The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource - Wood, most and least favorite

Ron Sardo

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Wood, most and least favorite
Mar 5^th, 2018 at 9:16am

QOTW: what is you most favorite or least favorite wood to turn and why?

My favorite is curly maple but sadly after years of working with this wood I am now allergic to it. Even with respirators, dust collectors and air scrubbers I start having problems breathing when I start cutting it.

So now my favorite is bubinga. Even though it is very hard I find with sharp tools it cuts like butter, takes an oil finish beautifully and looks wonderful when completed.

My least favorite to turn is oak, it turns everything black because of the tannins. While it looks great on bookshelves, tables and desks I find it kind of boring when turned.

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Glenn Jacobs WR Addict Offline JC L&S Posts: 2,077 North DFW, Texas Texas USA Gender: Powermatic 3520C	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #1 - Mar 5^th, 2018 at 12:16pm Favorite: anything that's free. I do not mind Ash, Oak, Sycamore, Maple. Will not allow in shop any exotics due to my allergies. Glenn j.
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Grant Wilkinson WR Addict Offline Posts: 783 Ottawa Ontario Canada	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #2 - Mar 6^th, 2018 at 9:58am Anything wet is good. Dry, I like turning cherry and ash. I turned some lignum vitae yesterday to make home-made "cool blocks" for my bandsaw. It was like turning steel.
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Ed Weber

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Re: Wood, most and least favorite
Reply #3 - Mar 6^th, 2018 at 10:32am

Well out of what I've turned so far, I would say I'm sort of on the same page as Ron.
I don't care for open grained woods like oak or stringy grain like palm, I find they're just not worth the effort you need to put into them.

It's difficult to choose a favorite but I suppose I would say as of today, it would be Claro Walnut. It can be tough on tools at times but cuts well, holds detail and provides a great final result.

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Tom Coghill

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Re: Wood, most and least favorite
Reply #4 - Mar 6^th, 2018 at 10:54am

I prefer hard woods for turning. Where I live that limits me to White Birch also called Paper Birch by some. I like it because I can get it at low cost, the material can be used for anything (pyro, paint, stain, etc.) and I am not allergic to it.

My least favorite local wood is cottonwood. The cottonwood here is like trying to turn a Q-Tip! soft, stringy and useless when you are done with it!

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Ralph Fahringer

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Re: Wood, most and least favorite
Reply #5 - Mar 6^th, 2018 at 4:10pm

Tom... Some of the nicest pieces I have turned are spalted Black Cottonwood from Washington State.

I guess the cottonwood up in Alaska is a bit different.

I really like turning maple as it seems to be the cleanest but I also really enjoy making small lidded boxes out of walnut. It's soon pretty when it is finished!!

..and Birch is nice, too. Especially my blocks of spalted birch root burl.

I have a piece of Sycamore on the lathe right now and am not impressed with. Seems to tear out even if i have just sharpened the tool. Too much sanding to clear it up, tho it is coming out ok.

I finally got my vacuum system assembled and plan to try it out on this Sycamore when I finish the bottom off. Thumbs Up

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Tony Rozendaal WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 990 East Troy, WI Wisconsin USA Gender: Robust AB Grizzly 12x20 Midi Lathe Delta 10x16 Mini Lathe	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #6 - Mar 6^th, 2018 at 4:27pm Oak, especially red oak is my least favorite. White oak is OK and actually smells good. Favorite native wood is elm - especially red (slippery) elm or American elm (if you can find it). Strong grain, nice density, you can turn the bowl thin and it will still be tough. Cherry burl is not too bad, either.
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Rick Caron Senior Member Offline So many logs, so little time! Posts: 456 Greer South Carolina USA Gender:	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #7 - Mar 11^th, 2018 at 8:44am I know i don't like pecan. Dulls my tools quickly. I have 5 blanks, 2 years old still very heavy. Easiest wood for me is beech, only there's almost no good looking grain in it. Natural edge spalted is my favorite.
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Ralph Fahringer

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Re: Wood, most and least favorite
Reply #8 - Mar 11^th, 2018 at 3:18pm

Just an update on that sycamore bowl on the lathe...

As i was starting to hollow it out, it started to wobble. Realized that the tenon had cracked at the base!!!

Turned it back around to return a new tenon and discovered a rotted area behind the tenon..completely hidden inside the piece of wood. Shocked

Ended up going almost all the way thru so now it is in a snowpile outside!

Now discovering that teak is an interesting wood to work. Making a little lidded box from some. Thumbs Up

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« Last Edit: Mar 12^th, 2018 at 8:48am by Ralph Fahringer »

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Glenn Roberts Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 413 Walworth, NY New York USA Gender:	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #9 - Mar 11^th, 2018 at 7:18pm Black walnut for sure. Like Glenn J says: Anything that's free. The exception is very soft bland woods. Hackberry, any spalted wood including fruit woods and hickory, - any hard wood in the North East will do. A Friend gave me some mesquite that I will save for when there is almost no chance of ruining it!
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David Hill Senior Member Offline Using all Texas woods but prefer Mesquite Posts: 492 Cuero Texas USA Gender: Nova 1624 Laguna 18/47 Robust American Beauty	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #10 - Mar 12^th, 2018 at 8:42am Fave: Mesquite! Can’t beat it for variabilty, color, and grain. Least liked: Live Oak Only turn that when I need a butt whoopin’.
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Jenny Trice WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 553 St. Paul, MN Minnesota USA Gender:	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #11 - Mar 14^th, 2018 at 8:34pm Hard maple and black walnut would be at the top of my list. Poplar and hackberry would be on the bottom. For the most part, I can find something to appreciate about any wood.
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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #12 - Mar 15^th, 2018 at 8:50am Jenny Trice wrote on Mar 14^th, 2018 at 8:34pm: For the most part, I can find something to appreciate about any wood.
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Allan Miller Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 90 Eclectic Alabama USA Laguna Revo 18x36	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #13 - Mar 16^th, 2018 at 7:53pm Pecan and walnut are my favorite, oak I find somewhat bland. Pine has to be my least favorite since it is so soft but also up there with my favorites due to the interesting pronounced grain, just a pain to turn and finish
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Ron Carrabotta Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 450 Dawsonville, ga Georgia USA Gender: Jet 1014 VS Jet 1642 -2EVS Lindow -White Rose Engine	Re: Wood, most and least favorite Reply #14 - Mar 17^th, 2018 at 9:11am Ambrosia Maple, Walnut, Cherry - favorites
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