larch for turning ?

[james]

i have several larch on my property 6-15"dia how would this work for turning what type of grain pattern :-/

[Jeff]

Well, I can only speak for eastern Larch, but the ones at our cabin have very wide growth rings and the wood is very unstable. We cut some boards from one, about a 12 incher, and it cupped like a fool. I would classify the grain as non-interesting.

[Frickman]

I've sawn a few eastern larch. The lumber sat around for a couple weeks and bled like crazy. It was a real pretty color, but seemed to have more sticky sap than even pine. I would think you might have to set the sap in a kiln like you do with pine.

[SwampDonkey]

Tamarack is being used here in flooring, it seems to be quite durable. I saw a sample at the trade show. I still prefer yellow birch, I have oak in the house and its ok. I wonder if they sort the yellow birch from the pile if it as the cherry (pink) color in the wood? I know there is cherry birch, seen it in Virginia, but this is yellow birch. ;)

Jeff, have you seen the cherry colored wood in any of your yellow birch? I've seen it in veneer and they call it flaming birch.