Finish Turning of Wet Wood

[Dave Carlson]

For the turners…

I just finished rough-turning  some wet oak blanks, 12 to 15 inches in diameter. They are turned down to about 3/4-inch thick walls and base, with a tenon on the bottom. They are each wrapped in shavings in a paper back to slow down the drying process a bit in our very dry desert environment.

After they have dried for a while I plan to finish turn them. I’ve not tried this technique of rough-turning and drying, so wanted advice from you other turners.

After I mount the pieces on my chuck, should I first true up the outside to a nice round finish before turning the inside? Or is this a matter of preference?

After finishing the outside and inside, I’ll mount the bowls using a vacuum chuck to the inside so I can turn off the tenon on the bottom. Fingers crossed.

Any expertise or advice welcome.

Dave Carlson
Farfar,  Oregonian, Engineer, Musician, Woodworker, and Pioneer

[Joe Glassford]

Thickness of wall section is ideally 

10 % of bowl diameter. I don’t turn wet wood. Don’t like getting wet turning. Don’t like rusty lathe ways.

Don’t like storing and waiting. still have 2 wet olive wood bowls I took out of storage after 1 year in bag of chips. Still wet 2nd turning. Back drying. I hope I get to someday turn and finish them.

Joe Glassford “The Tuxedo Turner”

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From: central-oregon-...@googlegroups.com <central-oregon-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Dave Carlson <dgcarl...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2025 10:32:31 AM
To: COW Woodworkers <central-oregon-...@googlegroups.com>; SAW Woodworkers <central-oregon-...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Farfar <Dgcarl...@gmail.com>
Subject: Finish Turning of Wet Wood

 

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[Scot D]

I just finished cutting down a large aspen tree if anyone wants some before it goes to the landfill 

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On Aug 21, 2025, at 12:38 PM, Joe Glassford <vest...@hotmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/central-oregon-woodworkers-cow/DM6PR13MB311348E3572568B9C5B309A0BA32A%40DM6PR13MB3113.namprd13.prod.outlook.com.

[Dave Carlson]

Joe,I feel your pain.

Dave Carlson
Farfar,  Oregonian, Engineer, Musician, Woodworker, and Pioneer

[Chris]

What's the address for this? And a good time to come over?
Chris 541-788-5232

[Patrick A Welch]

Chris, thanks for sharing. I'm interested.

Are you in Bend? What is a good time to come over?

Pat Welch 

Have a Jim dandy day 

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From: Chris <ch...@austinwoodfurniture.com>
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2025 11:40:07 AM
To: central-oregon-...@googlegroups.com <central-oregon-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Finish Turning of Wet Wood

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/central-oregon-woodworkers-cow/A9D03787-1921-4747-84EE-1F6D5C80D3FD%40austinwoodfurniture.com.