New to Turning NEED Help

[toolman]

I have had a lathe for about 4 months, and I now have a Some time to try it out. My back ground is in steel I am a Tool and Die Maker / Machinist Manual and CNC.... Wood turning is not the same as turning steel.. :-)

I would like to make some bowls the question is can you use green wood or should I use kilned wood? :violent1:

Chad

[taandctran]

You can turn green wood... check out this link, it shows you how to prepare green wood for turning Turning Green Wood
most say green wood is easier to turn the dry wood.

[toolman]

Thanh

Thank for the 20 pg's info. It has alot of information in it Thanks.

Chad

[taandctran]

If you just google turning green wood you come up with all kinds of things.... some very interesting ideas

[JRD]

Chad,

Virtually all I turn is green wood. It's abundant, and usually at no cost. Green wood also turns like butter.

The drawbacks? You have to cut it to workable sizes, and dry it without cracking. Workable sizes hasn't been a problem. I mostly use a chain saw, cut the wood in half to avoid the pith, then rough out whatever I'm turning.

As for drying, I'm a firm believer in putting the roughed out product in an alcohol soak, then wraping and setting aside for a month or two before finishing the project.

Welcome to turning, there's nothing like it!

Jim





Using this method I have very rarely had anything split or check.

[NZAPP1]

I like turning green wood also. I have bought some VERY nice blanks from Jeff and Kyle at very reasonable cost ( Safer the me using a chain saw ) I use the DNA drying method in the Link Library under woodturning