Turning wet Cypress

[Don Armour]

Was able to cut some cypress logs off a couple of recently felled cypress trees near my house. Looked at an older thread that discussed the mess they make when turning wet with suggestions on how to manage by covering nearby walls and floors etc. and wearing disposable waterproof protective clothing.

How sappy - that is sticky- is the water that comes off. I have a small (12x30) shop and am concerned about the mess and cleaning the water/sap off anything not covered.

Or.... is it better to let it dry

Thanks for the help
Don

 

[David Anliker]

wet cypress is just that, a watery mess but not sticky. I hang a shower curtain behind me to control where the wet goes. I have a steel wall in front and top that does not concern me.
wet cypress moves a good bit and is stringy unless you have some old growth material. In Jax, there is a cypress mill that buys sinker cypress from the St. John river. It stinks to high heaven for a bit, then turns a nice blond.

I would use a curtain liner or tarp, turn it and go take a bath. Wear old clothes and rinse them off before washing.
David
PS, oil down the lathe before and after

 

[Matt Meadows]

Good to read. Here in Charleston I occasionally have baldcypress available and haven't turned it before. Picking up a chainsaw soon, hopefully stuff harvested in winter is a bit lower in water content.

How does Cypress do when rough turned and dried for later? Is it more prone to cracking at that point than other woods?

 

[David Anliker]

it twisted more than cracked. it dries fairly easy once turned, just may twist more than you can fix second time around.
I was turning 20" platters to order so didn't have much to play with.

 

[Don Armour]

Thanks guys.

FYI - I took some moisture readings yesterday - running 50% ish on end grain. Thinking of letting it sit for a bit and seeing how fast it drys - maybe shoot for 30 or so and hope it make less of a mess? Any experience with how much end checking will occur as it sits? Was also thinking of applying some anchorseal?

 

[Marc Banka]

Turn it now. No good, and likely bad things happen if you think you can partially dry it first.
Besides, turning wet wood is so satisfying. Cuts like butter, tools stay cool and sharp, gorgeous long ribbons of wood, good times. You’ll dry and so will your floor.
Once turned bowls also work really well with Cypress.

 

[David Anliker]

so, my answer from the phone did not go through but Marc gave you the same I would, don't wait and you will wash.
the piece I didn't use last year split. Was a 20" round.

 

[Charles Cadenhead]

Anything you can’t turn today paint the ends with anchorseal. It’s slow to split but will still split on you if not protected. If you’re going to turn it this weekend you can also stick it in a plastic garbage bag. I haven’t noticed much spalting from the cypress I’ve turned so the bag shouldn’t damage the wood if in one for a couple of days.

 

[Andrew Hobbs]

Turn it now. No good, and likely bad things happen if you think you can partially dry it first.
Besides, turning wet wood is so satisfying. Cuts like butter, tools stay cool and sharp, gorgeous long ribbons of wood, good times. You’ll dry and so will your floor.
Once turned bowls also work really well with Cypress.

Hey this is an old thread but I have some fresh cypress down here in South Florida and some questions! If you don't mind.
I've turned 4 12 in bowls and left them a little over an inch thick, wood glue and water sealed them. I was wondering. You said once turned works really well with cypress which would be ideal for me
Do you wait a bit for them to dry before sanding, I've used a torch to dry the outside of bowls to sand but I love the look of this wood and really don't want to stress it and risk a crack if I can.
Also, what thickness would you turn them to? I have some almost paper thin bowls so skill set isn't an issue.
And then final idea/ question. I've used minwax sanding sealer before to help wet bowls not move to much and it has worked great for me. Would you do something like that or what finish do you tend to use?
If you have the time or urge to answer I would greatly appreciate it. If not, no worries and happy turning! Or if this has been discussed with cypress in the past a link to it would be great. I'm just struggling to find info!

 

[Marc Banka]

I turn them fairly thin, maybe 3/16”, let the surface dry enough to be sanded. 20-30 minutes is likely more than enough. I finish right away with walnut oil. I re-apply oil daily for a week. The oil slows the drying, much slower than drying in a box or bag. I haven’t had any bowls crack with this method.

Post some pictures

 

[Andrew Hobbs]

I turn them fairly thin, maybe 3/16”, let the surface dry enough to be sanded. 20-30 minutes is likely more than enough. I finish right away with walnut oil. I re-apply oil daily for a week. The oil slows the drying, much slower than drying in a box or bag. I haven’t had any bowls crack with this method.

