• January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details)
  • Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to John Lucas for "Lost and Found" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 13, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Where to go from here

Glenn McCullough

Glenn McCullough

Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
31
Likes
195
Location
Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, USA
Started my first NIP blank and turned the outside shape. It is very wet and I need to know if I should hollow it out but not too thin and fill it with wood chips to finish it later, seal it or should I just let it dry out more before I hollow it out. Anyone with experience here as this looks to be a beauty and I dont want to screw it up.
 

Attachments

  • NIP start 002 - Copy.JPG
    NIP start 002 - Copy.JPG
    284.2 KB · Views: 179
  • NIP start 001 - Copy.JPG
    NIP start 001 - Copy.JPG
    295.2 KB · Views: 148
try this

NP can handle being thinly turned when green, especially if you can submerge it in some sort of resin/varnish. Turn to about 1/16th and the resin will soak right thru and give it an opaque look. Try BLO and White spirit 50/50, soak it overnight, then take it out next day wet sand, do this over several days till its smooth. By then it should be fully impregnated and looking very translucent, dry it and give it its final finish.
 
Say, that is a nice piece of Norfolk Island Pine, Glenn........

I can understand your desire to get on with the finish turning of this bowl. You could do that now, but you will take your chances at having success. There is one answer that is the best answer, every time it's tried! Rough to a wall thickness approximately 1/10th the diameter, and completely seal this bowl.

You may, or may not be able to beat the odds if you finish it now......but, the key to the highest rate of success is to season roughed bowls slow and evenly. Get that moisture down to, or close to equilibrium.

If it were me, I'd find other wood to turn while I wait to turn that beauty!😀

ooc
 
As a boy who has done thousands of norfolk this works for me. On the shape you are doing hollow to about 3/4 in. Wax the total outside only and let air dry. I kiln dry but not many have a kiln. I did not look at where you live. Where i live in Hawaii its wet. I have a place under the house that stays cool. I can place blanks uncoated under the house and they do not split. But for the kiln they get waxed. Or you could do as one suggested and turn thin all at once. The knots will move during drying and you will need to fill with something like sanding dust and ca glue and sand flush. Good luck. Should be a beauty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top