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Turning Lilac
- Thread starter Woodbass
- Start date
Lilac splits something terrible. The wood is also one of the hardest/densest domestic woods around.
I have a limited supply that I have made pens out of, I just love the finish you can get on lilac.
I have a limited supply that I have made pens out of, I just love the finish you can get on lilac.
I turn quite a bit of lilac. It cuts like butter. It sure does split on a spiral which ruins a lot of wood but occasionally I get a larger piece for a vase or whatever. I make a lot of wine stoppers with it.
Norm
Norm
lilac
Years ago I tried to make salt/pepper shakers. Got one done but couldn't get another piece that wasn't split. Often the brush (can't say tree) stem?? Isn't round but severe indentation. The wood then had pretty purple streaks. Recently, 2 different friends gave me some lilac, and was disappointed in the little purple that was in it. I made a couple of "baby bowls" (3 1/2"x 1 1/2")for new house warming gift(for the donor) that were real pretty with some worm holes and a little purple. I have also turned "tree Lilac" which is a totally different beast. So I think you mean the former. Sorry Michael/Mark etc. , don't know the genus/species.
Gretch
Years ago I tried to make salt/pepper shakers. Got one done but couldn't get another piece that wasn't split. Often the brush (can't say tree) stem?? Isn't round but severe indentation. The wood then had pretty purple streaks. Recently, 2 different friends gave me some lilac, and was disappointed in the little purple that was in it. I made a couple of "baby bowls" (3 1/2"x 1 1/2")for new house warming gift(for the donor) that were real pretty with some worm holes and a little purple. I have also turned "tree Lilac" which is a totally different beast. So I think you mean the former. Sorry Michael/Mark etc. , don't know the genus/species.
Gretch
I turned these recently:
Lilac Bowls
4 inch diameter is really big for lilac, have fun with it!
I had let most of the "logs" sit for over a year and split where they wanted to. I got some decent tiny bowl blanks and pen/finial stuff. The bark is really the only stringy part, the wood cuts nicely (as others have already said)...
I did cut up some pieces earlier, cutting out the pith line - they didn't split - oh, one crotch piece went crazy and was no good, but the others worked out well.
That purple seems to fade pretty quickly once it hits daylight
Lilac Bowls
4 inch diameter is really big for lilac, have fun with it!
I had let most of the "logs" sit for over a year and split where they wanted to. I got some decent tiny bowl blanks and pen/finial stuff. The bark is really the only stringy part, the wood cuts nicely (as others have already said)...
I did cut up some pieces earlier, cutting out the pith line - they didn't split - oh, one crotch piece went crazy and was no good, but the others worked out well.
That purple seems to fade pretty quickly once it hits daylight