Sycamore

[Rusty Nesmith]

I have always wanted to turn some sycamore. I saw a tree cut down and went to check it out, nobody home. I went back on our way to dinner and they were home. I asked the guy if it was sycamore and he said yes but it was spoken for. I told him that was ok and what I wanted it for and I only need a couple of pieces. He said go ahead and get a couple, he doesn’t know anything. I got two 12” pieces.

 

[Wally Crawford]

I love turning Sycamore. I usually let it spalt, which happens fairly quickly in my wood pile.

 

[Hugh]

Sycamore likes to move a bit.
Really fun to turn when it is wet. Ribbons will fly.

 

[Omer Klee]

I would love to turn some green sycamore!! I've never seen any of it around me, other the the trees I have planted
I can't complain too much though. I was given two very large Bur Oaks both are over 40" in diameter.

 

[Richard Coers]

The reaction wood from that off center pith could easily cause you some drying issues.

 

[Tony Rozendaal]

If you want to see the typical sycamore fleck in your results, your best bet is to turn a natural edge bowl.

 

[robo hippy]

The medullary ray patterns can be spectacular in plane/sycamore trees. In order for it to show, you have to quarter saw your blanks, so like Tony said, NE bowls. I had some 36+inch rounds once and tried to split them. The maul bounced. I tried driving wedges into it, and they would go in a bit and then bounce out. Note here, I did concrete work for 30 years, so I do know how to use a sledge.... Anyway, I figured out I needed to drive them in a little way, come back and drive them in some more, and after 4 or so times, it finally split. The plane trees do hold a LOT of water, but the warping is generally predictable, unlike madrone.

robo hippy