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grain orientation for segmented turning

A

Al Ladd

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Jun 27, 2011
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Colrain, MA usa
I always see segmented turnings constructed with rings oriented horizontally, so each ring has end grain joinery, and the rings are joined to eachother by facegrain joints. I would think this is meant to maxime the strength between rings, and simplify ring creation. Is there a good reason not to orient pieces vertically, the way a cooper makes a barrel, and use a mechanical joint (a mortise and tenon) at each layer junction so as to not rely soley on endgrain gluing? This would allow for some more natural flowing of grain for urn shaped vessels, along the order of 6-8 " diameter and 12-16" long. If there is a more appropriate place to ask this question could someone direct me? I'm a boxmaker just starting to explore turned and turned-like forms, created by a variety of techniques, including bent lamination, and CNC 4th axis cutting. Thanks! Al Ladd www.alladd.com
 
Segments are usually brick-laid, so the horizontal long grain joints are what provide nearly all the strength. The end grain butt joints between segments does little except barely hold the ring together during flattening and assembly.

A typical solution to your urn question, is not to use regular segments, but instead, use vertical staves. That way you get the advantage of long grain joints between staved segments. However, you still have to deal with the ends of the staves...which would be butt joints again. A typical solution is to turn a dado in the top and bottom of the staved tube, then turn a tenon on the mating top/bottom segmented piece. The resulting glue joint will be long grain to long grain...albeit at 90 degrees from each other.

Nonetheless, your question is a common one, and is one of the many "issues" that segmented turners deal with when designing and turning vessels.

I recommend you visit http://segmentedwoodturners.org/, an AAW chapter that can answer a lot of your questions about technique.
 
segmented turning grain orientation

Thanks, that's pretty much what I was thinking.I guess dado constrution is more accurate term than mortise and tenon. I seem to see few examples of decorative staved forms. I'll try the segemented site and look harder.
 
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