Want to turn this pine root ball

[David A Morris]

I'm new to turning and I found a root ball that had been run over many times by snowmobiles. It grabbed my attention and I'd like to turn it in to something. Looking for ideas. Please don't say to burn it.

 

[Richard Coers]

depends on how big of a lathe you have.

 

[David A Morris]

It's a small Craftsman 103 and the root is about 8-10 inches long. I've thought about resin but never used it and don't have any anyway.

 

[Phil Hamel]

Ink pen. Magic wand. Small box. Christmas ornament. Jewelry holder. Hollow form. All kinds of stuff depending on how you cut it!

 

[Donna Banfield]

It’s not just the length of your lathe bed, but how much you can swing, and how heavy your lathe is. That piece will be wildly out of balance for more than a minute. If your lathe starts walking across the room and headed out the door because of vibration, it won’t be a pleasant experience. That’s assuming you intend to turn the entire piece as one object. I agree with @philhamel; cut it into smaller sections to make many objects.

 

[David A Morris]

It’s not just the length of your lathe bed, but how much you can swing, and how heavy your lathe is. That piece will be wildly out of balance for more than a minute. If your lathe starts walking across the room and headed out the door because of vibration, it won’t be a pleasant experience. That’s assuming you intend to turn the entire piece as one object. I agree with @philhamel; cut it into smaller sections to make many objects.

Sounds like a plan. Thank you

 

[Richard Coers]

It's a small Craftsman 103 and the root is about 8-10 inches long. I've thought about resin but never used it and don't have any anyway.

The stock pulley set up on a 103 has a minimum speed of 700 rpm. That is about 7 times the speed that root ball should be spun as a rough blank.

 

[David A Morris]

I don't know how it was set up originally, but my father had put a set of five pulleys to be able to adjust the spindle speed. I'll be sure to set it right before I put power to it and stand out of the way when I do. I think most of it I will cut away anyway to make smaller pieces.

 

[Jon Rista]

I think if you trim down those trunks, to tighten up the center of gravity, it looks big enough to make a nice vase out of. I'd flatten up the bottom so you can put a tenon on it, trim maybe just the top of that central trunk so you have a flat spot for tailstock support for a while, and with those unruly stems trimmed back, it should have a more stable spin until you get it properly rounded.

Each of those stems, as well, I would plan where you cut carefully, as each one mgiht be enough wood for a pen, or perhaps a finial ornament, maybe even a small bud vase.

 

[David A Morris]

Thank you, that's a great idea.

 

[hockenbery]

I'm new to turning and I found a root ball that had been run over many times by snowmobiles. It grabbed my attention and I'd like to turn it in to something.

I would want to use the contours in a hollow form or natural edge bowls. Great rims and opportunities for voids.
These are challenges for experienced turners. May be stretching too much for a newbie unless you are being modest.

As a new turner you might consider a couple of weed pots. You can drill a hole off or on the lathe to hold the dried flowers,
turn the top and bottom and leave a section with the contours contributed by nature.

 

[Dean Center]

Making something out of this piece of wood would challenge experienced turners. I have safety concerns about the wood, in addition to the design and technique aspects--there are probably cracks hiding in there, and chunks of various size are surely going to come flying off. Also, be aware that root balls have rocks and grit in them and can be very hard on tools. (If dad left you high carbon tools, and not high speed tools, better get some contemporary tools before tackling it)

All of us have at least one piece of wood lying around our shop that we think is cool and could make something wonderful, but we just don't know what to do with it, or it's too special for our current level of skill. Maybe this is your piece. Maybe set it aside, get some friendly wood, develop your skills and safe practices, and then come back to it at a later date when you're ready to safely make the most out of it.

 

[David A Morris]

That makes a lot of sense, thank you. Maybe one day soon I'll post pictures of the tools he left me!

 

[Webb Willmott]

If it’s pine, it’s probably full of resin. I would cut off all the protruding pieces to get it in a safe shape to turn. After cleaning up, if it’s “sappy” it would be cut into kindling fire starter sticks and I would find another piece of wood to turn a pot to hold those sticks. If it’s not sticky and sappy, then give it a go. Either way, it’s a win.

 

[David A Morris]

I'm pretty sure it's not sappy. I could still surprise me though. I will cut off the obnoxious protrusions before I try to turn it and turn them into toothpick holders.