Upset with woodcraft

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Aderhammer

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2007
Messages
541
Location
Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA.
I've been wanting to try bowl turning, was at WC tonight so I picked up a walnut blank for $25. This thing was layered thickly with wax, found out why it's soaking wet inside! Did not have fun trying to turn it, gouge kept clogging with wet walnut and catching and ruined the bowl, large chunk went into my chest, thank god for leather gloves and face shields! Definitely taking the broken bowl back tomorrow having them feel how damp it is(feels like it was sitting in pouring rain in some spots) and asking for a refund or store credit.
 
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My WC has a sign by the wood,something like this: All wood is at various stages of drying, we can check with moisture meter, just ask...
 
Funny, most bowl turners LIKE turning wet wood. It turns more easily than thoroughly dry wood. I'm not trying to be offensive but maybe this wasn't the right wood for you to try to turn a bowl from. Or maybe it's more because of the vast difference between turning bowls and turning pens. It's a good idea to try to turn a little bitty bowl before a big one.

Maybe you should go back to the store and ask them (with humility) for some guidance in bowl turning since this indicates you could use some training.

Hope to see your bowl-turning skills progress.
 
What gouge are you using? Do you mean that the head of eh gouge was getting clogged and you had to keep cleaning it out? If this is the case you are using the wrong gouge. Or was it digging in?

Place the bevel of your gauge where you want to cut, in the position in which you want to cut. You should then be able to slowly lift the gouge from the bevel to the cutting point. If you can't you may be approaching the wood at the wrong angle or too high/low.

What was the wood like? Was it clear or was there a great deal of figure? For a beginner this can cause the gouge to want to run off. There are a lot of 'how to make a bowl' videos for free download. There are also quite a few on Utube, some are very instructive.
 
I was using a fingernail bowl gouge, had the rest set so the cutting edge was centered and rolled the tool into the cut. It was an unfigured piece of claro walnut which was dry and wet in places, the tool was getting clogged constantly.
 
I see 2 separate issues here.

1. You are upset because WC sold you green wood.
2. Wood turns more difficult than you hoped and you ended up ruining it.

You should have returned the wood after you noticed it is wet (if you really want dry) and not wait until you broke it.

Tool clogging, I believe is not their fault too. For bowls, I would turn green anytime over dry...especially very hard woods. If you have to fault anyone/thing for #2...it is your tool (sized, sharpness, etc.) or your technique (presentation, positioning, etc.). JMHO
 
Fingernail grind's a tough grind to use when first learning how to make bowls...Try a regular grind 1/2 inch bowl gouge...

Wetness should be an advantage, actually! The clogging of the gouge is likely just improper cutting angle, due to your using a fingernail gouge at the wrong profile to the blank...
 
Don't buy bowl blanks! It is so easy to get free bowl blanks to practice on. I'll buy a nice burl blank only when I stop blowing up the free blanks :D
 
If you are set on using the fingernail gouge (which is a good thing to me), I suggest you pony up the money to take a class. My local WC has a class on bowl turning using the fingernail ground bowl gouge. Good stuff.
 
Dude, don't buy wood to practice turning, use firewood or wood you see tree trimmers cutting down a tree.

I see wood around all the time I can pick up for free.

If your nice most tree trimming guys will just give you a hunk or two.
 
Absolutely no reason to be angry with WC. You bought a blank covered in wax. What did you think the wax was for? It is a sealant to keep wood from drying too rapidly. And, you blew it with your bowl gouge. First you need experience in buying wood. Most (hunks and/or bowl blanks) from commercial sources these days is cut, waxed and shipped. Many, maybe most, turners prefer wet bowl blanks because they turn easier. Second, you need experience with the bowl gouge. Not an easy tool to master. I'm very much a novice with it but realize practice is the only way to overcome that. Third, as suggested, look for free wood. I don't know where you live, but around me, a hunk of walnut would never bring $25.00. Come by my house, I'll give you some free.
 
After the above post, I looked up your member profile. You live out east. There is an abundance of many types of woods all around you that make great turning woods. Do develop the art of scrounging. I wish I had some of what is available to you.
 
I learned my lesson, monday i'm going to talk w/ a friend of mine, I think he mentioned he may have some apple logs off of his property that I could have, I'll visit the local dump soon, there's going to be plenty of wood from people trimming their trees(and cutting them down) I've seen some nice white birch there before.
 
Originally posted by Aderhammer

I learned my lesson, monday i'm going to talk w/ a friend of mine, I think he mentioned he may have some apple logs off of his property that I could have, I'll visit the local dump soon, there's going to be plenty of wood from people trimming their trees(and cutting them down) I've seen some nice white birch there before.
Click to expand...

Apple is a very good wood to use when you gain some experience but I would suggest you look for maple instead of birch. You should find an abundance of maple where you are and that's a fine wood to learn on. I have found that birch can be a little difficult to turn because it tends to rot so quickly and you can get a piece that has soft spots even on freshly cut wood. Another wood that is a dream to turn if you can find it is cherry.
 
Have a look on the AAW and find your local woodturning chapter.

http://tinyurl.com/699sg

Go to some of the meetings. You'll meet some great people, get lots of advice and learn a bunch. My woodturning group has a wood raffle every meeting. Folks bring in wood that they have found or from trees they have had to cut down and now have an excess. The club sells tickets for a couple bucks to raise funds. I never leave the meeting without a couple of logs.
 
Originally posted by TowMater

Dude, don't buy wood to practice turning, use firewood or wood you see tree trimmers cutting down a tree.

I see wood around all the time I can pick up for free.

If your nice most tree trimming guys will just give you a hunk or two.
Click to expand...

Around here, if you ask, most tree companies will deliver a truckload of wood for free so they don't have to pay the dump fees. They are normally happy to do it. But be carefull, I asked once and got home to find 4 loads in my driveway, all oak and maple. Thankfully, I have a log splitter and a chainsaw.
 
Actually I know we have a local chapter at my woodcraft store, I'll join soon and I have lessons at the end of this month scheduled(I know i'm eager), I'll be away this week down in disney on a school band trip and I know one of the chaperones turns bowls and belongs to the club, so maybe i'll talk to him about technique etc.
 
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