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So my neighbor cut down a cherry tree ...

2K views 7 replies 8 participants last post by  Bluepine38 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
And I cannot tell a lie, he told me to take all I'd like. So I did.
Painted the ends with some old house paint I keep just for this, and in about a year I should have some decent blanks to turn. In this first picture, the one closest to the camera and the one farthest away are each about 30" across.
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Plant Window Wood Grass Natural landscape

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And here's where I stacked it beside my shop. I'll throw a piece of tin on it to keep it mostly covered.
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Wood Plant Trunk Grass Logging
 

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#2 ·
Those are awfully big turning blanks Joe. I'd say you did ok on that deal.
4000 bdft of 4/4 mixed species about 50% is ash the rest about 10% each birch, cherry, hickory, and hard maple.
The wood all seasoned outside for about 8 months, then into the kiln for about 3 weeks. The wood is all select grade, some of the nicest lumber I have ever bought, for 80 cents per bdft.

I got a deal on some wood my self

Have a blessed evening and have some fun making dust, Todd
 
#3 ·
Nice haul.
Was the tree green or dead?
I have had a terrible time with cherry cracking. It if is just cut green it will have about as much moisture as possible; the higher the moisture the greater the shrinkage. I would determine where to make the cut and split through the pith immediately.
Shrinkage around the circumference is typically 8-10%. So a 30" diameter (circumference of abt. 90") with have cracks totaling 8-10".
They can be rough turned green now and be put back to dry. The "rule of thumb" is one inch per year. So in log for they may take 15 years.
 
#4 ·
Nice haul Joe. That will give you a lot of lathe play. I had about a dozen or so Cherry logs and they all cracked beyond being able to use on the lathe. Let me know how these work out for you. I have great success with other logs but these Cherry ones don't want to cooperate for me.
Enjoy your find.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
He does not need a bigger lathe, he can just slide the tailstock and tool support off and slide the headstock
to the right end and use it with a face plate to turn as large as he wants. He will be replacing the bearings
in the headstock since it was not made for that weight - do not ask how I know this. He would also have to make an outboard tool rest. Seriously Joe, turn some of those blocks wet after you cut them down to a correct size for your lathe, they will dry easier and you will not have to wait.
 
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