Chris in TN
WKR
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2025
- Messages
- 1,056
So my son (age 9) was absolutely fascinated with a woodworking video we watched back in the fall. We ended up getting him(?) a cheap lathe for Christmas. It was used, a HF 1/2hp model, 5 speed, that'll hold about a 20" length of wood. It came with a really nice table the prior owned had built for it and a handful of various tools. I ordered a set of chisels(?) and am now waiting on a drill-chuck for the tailstock so we can bore holes for candlestick holders - maybe.
We have a handful of dry cedar logs in the firewood pile that have no major splits in them. I have an old section of persimmon I set back a couple years ago - maybe 6" long and 5" diameter - with an eye toward having some pistol grips built. That project hasn't happened yet, so I've used it, despite the splits, as a test piece to smooth up a bit in the lathe. I'd really like to fill the splits with colored epoxy then consider having a set of grips made from it. And persimmon is a HARD wood so I don't think it'll be the best wood for a first project.
I had some wet peach limbs, cut about a month ago. I used two of them to play with and they both split after drying a few days. I could epoxy-fill them and still make candlestick holders, I guess, but they still need to dry for a while.
I have some sections of peach we cut and stacked the other day. I figure they need at least six months to dry. We have a peach orchard and had a couple of trees that needed to be removed, so they'll eventually, possibly, make a nice rolling pin or bowl.
There's a male persimmon tree on the farm I don't mind cutting, as there's another right next to it, so I wouldn't be losing a pollinator for my female trees. We've also identified one medium-sized red maple and one honey locust we can cut, after deer season. I might have one black walnut big enough to consider cutting. I'll have to go check on those after deer season, but I can definitely cut the one persimmon and one red maple and one honey locust.
I have tons of shagbark hickories. I have tons of American Elm and I'd love to use it for woodworking because it's a bear to split for firewood and not good for much else, from my standpoint.
But all of those require drying for a long time. And I think the only firewood we have in decent enough shape for woodworking, is eastern red cedar.
So....I see wood blanks for sale all over the internet and I'll likely buy one blank to destroy as a learning tool, and one to attempt to make a bowl from.
First question:
Do you have any suggestions on where to buy good blanks, and what species to start with for a simple bowl?
I have enough tools, and I've already figured out I have plenty of sandpaper for the time being, from 60 to 400 grit. We have eyewear. We have a good work environment (the apron of my barn).
Second question:
I can easily put up persimmon, peach, eastern red cedar, american elm, hickory, honey locust, and red maple for drying for future projects. I have assorted oaks but if they're big enough for woodwork they're big enough to make acorns, so I won't cut them. What species would you prioritize for future use?
We have a handful of dry cedar logs in the firewood pile that have no major splits in them. I have an old section of persimmon I set back a couple years ago - maybe 6" long and 5" diameter - with an eye toward having some pistol grips built. That project hasn't happened yet, so I've used it, despite the splits, as a test piece to smooth up a bit in the lathe. I'd really like to fill the splits with colored epoxy then consider having a set of grips made from it. And persimmon is a HARD wood so I don't think it'll be the best wood for a first project.
I had some wet peach limbs, cut about a month ago. I used two of them to play with and they both split after drying a few days. I could epoxy-fill them and still make candlestick holders, I guess, but they still need to dry for a while.
I have some sections of peach we cut and stacked the other day. I figure they need at least six months to dry. We have a peach orchard and had a couple of trees that needed to be removed, so they'll eventually, possibly, make a nice rolling pin or bowl.
There's a male persimmon tree on the farm I don't mind cutting, as there's another right next to it, so I wouldn't be losing a pollinator for my female trees. We've also identified one medium-sized red maple and one honey locust we can cut, after deer season. I might have one black walnut big enough to consider cutting. I'll have to go check on those after deer season, but I can definitely cut the one persimmon and one red maple and one honey locust.
I have tons of shagbark hickories. I have tons of American Elm and I'd love to use it for woodworking because it's a bear to split for firewood and not good for much else, from my standpoint.
But all of those require drying for a long time. And I think the only firewood we have in decent enough shape for woodworking, is eastern red cedar.
So....I see wood blanks for sale all over the internet and I'll likely buy one blank to destroy as a learning tool, and one to attempt to make a bowl from.
First question:
Do you have any suggestions on where to buy good blanks, and what species to start with for a simple bowl?
I have enough tools, and I've already figured out I have plenty of sandpaper for the time being, from 60 to 400 grit. We have eyewear. We have a good work environment (the apron of my barn).
Second question:
I can easily put up persimmon, peach, eastern red cedar, american elm, hickory, honey locust, and red maple for drying for future projects. I have assorted oaks but if they're big enough for woodwork they're big enough to make acorns, so I won't cut them. What species would you prioritize for future use?
