Christmas tree turning

[Bryant]

Has anyone used their christmas tree for turning once it was taken down. I got a nice size frasier fir this year with about a 5" diameter trunk and was wondering if it is worth the effort. I know it's knotty with all those limbs but could be interesting. Just curious.

Bryant

 

[Charlie Harley]

I've never done it but I've seen some neat pieces from fir and pine trees.

Some species have each year's branches all grow at the same level. Cutting a slice from the trunk that includes these branches and then turning it to a shallow 5" bowl produces some awesome radial grain patterns.

 

[Stacey S]

yes I have turned my the previous years christmas tree. I have only made christmas tree ornamets from it but it worked out well.
Stacey

 

[terry q]

I turned some mushrooms from a year old tree that had some very nice blue stain.

 

[pencheff]

Wear a face shield and be prepared to be spattered with pitch. Even kiln dried conifer lumber can really sling out some sticky stuff when turning. Keep your favorite solvent handy to clean your tools, tool rest, lathe, hair, arms, fingers, face sheilld....

you get the picture.

 

[Kurt Rosenzweig]

OH OH OH! How about adding some dye or coloring to the water while it's in the house? Think it would add color to the wood like box elder staining?