Crepe Myrtle, Magnolia, and Buckthorne?

[Matt Meadows]

Was driving back from a fish collecting trip (native aquarium fish) and noticed a crew of hispanics cutting down some big crepe myrtles and magnolia (the big waxy leaf kind with the white blossoms, not sure what the *exact* name is). And a tree that looked like a 10" diameter cherry but best I could ID it was a Carolina Buckthorn, but the wood's nice and red. Whooped out my best spanish and pocketed a Toyota Tacoma bed of manageable sized logs, mostly 4-12" diameter.

Anyhow, specifically the crepe myrtle and magnolia, are these decent green turning wood for bowls/goblets and the like? Do they check and warp bad?

 

[C Edward Moore]

magnolia

Redfish,

I got a piece of magnolia in Tennessee at that turning school in Gatlinburg and it made a really nice bowl. It turned fine and has an interesting grain pattern. I may try to send you a picture.

 

[C Edward Moore]

magnolia bowl

Redfish,

I think this shot shows the grain fairly well. I just hope the picture shows up here.

 

[Matt Meadows]

Very nice, the pic shows the grain beautifully. I get to play with it today, so I'll see if what I have has such a stark grain. I hope! I'll try to post some pics of the crepe myrtle if I turn any today.

 

[Matt Meadows]

I turned some of the magnolia today, and it's exactly like what you have above. Man, I can't believe they don't grow and sell this stuff at the lumber yards. Has the beautiful color and closed grain smoothness of maple with a much bolder appearance. I wish I had a digital camera to take a pic. I basically wound up with a coffee-cup sized bowl/cup thingie, it was a practice round and i wanted to see how it dries.