| One of the things that surprises an old hand in wood | | | | simply that many are too large for the area in which |
| working when he or she becomes a wood turner, it | | | | they have been growing. A chainsaw quickly pays for |
| the realization that many turners of wood prefer | | | | itself when used to cut large bowl blanks. The real |
| turning green wood to dry. There is a great deal of | | | | problem comes in learning to say "no" to some big |
| science as well as art expended in making sure that | | | | logs. An 18" diameter log of maple only 24" long can |
| wood for the carpenter or cabinet maker is dried to | | | | weigh an easy 175 pounds. This is a lot of weight to |
| a moisture content of less than 12% while many | | | | heave in the back of a car not to mention get onto |
| wood turners will work with wood that throws sap | | | | the lathe. |
| around the shop. The simple questions involved are | | | | 4. Thirdly there is the shear joy of turning green |
| why and how is this so? | | | | wood. Wood turning is really all about making |
| | | | shavings. Those from green wood will typically be |
| 1. First of all there is the incredible availability of | | | | long, wide and thick. In fact some green wood |
| different types of wood. If you desire dimensioned | | | | turners take pride in being able to direct a shaving |
| wood of particular dryness there will be a limited | | | | into a garbage can and are willing to turn for the |
| number of species available to you in any one | | | | pleasure of the shavings themselves. For others |
| location. While there is variance across the world, in | | | | there is the joy of the "in-shop rainstorm" caused by |
| North America species such as maple, walnut, oak | | | | the sap of the green wood. You can easily tell the |
| and cherry are generally available outside of specialty | | | | shop of the dedicated green wood turner form the |
| lumber stores. On the other hand, most communities | | | | stain of the sap that runs from the head of the lathe |
| have introduced a great variety of trees as | | | | along the floor, up the far wall, across the ceiling and |
| ornamentals. At some point these will have to be | | | | down the near wall. Written in the mark is a lot of |
| taken down and then become a land fill problem. The | | | | enjoyment. |
| turner willing to take away these otherwise weeds | | | | 5. Fourth is the ease of green wood turning. Quite |
| will often be able to find various maples, oaks, | | | | simply green wood is softer than dry wood and of |
| butternut, walnut, cherry, apple, ash, cedar, pin | | | | course contains water as lubricant and cooling agent. |
| cherry, sumac, and lots of other woods popular for | | | | Tools stay cooler and thus sharper longer so there is |
| turning. One of the things that a wood turner and | | | | less down time. Those tools include chain saws and |
| especially a green wood turner finds is that the best | | | | band saws for getting the wood ready for the lathe. |
| wood to turn is free wood destined for the landfill. | | | | Shavings are wider, thicker and longer and cut easier |
| 2. | | | | than in dry wood. They also clean up easier. Speaking |
| 3. Secondly, sizes are not restricted to what is | | | | of clean up, there is very little dust involved and |
| available at the lumber yard. For those who simply | | | | what there is is heavier than dry dust so it falls to |
| like to see a salesman squirm, it can get quite a | | | | the floor better and stays out of ones lungs a lot |
| reaction to ask for a plank 12": wide and 3" thick to | | | | easier. Sanding can be a bit tricky as the wet dust |
| cut into bowl blanks. Anything over nominal 2" stock | | | | may clog the paper but a quick swipe with a brass |
| is just not available outside of the specialty stores, | | | | brush cleans it right out. |
| and then at a premium price. However, one of the | | | | With so many reasons to turn green, it must be time |
| difficulties with ornamental trees coming down is | | | | to go to the firewood pile and get a good start. |