Turning Basswood

[Rusty Nesmith]

We have a group of friends that has been meeting for quite a few years on Tuesday. We call the group Turning Tuesday. One of the older friends is more of a chip carver than a turner. He likes the boxes I have been making lately and asked me if I could make one out of basswood so he can chip carve it. The lid is Purple Heart because that is what he wanted. Here is the box, 8” tall and 5” in diameter. I can’t wait to see what he carves on it.

 

[Michael Anderson]

Cool collaboration! Please share with us the final product.

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

Cool collaboration! Please share with us the final product.

I will.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

This is an urn that I did in about 2013 in birch, the pattern is my own invention but like basswood birch is kind of bland so chip carving added some interest.
The book "Chip Carving Patterns" Copyright 1990 by Wayne Barton is in my personal library and it has many examples of round patterns that could be adapted to wood turnings.

 

[Randy Anderson]

Rusty, a good idea. It got me thinking back on trying to collaborate with a person that did fantastic wood burning artwork. She was doing her work on small scrap pieces of wood but could burn in very intricate designs, birds, flowers, etc into the pieces. I gave her a stack of small traditional bowls to do what she could with and see what came of it. I might go back to the idea and see if I can find her or someone else to partner with. I think we all end up with stacks of small traditional bowls that won't sell as is but might sell with some added value.

 

[DON FRANK]

I turned a piece of basswood for a vessel I was going to also carve. The wood was very green, actually I had cut the tree down the day before. The wood was cut in the winter but it was so wet and stringy that I could not hollow it. I tried every tool I have and found it impossible. I gave up and set it on the porch of my shop which has an awning. It sat there for three or four months with the intent that I was going to throw it on the next brush pile fire. I put it back on the lathe several months later and It turned and hollowed fine. In the time of setting out it did not crack and check at all even though it was still almost solid.

 

[Richard Coers]

You might want to do a little sanding with the grain on that lid. My eyes are getting bad enough that I use magnification and indirect light to double check my work.

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

Here is the second one. Exact same size and color. I flocked the inside of this one because this one will be for my wife after he carves it.

 

[Chuck Engstrom]

I turned a piece of basswood for a vessel I was going to also carve. The wood was very green, actually I had cut the tree down the day before. The wood was cut in the winter but it was so wet and stringy that I could not hollow it. I tried every tool I have and found it impossible. I gave up and set it on the porch of my shop which has an awning. It sat there for three or four months with the intent that I was going to throw it on the next brush pile fire. I put it back on the lathe several months later and It turned and hollowed fine. In the time of setting out it did not crack and check at all even though it was still almost solid.

I had much the same experience with a linden tree being cut down locally -- I put it on the lathe the same day and it was a mess to deal with, wet and stringy as you said. I didn't keep it to see how it would behave later, so your further result is instructive.