Dried pine log

I have a very similar hunk of pine tree that I tried turning last week. It was very chipped and ripped. I decided to rough cut it and then maybe soak it in some epoxy or thick poly and then finish it. Still debating about it to be honest.

-- Lis - Michigan - http://www.missmooseart.com - https://www.etsy.com/people/lisbokt

Lis, that is the way this one reacted when turned.
I used a new 80 grit sanding disk and a foam pad to take out the roughness.
Then successive sanding with 320 and 600 grit.
I know most turners would say sandpaper is not a turning tool, but sometimes it is necessary.

-- Website is finally up and running....www.woodandwrite.com

I tried that and what I ended up with was very, very smooth tearout—haha.

-- Lis - Michigan - http://www.missmooseart.com - https://www.etsy.com/people/lisbokt

Anytime you can produce a useful and beautiful object from a piece of wood is time well spent.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

I don’t see it as a waste of time, you are challenging yourself and the lumber is freely available. I had some pieces of birch that were rotten and punky. I used some wood hardener on the top and bottom fo the piece to solidify it enough for the center and chuck. It was so punky that I had to use sandpaper to give it any kind of smooth surface. Sandpaper is just a tool, like any other. If that is what you need to shape and smooth, don’t be afraid to use it. Nice turning you came up with. If you experience much tearout, try your hand at a natural edge. It helps keep the piece consistent and the tearout, when smoothed, fits in with the overall design.

-- There is little that is simple when it comes to making a simple box.

I have a little different philosophy about projects and materials. I have always trie to use nice wood or materials. The following is my opinion only. I always try to use a noble wood for whatever I am doing. Pine while nice for many projects is at the bottom of my turning wood list.
Why hassle with a wood that has started to degrade when your efforts can be more rewarding with sound wood?
Of course if that is all you have, then that is what you need to use.

-- Barbara