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burl caps

Richard Avram

Richard Avram

Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Messages
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Location
Michigan
I would like to turn a platter as a wedding present for my granddaughter and I would like to do it from a burl cap so that I get the rough edge. The problem is that I have never turned one before and I'm not sure what I'm getting into. I am thinking about red malee, so can someone tell me if that is a decent choice and what can I expect as far as turning problems?
 
I think that turning a beautiful burl is always a challenge because you hate to turn all that beautiful wood away. Just watch it closely to be ready to fix any potential pieces that look like they could separate. Getting hit by a sharp burl really is painful.
 
I have not turned malee.

You will have the interrupted cut on the edge.
With the asymmetry of shape and weight distribution the piece is likely to never be balanced.

If you have had success with natural edge bowls you should not have any problem with a reasonable size burl.

One trick to finding the center is to stand short turning square on end with corners facing the burl and find the middle of the distance between the corners.
I sometimes use a large hardboard disk with circles and cross hairs drawn on it under irregular blocks of wood.
I put the turning squares on the lines to find the center on the block.

If there is enough height you might core, part off or saw of some for another turning.

Have fun,

Al
 
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