Ron Altier Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 The more wood I turn, the more I find out what woods turn well and some that not so good. What are your favorite woods to turn? What ones would you advise to avoid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 I really like walnut and maple. Red oak is OK. Pine/fir not so much. I've turned some purple heart but found kind of brittle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chips N Dust Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 (edited) Most of my turning has been for pens and such, but I like maple, spalted maple, myrtlewood, and madrone, with myrtlewood my favorite. I have turned others, but I like these. Edited April 26, 2017 by Chips N Dust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerald Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 The best is cherry, maple, walnut. Have turned white oak and red oak but the red does crack pretty bad when drying. Very hard but turns well would be ebony. Rosewood not quite so hard and turns very well. Would not recommend Chinese Chestnut and Royal Paulina. Mahogany turns easily but does not leave a sand free surface. Any wood can be turned but as noted there are several that will not easily leave a smooth surface from tools . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Krumanaker Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 My favorite wood to turn is maple, it's just so versatile. Next would be cherry and then walnut. Sycamore and beech turn and spalt nicely. I tried turning catalpa once, it is beautiful but it also makes me itch and it is very dusty. I pretty much stick with domestic hard woods, just not ready to blow up an expensive import. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Altier Posted April 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) My daughter went to Rocklers and picked up about 15 pieces of different woods and acrylic blocks for my birthday. She knows nothing about it and most are really nice. I am finding out that not all turn nicely and some are down right difficult. After I saw your favorites, I agree with your choices. Edited April 27, 2017 by Ron Altier p_toad and Grandpadave52 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim L Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 Like the others have said... maple & walnut. I turned a piece of bocote several weeks ago that was really fun to turn and finished well, but the blank was very expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandyDan Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 I'd like to add Poplar. It turns and sands nicely and makes a cheap wood for beginners. It takes finishes well too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Candrilli Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 I just picked up a block of Ambrosia Maple. Look forward to making some kind of rounded bowl shaped thing out of it. Others like Walnut, and I like the finished product but the dust drives me batty. Really bothers my respiratory system like no other wood. The most difficult wood I have turned was Kiawe from Hawaii. Very hard wood, better used for meat smoking from what I have heard. An old tree fell on base Pearl harbor and I was able to talk the Arborist into letting me have a few logs. May make a bowl from one of the larger pieces but I know it will be a struggle like no other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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