Post some pictures

You are the man! Thank you so much. Here are a few pics of the first two that's turned thick, sealed and drying. I would always rather "once turn" but I had no idea with cypress.
What kind of walnut oil do you use?
I have some of the doctors woodshop microcrystal wax walnut oil but I'm guessing I want it to soak in and not sure if it being mixed with wax will cause it not to soak in as well. I might be overthinking it but I doubt I want to french polish it in.
I'll post more pics as soon as I have a moment to turn a bowl.

 

[Bernie Kopfer]

I turn them fairly thin, maybe 3/16”, let the surface dry enough to be sanded. 20-30 minutes is likely more than enough. I finish right away with walnut oil. I re-apply oil daily for a week. The oil slows the drying, much slower than drying in a box or bag. I haven’t had any bowls crack with this method.

Post some pictures

That is a very intriguing method for making once turned bowls out of green wood. Two questions come up. 1. Does this method work on any wood or are you referring to Cyprus only? 2. Do you still get the usual warpage of green wood? Thanks

 

[Steve Tiedman]

On the topic of drying wood in general, here's an excerpt from an upcoming revision of the book "Cut and Dried"-

'Cut & Dried' & Assessing Wood Moisture Content - Lost Art Press

Editor's note: The third edition of "Cut & Dried" should arrive in February. You can sign up to be notified when it arrives here. In this post, author

blog.lostartpress.com

 

[Marc Banka]

That is a very intriguing method for making once turned bowls out of green wood. Two questions come up. 1. Does this method work on any wood or are you referring to Cyprus only? 2. Do you still get the usual warpage of green wood? Thanks

I’ve used this method on Oak, hickory, cherry, apricot and walnut. I figured that if the oak didn’t crack, other woods should be a breeze. Yes, they move just like any other once turned bowl. Not sure of the amount is the same, but assume it is.

This is a once turned apricot bowl, finished with walnut oil.

 

[John K Jordan]

Was able to cut some cypress logs

I know this old thread started out about turning wet Cypress.

But I have a question: When people talk about "Cypress", is it always assumed to be Bald Cypress/Swamp Cypress? I see the Wood Database lists at least 6 different types of cypress and there appear to be many differences.

What does "Cypress" mean to you?

Here in TN, the swampy cypress doesn't grow as far as I know. When people say "cypress" they often refer to the cultivar Leyland Cypress, which is actually a hybrid between Monteray Cypress and Alaskan Yellow Cedar.

I made the mistake of planting a bunch of Leyland Cypress here on the farm some years ago. Fantastic, extremely fast growing - put them in at about 5' tall and before I knew it they were 30' (one now is over 40'). Needs light all around or the green starts to turn brown. I put in over 25 and they got so large so fast I took down maybe 16 so far (dig around the roots with the excavator and push them out of the ground.) I burned most and never even looked at the wood, expected it to be a little like cedar or dawn redwood.

Then a few months ago I took down two more by my front gate, looked great for a long time then got too big!
(During a rare snow for this area)


This time I saved some of the wood near the base and cut it up into turning blanks. Just turned some small things so far but the wood is wonderful!! It turns about like holly, fine-grained, white but with some mild figure, what I have was green but never threw any water, didn't crack when drying. I'm going back to the pile where I put the logs and grab some more. Was about 20" at the base. Maybe I'll try something larger, a bowl or something.

Anyone ever try turning Leyland Cypress?

JKJ

 

[Gregory Hickman]

I know this old thread started out about turning wet Cypress.

But I have a question: When people talk about "Cypress", is it always assumed to be Bald Cypress/Swamp Cypress? I see the Wood Database lists at least 6 different types of cypress and there appear to be many differences.

What does "Cypress" mean to you?

Here in TN, the swampy cypress doesn't grow as far as I know. When people say "cypress" they often refer to the cultivar Leyland Cypress, which is actually a hybrid between Monteray Cypress and Alaskan Yellow Cedar.

I made the mistake of planting a bunch of Leyland Cypress here on the farm some years ago. Fantastic, extremely fast growing - put them in at about 5' tall and before I knew it they were 30' (one now is over 40'). Needs light all around or the green starts to turn brown. I put in over 25 and they got so large so fast I took down maybe 16 so far (dig around the roots with the excavator and push them out of the ground.) I burned most and never even looked at the wood, expected it to be a little like cedar or dawn redwood.

