Sycamore turning blanks

bck · March 20, 2009, 12:41:31 PM

No doubt sycamore looks better when showing the rays from quatersawing. But for a pen blank or bowl blank would the grain direction matter ? Would you rather have a blank that showed the rays on one face ? Or would it all end up the same after it was turned ?

I wish I still had my lathe :'( I sold most of my shop tools when I decided to saw trees.

tyb525 · March 21, 2009, 12:20:07 PM

I believe a flatsawn blank would show more flecks of the sides, and a q-sawn would show some on the bottom, although not much unless the bottom was completely flat.

low_48 · March 21, 2009, 11:21:07 PM

I would suggest that you just quarter saw for flat woodworking. You just don't get much show of the flecks when turning. It makes a rather soft pen, and unless it has some spalt, it can look really plain in a pen. Now quarter sawn boards is a way different story!!!!

bck · March 22, 2009, 01:59:49 AM

Quote from: low_48 on March 21, 2009, 11:21:07 PM
Now quarter sawn boards is a way different story!!!!

In my eyes there is nothing I saw that I like better. Quarter sawn sycamore is my favorite by far.

SwampDonkey · March 22, 2009, 05:24:18 AM

Yeah, wouldn't make much difference when turning, whether quartered or flat sawn. You'll mostly see the rays on the outside in a couple quarter revolutions around the bowl and same on the inside lip of the bowl if mounted on flat face. Or on the bottom (inside and out) if turned on the end grain.