Sugar maple and honey locust

[DavePowers]

I am new to turning and have come across two trees just fallen. One is a sugar maple the other is a honey locust. Are these trees fine good to turn? What are some of the things I should watch for? They are both 14 inches across some larger sections.

Dave

 

[Mark Mandell]

I am new to turning and have come across two trees just fallen. One is a sugar maple the other is a honey locust. Are these trees fine good to turn? What are some of the things I should watch for? They are both 14 inches across some larger sections.

Dave

The Suger will work wonderfully when wet. Tight/closed grain, turns to concrete when dry which means light cuts and sharp tools.

Not had any locust, so can't help you with that, but other like it so go for it!

m

 

[Charlie Knighton]

spalted honey locust

this bowl is about 7 inches by 3 inches

 

[Gretch Flo]

honey locust

I have turned several bowls and shallow bowls from a Honey Locust originating in the back yard of a dear 93 year old veterinarian who taught me for 35 years. I have donated 3 HL bowls for auction for student scholarships which raised $350, 850, and $1000 the past 3 years due the history of its being in his back yard. It is one of the hardest woods I have turned necessitating sharpening every 5-10 minutes. Cracks would appear out of nowhere. It is a pretty wood (orangish brown rings alternating with a lighbter color) and very heavy. This is one piece I have just sold and then will be donated for an auction at a national veterinary surgery meeting in his honor. This shallow bowl measured 14 1/2 inches in width x 2 1/2". Hope the pic comes thru, Gretch

 

[tdrice]

I have turned honey locust and found it a beautiful wood. It does have a strond tendency to check and crack. I have had a hard time turning any sizable pieces without major cracks. In log form it checks badly even with log sealer.
I am sure that the weather here is partly responsible. I'm on the eastern plains of Colorado where the typical daytime relative humidity is below 10%. (A rough turned 12" bowl in a paper sack in my basement which has a constant temp. of 68 degrees will completely cure in a month).
Terence

 

[Hugh]

I spent two weeks at Arrowmont (John Jordan for an instructor) turning a fresh cut Sugar Maple. Holly cow the shavings we made. What a fun wood to turn. We turned open bowls and vessels - using only wet wood. Love it. Turn it to a consistant thickness and dry it slowly. It will warp but will OK.

I have never turned any honey locust - but have turned black locust. Nice wood when it is wet. Hard as a rock when dry. Makes nice tool handles. I turned one open bowl about 12" dia. while it was wet. Wet sanded while it was on the lathe. Dried it slowly and it came out pretty nice. Did not warp too much - only about 1/4" or so - no cracks.
Have fun. Both good stuff.
Hugh