1589 Camphor burl

Nice work. How difficult was it to get a clean tool finish compared to other woods that you have turned? When I first saw the picture it looked like the curve on the left and right were different until I figured out that the cloth background on the left was the culprit.

I have a piece of camphor that Mark Hepburn gave me a few years ago, but I'm still waiting for the right project ... maybe a small lidded box. I have not been tracking its weight although I probably should before I decide to put it on the lathe.

Bill Boehme said:

Nice work. How difficult was it to get a clean tool finish compared to other woods that you have turned? When I first saw the picture it looked like the curve on the left and right were different until I figured out that the cloth background on the left was the culprit.

I have a piece of camphor that Mark Hepburn gave me a few years ago, but I'm still waiting for the right project ... maybe a small lidded box. I have not been tracking its weight although I probably should before I decide to put it on the lathe.

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Thanks, Bill.....

Actually, I'm wearing a white glove and tipping the bowl up to get a better advantage with the natural light coming through my window. That's why the left profile doesn't match the right profile. My hands are not that steady, so the pic may be blurred a little bit (?). The view of the bottom is a better representation of the finish.

This is the only Camphor burl I've ever turned, so I'm not sure how it will compare with your piece. I did find it to cut fairly easily though.....even though the wood was a bit "soft". You could dent it pretty easily with your fingernail. Because of that softness, the buffing process actually wore a little bit of the wood away in a few places, I believe.

If this piece is a typical example of Camphor burl, I'm not sure I'd be interested in getting any more of it.......well, unless I came across a deal I couldn't refuse!

Maybe someone else has more experience with this wood, and can give us a better idea of what is normally to be expected from Camphor.......

-----odie-----

Another beautiful bowl Odie, fantastic job! I've never turned Camphor.........could the softness of the wood have anything to do with the long drying process? Really like the detail of this one! Good job indeed!!

Lamar Wright said:

Another beautiful bowl Odie, fantastic job! I've never turned Camphor.........could the softness of the wood have anything to do with the long drying process? Really like the detail of this one! Good job indeed!!

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Hi Lamar......Thank you!

I have no idea about the softness relating to the drying time. Could be, but since I've never turned Camphor burl, that is a distinct possibility.

Take care, friend
-----odie-----

I love the design. I have turned a few pieces of Camphor - but never burl....The non-burled wood turns very nice. But...that color is much darker than the color of Camphor I have turned - which is almost a Yellow Pine color with streaks of reds to browns....