Turn right!!!

[BerniePA]

You'll find that for woodturning finding wood becomes a lot easier. Fallen over tree, local brush removal place, firewood pile etc are all great sources for turning blanks.

I hear you there!! A few lots behind my place, up the hill, they must be getting ready to put in a new house and they have been knocking down some 50 - 60 ft pine trees and I was just imagining all the pens in ONE of those!!!! To bad they aren't Zebra wood or Paduka trees, they wouldn't have to worry about carting them away!!!

[Uncle Cracker]

Bernie, common pine does not make good pens. In addition to being basically unattractive, there is a problem with the softness of the wood (the surface is way too easily marred during normal use) and the sap content in the wood. Look for local hardwoods (maple, elm, oak, hickory) instead. Even the more plain looking of those woods will usually yield some interesting figure if you look at the crotch areas where two limbs meet, or can get one with a burl in it. Remember that a careful (and time-consuming) drying process is needed for "green" wood.

[BerniePA]

Yeah, Uncle C. I realize all that. I was just daydreaming about the size of the trees and all the pens that could be made from that much wood. I know the pine would not be good, that's why they are still lying there. Now IF they would have been Paduka or something -- now we're talking!! But I realize drying time is still needed even for a "desired" wood.

[Uncle Cracker]

But I realize drying time is still needed even for a "desired" wood.

Yeah, and it's the looooongest unit of time you can imagine...

[BerniePA]

Yeah, and it's the looooongest unit of time you can imagine...

Puttin' it in the Microwave don't help??