I went to play disc golf with my friend. We found a cherry tree that looked like it was just taken down. After we were done we went to my house and got my chain saw. The rest is history.

You deserve a big ol’ “You Suck” for this one!!!

 

awesome score!!

Great pics! Now I’ve got to know how the innards of that tree work. 

Wow Rusty. Totally envious !!

Paul

Talk about luck! was it already cut up? I had 3 logs about 6 to 8 foot in back yard for several months before I processed them and once cut I put one log in barrel of water and covered. That was last fall and may turn a little this coming fall.

That's a great score, Congratulations!

Super score Rusty

9 hours ago, Gerald said:

Talk about luck! was it already cut up? I had 3 logs about 6 to 8 foot in back yard for several months before I processed them and once cut I put one log in barrel of water and covered. That was last fall and may turn a little this coming fall.

No it was a solid tree. They normally cut them up and just pile them up and let them rot. We cut this one up and threw the branches on the nearest pile with the old stuff. I’m sure who ever is in charge at the park will go back and wonder what happened to the tree. The top 15 feet was starting to get rotten inside so we threw all of that on the pile also. I will cut these in half to cut the pith out then I will wax the ends. They will last a long time like this. Then I will start to rough turn a bunch of bowls and vases and set on the shelf to let dry.

Edited May 12, 20224 yr by RustyFN

Nice score.  A lot of work but worth it.

I have a couple logs in the shop with pith ripped out and maybe 4 to5 years old. Still good but the older it gets the more wood u lose due to cracks and that is when the spindle stock starts. Cherry does store well but even better fresh——- just wish I could find that time

6 hours ago, RustyFN said:

I’m sure who ever is in charge at the park will go back and wonder what happened to the tree.

  I did that once, with century-old gutter pavers buried during an unknown dig, uncovered by a later utility company. One guy said "Take them this weekend or they'll be gone on Monday" . . . 

 

Rusty, can you tell me what I'm looking at regarding the wood? Is the center dampness sap? What about the thick yellow outer part?

 

58 minutes ago, Woodman said:

  I did that once, with century-old gutter pavers buried during an unknown dig, uncovered by a later utility company. One guy said "Take them this weekend or they'll be gone on Monday" . . . 

 

Rusty, can you tell me what I'm looking at regarding the wood? Is the center dampness sap? What about the thick yellow outer part?

 

Not Rusty but the white is the sapwood, which is usually larger on smaller diameter trees. He said part of the top was rotten so I think that wet spot is the beginning of rot. Buy the way if you turn cherry when fresh you can keep that sapwood whiter, same also true of walnut.

1 hour ago, Woodman said:

  I did that once, with century-old gutter pavers buried during an unknown dig, uncovered by a later utility company. One guy said "Take them this weekend or they'll be gone on Monday" . . . 

 

Rusty, can you tell me what I'm looking at regarding the wood? Is the center dampness sap? What about the thick yellow outer part?

 

Not sure. I am fairly new to all of this. I know the wood is good because my friend I was with is what I call a master turner. I call him that because he is a registered artisan at Tamarack in West Virginia and is one of the people that judges the work of anybody that wants to get into Tamarack.  He has been turning for years and we left behind anything that was questionable. The wet part in the center is solid.

The first second picture shows them already dry.  It is Spring so the sap is flowing well this time of year.  Looks good to me.  Neighbors Maples bled like that.

Today I cut them all in half, cut the pith out and waxed the ends. The one that were wet in the center were only like that on the surface. The inside looked good.

Nice! And you've got a stack of piths for the fireplace.

 

Something I have started doing is to also rip a flat on the bark side. Not only does this make it easier to stack it also give a place for drive spur to bite when you turn a tenon for chuck with all that messing with bark.

1 hour ago, Gerald said:

Something I have started doing is to also rip a flat on the bark side. Not only does this make it easier to stack it also give a place for drive spur to bite when you turn a tenon for chuck with all that messing with bark.

 

I like that idea.  Might help with drying too.

17 hours ago, Gerald said:

Something I have started doing is to also rip a flat on the bark side. Not only does this make it easier to stack it also give a place for drive spur to bite when you turn a tenon for chuck with all that messing with bark.

 

Hey guys, this would mean you are turning the bowls from the cut side? So is the bowl shape with the curvature of the end grain?

Mostly but not necessary to do it that way. It does maximize the use of the wood.