Turning Dry China Berry

[Jerry Bridges]

A neighbor gave me several pieces of very dry China Berry. The pieces are approximately 4" in diameter and 12" long. The wood has two cracks the length of the piece and approximately 1 and 1/2 inches deep. Would it be safe to turn this after filling with wood chips and CA glue?

 

[Brian Gustin]

I would say it depends on orientation of the grain... If you want to split it and turn a bowl, you could trim ends off and use the middle portion.. If going for a spindle turning, probably would want to trim off the cracked portion as well, assuming you mean end checking cracks. I have turned spindles with cracked/checked blanks with no trouble, as long as I can have solid wood to center the drive and live centers on, being aware of the cracks, they can be turned away.

 

[Jerry Bridges]

Thank you. The longitudinal splits are not as deep as the checking on the end. Good suggestion. I have enough length to trim the checks. Great idea.

 

[Richard Coers]

Sawdust and CA glue is not a structural repair. When repairing a crack you have to consider what stress will be applied during each seasonal change. In other words if it cracked once, it can easily crack again. There is a whole group of new turners today that are just fine with all sorts of ways to repair cracks with resin. I am not one of them. If it's cracked, it goes to the smoker to cook pork loin. Wood supply has never been an issue for me.

 

[hockenbery]

Would it be safe to turn this after filling with wood chips and CA glue?

CA glue fractures. It will not provide the structural support you are seeking.

I use CA to put glue blocks on bowls. I holds great for the turning will bond wet wood to a dry glue block for an hour or so then the green wood moves enough to break the glue.

To remove the glue block I hit the joint with a flat chisel. 95% of the time the CA glue fractures with no damage to either wood piece.
One of the few glues not stronger than the wood.
@Lyle Jamieson showed me this a long time ago.



Regarding safety. I turn a fair number of pieces with voids and cracks. As long as the cracks don’t hold any wood to the lathe it is safe to turn if it is within your skill and confidence level.
The voids and cracks have to be a feature in the finished piece.

 

[Jerry Bridges]

Thanks.

CA glue fractures. It will not provide the structural support you are seeking.

I use CA to put glue blocks on bowls. I holds great for the turning will bond wet wood to a dry glue block for an hour or so then the green wood moves enough to break the glue.

To remove the glue block I hit the joint with a flat chisel. 95% of the time the CA glue fractures with no damage to either wood piece.
One of the few glues not stronger than the wood.
@Lyle Jamieson showed me this a long time ago.



Regarding safety. I turn a fair number of pieces with voids and cracks. As long as the cracks don’t hold any wood to the lathe it is safe to turn if it is within your skill and confidence level.
The voids and cracks have to be a feature in the finished piece.

ank

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Just noticed you live in China Spring and you scored China berry. Nice

 

[Jerry Bridges]

True. The unincorporated village was named for the numerous China Berry trees in the area.

 

[hockenbery]

Thanks.


ank

Look for some larger fresh cut pieces.
China berry has some nice properties
The grain shows off liming wax nicely.
The growth rings have a hard and soft part - pieces I have sandblasted get narrow grooves and a wide section.

 

[Gary Beasley]

Ive used chinaberry in segmented work and the results are quite striking.
If the wood is big enough you can mill it around the cracks and get some great segmentation.

 

[Lyle Jamieson]

CA glue fractures. It will not provide the structural support you are seeking.

I use CA to put glue blocks on bowls. I holds great for the turning will bond wet wood to a dry glue block for an hour or so then the green wood moves enough to break the glue.

To remove the glue block I hit the joint with a flat chisel. 95% of the time the CA glue fractures with no damage to either wood piece.
One of the few glues not stronger than the wood.
@Lyle Jamieson showed me this a long time ago.



Regarding safety. I turn a fair number of pieces with voids and cracks. As long as the cracks don’t hold any wood to the lathe it is safe to turn if it is within your skill and confidence level.
The voids and cracks have to be a feature in the finished piece.

Thanks for the mention @hockenbery !