Working with Green Monkeypod?

[kenth]

I have been commissioned to turn 6 plate out of monkey pod. The monkey pod that I found for the project was recently cut and is still green. I have been told that I can turn it green and it would dry fairly quick with little distortion. I would like to finish turn and hopefully it will dry with little or no warping. Has anyone had any experience with turning green monkey pod?

 

[Frank Kobilsek]

Ken,

I can't answer your question but I will warn of potential allergic reactions.

I traded some walnut scrap via UPS to a turner on Maui for his Ear Pod scraps, which I believe to be similar to Monkey Pod. I itched, eyes burned and sneezed my way thru turning a couple small pieces before the box went on the burn pile. I am not sensitive to other woods so now I am carefule with wood from the 50th State.

Frank

 

[KellyDunn]

Ken, as with any piece of wood it depends on where it was in the branch or trunk. It could be stable or it could not. For such large pores the stuff is very hard. I tend to rough and dry and return. If its only a six inch piece give it a go. Most monkeypod here goes to the dump. Beautiful wood and can curl to beat the band. But its hard to sell a piece cause of all the cheap work coming out of the Phillippines. All the super touristy places have monkeypod. You can get a nice salad bowl for 30 bucks. Cant compete. As far as dust I wear a dust helmet and have no issues with monkey or earpod. But its true we have woods here that can be nasty to deadly. Silky Oak being one I will not work in again. Its an introduced tree from Australia.