I am still on a very steep learning curve with respect to turning and am experimenting with all sorts of techniques. The vast majority of opinion and material relating to how to turn logs tell you to cut out the pith as it is EVIL! I do understand the basic reasoning but when you have a nice round log it seems so logical to just mount it and turn rather than first turn it into a square and then back round again :-) Plus you get to use the full diameter!
I did find a couple of articles where folks had turned pith to pith right through the center of the log and had zero issues with checking. It does seem to depend on the species and of course how long the log has been drying. I had a nice round log (~5"dia) on my woodpile that had to have been sitting there for at least 3 years. SO I decided to experiment and mounted it with centers directly on the heart of the pith.
This was the result. Not quite sure what the wood is but it seems very tight grained and pretty dense. I rough turned it maybe a month ago and then finished it yesterday. no sign of any cracks. I guess we will see. Turning through the dead center like this does create some awesome radial grain patterns. I plan to keep my eye out for other logs that may be treated in a similar fashion.
I did find a couple of articles where folks had turned pith to pith right through the center of the log and had zero issues with checking. It does seem to depend on the species and of course how long the log has been drying. I had a nice round log (~5"dia) on my woodpile that had to have been sitting there for at least 3 years. SO I decided to experiment and mounted it with centers directly on the heart of the pith.
This was the result. Not quite sure what the wood is but it seems very tight grained and pretty dense. I rough turned it maybe a month ago and then finished it yesterday. no sign of any cracks. I guess we will see. Turning through the dead center like this does create some awesome radial grain patterns. I plan to keep my eye out for other logs that may be treated in a similar fashion.
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