![]() ![]() One other thing - spalting is caused by a fungus and can be dangerous to inhale. Unless the blanks are very dry, be sure to coat with end grain sealer to prevent cracking. It might be best to wholesale to a turning blank dealer. Selling the blanks is another big issue and unless you find a good market, it may not be worth the effort. For example, a lot of Woodcraft stores sell turning blanks on commission - you can often get an idea of the size and value from what they have on the shelf. Be advised that producing turning blanks can be a lot more work than sawing boards.įor an idea of marketable sizes, check out the blanks offered for sale on the internet, for example here: (look at Products, Turning Blanks.) Another thing is to visit any local dealers that cater to woodworkers and turners. Some of the best wood, btw, will be found in large crotches or stumps, things that usually don't make it to the sawmill. It describes some of the best ways to cut blanks from a tree. If you want to get into producing turning blanks, you might check out a book "Turning Green Wood". The length can vary, but should be at least two times the diameter, preferably a little more. A 6圆" or 8x8" spalted blank would be ideal. Larger blanks can be used for hollow forms, pots, and vases. Smaller sizes are used for table legs, pepper grinders, and a wide variety of small decorative items. Spindle blanks can be any size from about 2x2" on up. For a bowl blank, it is OK to let one side go all the way to the curved outside of the log - this will give more options in turning and maximize the spalted wood in the blank. When cutting bowl blanks, the pith must be removed, so the size it mostly limited by the diameter of the log.Īs mentioned, often the spalting will be on the outside of the log, so a blank should be cut to take advantage of that. There is also a market for larger blanks. The larger the diameter, the more the thickness should be or you start turning plates and platters rather than bowls. ![]() The diameter should be at least 6" square with 8", 10", or 12"+ better. ![]() Spindle blanks are cut with the grain running lengthwise, just as if you were sawing 4x4s from the log.įor bowls, 2" is about the minimum thickness, 3" is better, 4" or more is even better, depenind on the diameter of the blank. Bowl blanks are cut with the grain going across the blank, across what will be the diameter of the bowl. There are two basic types of blanks: bowl and spindle. Turning blanks can be any size, but usually the bigger the better. I've done some spalting of maple on purpose and some came out great and some was compost. If you can easily make an indentation with your thumbnail the wood may be too far gone. Whle punky wood can still be turned, it is undesirable and has low or no value. The only way I know to evaluate the wood is to cut into it and see the extent of the spalting and decay. ![]()
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