Turning and Drying

Once Kurt has had his fun hunting new wood and paring it down to a workable size, its time to mold it into it’s new shape. Frequently, there will be some treasures embedded in the wood, from car axles, tools, chisel, nails, name tags from University of Utah trees (state arboretum) and a tine from a harvester have all been extracted from the raw wood. Typically, the items will be placed in the crotch of the tree, forgotten as the tree grows around them. Fun objects to uncover, however, finding them when the wood is on the lath, is a dangerous encounter, so Kurt thoroughly inspects each blank before starting to turn.

Kurt allows the wood to lead him to the shape that makes both him and the wood happy. He continues fine-tuning until the wood settles and runs smooth. This is a 3 1/2 ft diameter Silver Maple. A small cereal bowl for a hungry wood turner. The outside of the new vessel takes shape first, then the inside is carved out.

Applying wax coating allows the wood to dry slower, and accommodate the moisture loss which minimizes the cracking and warping. This is the only time you will see Kurt with a paint brush in hand. Once it's waxed, the turned bowl will be tucked away for 12 months to dry.

The drying room is full of bowls and other vessels at rest. After 12 months, the wood is re-awakened and now has reached a moisture level of 12%. Kurt brings the piece back to the lathe for a 2nd turning to further finesse the shape and thickness.

After the second turn on the lathe, the wood rests for 2 more months before the 3rd, and final, turning. During this resting period the wood will finish drying to a moisture content of 6%.

The third and last turning refines the wood to a super smooth finish with the help of hand sanding as well. Once the wood is in it’s final shape, it is then passed on to Melody to start the design and inlay process for the ultimate reveal.

A byproduct of the turning process is a LOT of wood shavings. And they are everywhere around the shop when Kurt goes to town on his lathe. These shavings have a useful purpose as does all of the wood along the journey. Shavings are used in the garden, the chicken coop and for the neighbor’s horse corral. Nothing is wasted in the gathering and processing of these trees.

Stay tuned for the next step in the process: Carving and Inlay.