The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource

diver Full Member Offline When all i said and done more is said than done Posts: 63 Gender:	What is the pith? Feb 8^th, 2006 at 1:13pm Hello all I was reading some advice re sawing a log to create a wood turning block and saw someone said avoid including the pith? Is this the center of the rings and if so why? Is thisarea more unstable than the other newbie questions from a great sawdust maker! cheer Diver
Back to top	IP Logged

jprosise Active Member Offline Posts: 159 Gender:	Re: What is the pith? Reply #1 - Feb 8^th, 2006 at 1:25pm You are correct on all fronts. The pith is noticable on any log as is is exactly the center of the rings (not necessarily the center of the log). It is the least stable part of a log and generally any cracking will start in this area. Thus...avoid the pith.
Back to top	IP Logged

Glenn WR Addict Offline Posts: 583 Gender:	Re: What is the pith? Reply #2 - Feb 8^th, 2006 at 1:30pm Welcome aboard Diver and avoid the pith!
Back to top	IP Logged

diver

Full Member

Offline

When all i said and done
more is said than done

Posts: 63

Gender: male

Re: What is the pith?
Reply #3 - Feb 8^th, 2006 at 1:43pm

OK Thanks
now this leads to other questions....
if the pith is undesireable then one would need a sizable
crossection to get a decent "stable " large blank?
also ive been basicly turning logs from the wood pile that arent very big and the "axis" is the center of the log...so the pith has been in all my pieces (perhaps this is why they are ending up back in he wood pile!)

also how does one post a picture here? i cant find any instructions or perhaps im looking in the wrong place
cheers

Back to top

IP Logged

Rev. Doug Miller

WR Addict

Offline

Working flat so I can
support my addiction.

Posts: 9,601

Hardinsburg, KY
Kentucky
USA
Gender: male

Re: What is the pith?
Reply #4 - Feb 8^th, 2006 at 2:29pm

Diver, the pith tends to dry faster and shrink faster than the surrounding heart wood. A log is usually thought of as having two bowl blanks one on each side of the pith.

To post pics, go to the "Art Galleries" choose "Photo Sharing Gallery." You will need to register in that area since it is separate software. You will see "upload photos" in the upper right. Follow the instructions and you're in. Let us know if you have any trouble and we'll try to walk you through a bit better. 8)

Back to top

Mentor, Hardinsburg, KY. Basics, bowls, platters, hollow forms, pens. Send PM for more information or make reservation

Ears Are The Most
Important Tools For
Communication

IP Logged

boxxmaker Ex Member I Love WR	Re: What is the pith? Reply #5 - Feb 8^th, 2006 at 5:08pm Hello On this topic of pith,can someone tell me how to treat ,prepare or whatever you have to do to turn a bowl and leave the pith in it.I would like to learn how to turn endgrain,but can,t find any info on it.Can anybody help? Thanks Ken
Back to top	IP Logged

Curt Fuller

WR Addict

Offline

Posts: 736

Gender: male

Re: What is the pith?
Reply #6 - Feb 8^th, 2006 at 5:10pm

Some really cool turnings include the pith. You just have to realize that the wood needs to be handled differently with either a long drying time coated in green wood sealer or any of the DNA, microwave, boiling techniques, or even both. And sometimes you can even include the cracks in the design. But if you cut green wood you'll see the cracks start developing almost immediately so you need to do whatever you're going to do to deal with them very soon after the cutting.

Back to top

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

IP Logged

boxxmaker Ex Member I Love WR	Re: What is the pith? Reply #7 - Feb 8^th, 2006 at 5:44pm Thanks a lot,I appreciate the info.Thats what I had in mind. Ken
Back to top	« Last Edit: Feb 8^th, 2006 at 5:45pm by Ken Ward » IP Logged

jprosise Active Member Offline Posts: 159 Gender:	Re: What is the pith? Reply #8 - Feb 9^th, 2006 at 6:05am David Ellsworth actually has a video about turning a hollow form with the pith left in (side grain). I tried one of these and yes, the pith did crack. I filled it with some turquoise and it looked pretty good. Use your imagination and anything can happen...pith or not.
Back to top	IP Logged

Rev. Doug Miller WR Addict Offline Working flat so I can support my addiction. Posts: 9,601 Hardinsburg, KY Kentucky USA Gender:	Re: What is the pith? Reply #9 - Feb 9^th, 2006 at 12:20pm There is a book, Turning Green Wood, that you may want to look for. It's a good primer for turning anyway. 8)
Back to top	Mentor, Hardinsburg, KY. Basics, bowls, platters, hollow forms, pens. Send PM for more information or make reservation Ears Are The Most Important Tools For Communication IP Logged