Then a few months ago I took down two more by my front gate, looked great for a long time then got too big!
(During a rare snow for this area)
View attachment 71105

This time I saved some of the wood near the base and cut it up into turning blanks. Just turned some small things so far but the wood is wonderful!! It turns about like holly, fine-grained, white but with some mild figure, what I have was green but never threw any water, didn't crack when drying. I'm going back to the pile where I put the logs and grab some more. Was about 20" at the base. Maybe I'll try something larger, a bowl or something.

Anyone ever try turning Leyland Cypress?

JKJ

If they grow that fast and turn so good, plant more.

Gregory

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I turned Cypress species, Juniper is a Cypress as is the White cedar, they are a fine grained wood.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Here in TN, the swampy cypress doesn't grow as far as I know. When people say "cypress" they often refer to the cultivar Leyland Cypress, which is actually a hybrid between Monteray Cypress and Alaskan Yellow Cedar.

Not far from my house are a couple of bald cypress that were planted as part of a tree row along the road. At least PictureThis thinks it's bald cypress. I haven't seen any others.

 

[Andrew Hobbs]

I turned Cypress species, Juniper is a Cypress as is the White cedar, they are a fine grained wood.

Thank you for that, I didn't know.
It's ironic, I was given some juniper that was cut down 20+ yrs ago, from a tree that stood in front of the first house in Stuart Florida. Which eventually became the mayors house in the early 1900s. Dont quite me exactly but that's what I remember the man said.
And now I was gifted a bunch of cypress. They cut similarly but I wouldn't have known. The cypress stench is not my favorite. The juniper smells wonderful. My wife likes when the garage smells like one and not the other.
And for whoever asked about the cypress I have. I'm pretty sure it is pond cypress. It has the large trunk bottom. It was knocked down during the hurricane and tornadoes a few months ago in Jupiter farms, FL and just cut up recently. The amount of water coming off when turning is unreal.

 

[John K Jordan]

Not far from my house are a couple of bald cypress that were planted as part of a tree row along the road. At least PictureThis thinks it's bald cypress. I haven't seen any others.

Does it lose it's foliage every year? I understand bald cypress does, but also Dawn Redwood which grows everywhere, often planted in rows in china, europe, elsewhere.

FWIW, there are several deciduous conifers I know of besides those two but I've never seen them as far as I know: the Tamarack and Larch. There are too many trees for my shrinking brain.

The Dawn Redwood is an amazing tree. Around here I've see them 3'+ ft in diameter. I got some logs once and sawed them into boards - very light weight and soft wood, rather coarse. I used the boards for interior walls in a farm building and for siding on a horse shelter. Never tried turning any.

Love to get some more. A guy down the hill from me just had a huge one cut down but when I stopped asked about hauling off a log or two he said mean words and had it mostly chipped and the rest hauled to the dump. Some people must be born grumpy.

JKJ

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Does it lose it's foliage every year? I understand bald cypress does, but also Dawn Redwood which grows everywhere, often planted in rows in china, europe, elsewhere.

JKJ

I believe it turned a rust brown. I'll check on my way home today. I have not heard of Dawn Redwood.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Does it lose it's foliage every year? I understand bald cypress does, but also Dawn Redwood which grows everywhere, often planted in rows in china, europe, elsewhere.

Here's the tree I was referring to.

 

[John K Jordan]

Dawn Redwood is usually tall and conical. Some summer and late fall pictures here:

Dawn Redwood - Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Dawn redwoods once blanketed the entire Northern Hemisphere and were thought to have been extinct for millions of years until their rediscovery in 1941 by a Chinese forester in a remote corner of the Sichuan (at the time, Szechuan) Province in south-central China. Somehow, a little over one...

singtree.com

Distinctive trunk.

 

[Bernie Kopfer]

I’ve used this method on Oak, hickory, cherry, apricot and walnut. I figured that if the oak didn’t crack, other woods should be a breeze. Yes, they move just like any other once turned bowl. Not sure of the amount is the same, but assume it is.
View attachment 71088
This is a once turned apricot bowl, finished with walnut oil.

Thank you! I went out and found a green oak blank and quickly turned a bowl per your suggestions. Straight even walls and bottom, will be a good test piece for me.