was quite a chore. Smooth finish cuts are best, as usual.

Yep, I did........I wasn't going to......but, I did!

Just one piece to try out.....then I'll decide if I'll want to take more in the future.

I have no idea of the moisture content of the piece I'll get......so, it could take some months to find out for myself if Pecan is worth it.

Passed on the Beech......maybe some other time! 😀

Tex......if you hadn't been the "voice of reason".....I might have passed altogether! 😉 Yes, you're right......I should try at least one!

thanks for the responses.......

ooc

 

[Odie]

BTW: Here's a pic of the Pecan wood I'll be getting: