chinese elm pen container - Woodworking Talk

hughie · 10-28-2008, 11:52 PM

Got lucky on the warping with this one .

Turns well wet but very dusty when dry.

4" high and nearly 4" wide due to the ovality, finished in wipe on poly about 6 coats

Mitch Cholewinski · 10-29-2008, 04:04 AM

Hughie
Very nice, you did a good job on this one. What tools did you use on this turning? I am always interested in the tools others use and even the type of grind on these tools. Mitch

firehawkmph · 10-29-2008, 10:42 AM

Hughie,
Very pretty piece of wood. It's always exciting to turn wet wood. You never know what it'g going to look like the next day. Did you get any cracks at all?
Mike Hawkins

jdixon · 10-29-2008, 08:28 PM

Hughie that is nice looking little container. Nice to know that chinese elm can actually look pretty when turned. My last house had two big chinese elm trees and they were huge pain in the butts. Constantly dropping twigs and they just always looked about half dead.

John

hughie · 11-01-2008, 03:06 AM

Quote:

I am always interested in the tools others use and even the type of grind on these tools. Mitch

Mitch, I used primarily a cup tool not unlike a Hunter tool except it has a HSS cup not Tungsten, or perhaps Rolly Munro type with out his fancy guard system.

Quote:

My last house had two big chinese elm trees and they were huge pain in the butts. Constantly dropping twigs and they just always looked about half dead.

John, Yep a of folks cut em down but burn the timber...burns well and hot to boot. A buddy of mine spotted the tree being cut down and recued some of the logs and dumped them on my driveway. You gotta dry them slow other wise they will open up real bad, crack big enough to push a pencil thru.

Night Mill Bill · 11-01-2008, 05:27 AM

Hugie,

You mentioned drying the wood slowly. I know this will sound dumb, but what do you mean? Something more than just letting the wood sit for a while? Anything special? I'm pretty new, and I want to make sure I didnt miss something.

That container looks really sharp!

hughie · 11-02-2008, 09:26 PM

NM Bill,

What i do is place at the rea of my garage on the concrete floor well out of the way of ant breeze or drafts and definitly any sunshine.
Seal it on both ends and down the cut line and let it dry through the bark.

Where I live the temps can hit 100'f plus with out much effort.A couple of years ago we hit 122+ At these sort of temps elm will open up real bad.

The woodsman · 11-02-2008, 11:44 PM

Beautifull piece.it sorta acts like holly we have up here.

Night Mill Bill · 11-04-2008, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughie

NM Bill,

What i do is place at the rea of my garage on the concrete floor well out of the way of ant breeze or drafts and definitly any sunshine.
Seal it on both ends and down the cut line and let it dry through the bark.

Where I live the temps can hit 100'f plus with out much effort.A couple of years ago we hit 122+ At these sort of temps elm will open up real bad.

Thanks Hughie!