Shopsmith Forums

I was given these sections of Beech limb and I'd love to do something with them, perhaps a turning project. But I haven't done much turning. So I need some "beginner" level ideas and direction. I think the wood is pretty green still.

How old/seasoned is it?

Still pretty green.

Im not an expert but from what i do know your best option that i can think of is put it up in your shop for a year or 2 to let it dry. Maybe someone can help more than i can with helping it dry faster.

As the wood dries, it will want to crack about the pith. So unless you want the cracked/rustic look (probably not a good choice for a novice turner), you want to cut it into pith-free blanks before it dries. Bonus: the thinner pieces will dry faster.

But now you’re left with some pretty small blanks. You could turn some teacups, but not much of a bowl.

Beech is quite hard, similar to maple, and so it makes good handles. Your blanks would be a nice size for that. How about a nice set of long handles for your lathe tools?
I recently bought a couple of Easy Wood “Pro” lathe tools, and those big handles feel great to me. The Pro handles, shown below, are 20” long.
Candlestick holders could have a similar form factor, if you’re in the mood to turn something decorative.

You can rough-turn the blanks while they’re still green, and they’ll dry even faster. Then finish-turn after they are dry, and dimensionally stable.

Branches can be problematic, not familiar with Beech in particular but as a general rule.......

What I like to do with branches is to turn them wet and let them dry and crack as they will. It is art form of nature. I have several small cherry limbs sitting waiting for me to make weed pots out of. Like to do them but several other things happening first.

If you do turn wet then make sure you dry everything after cutting especially your tools and shopsmith, I rusted up one of my lathe chisels, thought I had taken care but the rust said otherwise. Like those stainless steel shanks on some tools.

Ed

Interesting idea about tool handles. I've got some files and rasps that could use a handle.

If it's going to be a while before I can do anything with it, what's the best thing to do now to keep the pieces usable?

heathicus wrote:Interesting idea about tool handles. I've got some files and rasps that could use a handle.

If it's going to be a while before I can do anything with it, what's the best thing to do now to keep the pieces usable?

Seal the ends of the logs, so that uneven drying doesn't split them. Anchorseal is the gold standard for this, but ordinary latex paint reportedly works fairly well also.

Jut a suggestion , get the bark off first,,,,,, you can then 1/4 it ,, slice it ,what ever you want ,,, then dry it .. both will help to avoid splitting ,,, then when ready to use it,,, cut strips and glue the pieces for the lathe.

Or just allow it to dry and see what happens , it my not split too bad just the way it is , ya just never know .. , I made a cabbage smasher for making sour kraut out of a beach limb and it hasn't split .

For a project ,, cutting boards are nice when made with beach. butter knives seem to last .

Spoons ?

Big list of food grade projects.

Looking at the wood it doesn't look to be too green, grain in some wood is much tighter,,smoother ,,the grain doesn't appear wet ,, green wood tends to bleed,,,,seep water,,, on the ends .

JMO