Finding the center of green wood...

[knb226]

How do I do it? I was watching this video and he edits out the part of how he finds the center of the wood.

http://lumberjocks.com/alindobra/blog/2719

It looks like he was about to measure in two spots on top of the wood and just do it perpendicular with two lines. I also found this picture and the center and it looks kind offset.

My main questions are how do I find the center, and I think i got this part, once I find the center I mark it on top and bottom and mount the wood onto the faceplate and then also move the tailstock to the center as well??? Any ideas and tips, thanks in advance?

 

[NCTurner]

Kelly, what is it you are trying to turn? Hollowforms, bowls? Depending on what I am turning I either eyeball it or use a square. For cutting bowl blanks center is kind of mute. you would be more interested in "balanced" wood (equal grain on both sides.)

 

[knb226]

Looking to turn a bowl. With the balanced wood can I get that from the green wood?

 

[NCTurner]

Yupper, when you cut your blank try to cut so that the grain is even...

Note how the log is sawn so that the grain on either side is "even"

 

[ScottM]

Remember trees are seldom round. Perfectly round that is. The true center, pith, is what you are really looking for. It is the center most ring.

 

[knb226]

Thanks, there's so much to this, I don't know what I am doing, lol. The wood that I have in mind it is on a Bradford pear and it is prob at most 6-7" in diameter. I thought I could cut the tree and then just end grain mount the piece of wood? Will that work?

 

[knb226]

So NCTurner you're saying it's going to be easier cutting blanks and get as close to even as I can rather than cut the wood and endgrain mount and turn. My problem is I don't have a bandsaw.

 

[knb226]

My question is how do I find the center when mounting like this?

 

[NCTurner]

Kelly, first the blank you pictured is not mounted endgrain it is side grain(and usually marked before cutting it round). You can mount and turn a bowl endgrain, but with the pith in will most likely end up with splits. I would just eyeball it personally, but you can try to mark several 45's across the face and the center of the intersect should be close.

 

[ScottM]

Kelly, you can spend some $ on something like this:
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Measuring___Layout___Layout_Template___layout_template?Args=

or if you are cheap like me I used my trusty old compass and cut out some circles out of some cardboard I had laying around. I cut them in 1/2 inch increments from 4" to 10". Just it it on the block and there you are.

BTW I also use the same pieces of cardboard as reference when cutting round blanks on the BS. Just stick a roofing nail in the center and cut around the edge.

 

[knb226]

Thanks, I'm trying my best to know about the grains and how it's mounted. So it seems the best way to mount for a bowl would be mount with the side grain? Can I rough a blank with a chain saw and then mount and turn that way? I don't have a band saw.

 

[knb226]

Kelly, you can spend some $ on something like this:
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Measuring___Layout___Layout_Template___layout_template?Args=

or if you are cheap like me I used my trusty old compass and cut out some circles out of some cardboard I had laying around. I cut them in 1/2 inch increments from 4" to 10". Just it it on the block and there you are.

BTW I also use the same pieces of cardboard as reference when cutting round blanks on the bandsaw. Just stick a roofing nail in the center and cut around the edge.

I am definitely cheap like you, :rotflm: I call it frugal though. Thanks for the tip with the cardboard and compass.

 

[ScottM]

Thanks, I'm trying my best to know about the grains and how it's mounted. So it seems the best way to mount for a bowl would be mount with the side grain? Can I rough a blank with a chain saw and then mount and turn that way? I don't have a band saw.

Yes a sharp chain saw will work. Just we very careful. When using a chain saw your goal is not really to try and make the blank round but more of trying to cut off the corners.

 

[NCTurner]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv54RMZ74Uk

 

[Trent Mason]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv54RMZ74Uk

Good video. :thumbs_up:thumbs_up I'd recommend watching some of the rest of the ones in her series too. That is great instruction and should get you where you need to be.

 

[sushinutnc]

FIRST-- I've not worked with bradford pear, but "regular" fruit pear splits a LOT just after a few days of drying (MUCH more than any other wood I've ever had in my shop). AnchorSeal helps quite a bit, but even with that on the ends, I still have several pieces that literally look like they've exploded.

That being said...

There's also a document here on the site re: "How to cut logs for bowl blanks"
http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=117

re: centering-- If I'm not interested in actually centering on the pith, I use a homemade center finder, based on this type (does what Gary mentioned... marks "45s" across the face):
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Center-Finder/

or this from Woodcraft for smaller spindle turnings:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Catalog/ProductPage.aspx?prodid=19840

I only use it on wood that's ALMOST round though. That photo you posted has a big ol' bump out to the right. I'd trim that down with chainsaw and/or my power planer (IF I was mounting it endgrain... which has already been talked about)

You'll eventually get a bunch of lines that almost meet in the middle... and then you eyeball the center from there.

 

[knb226]

Thanks for all the help everyone, with any luck this weekend if the wood isn't to full of checks I may attempt turning a bowl.

 

[knb226]

So another thing I'm wondering is after cutting and prepping the blocks it mentions sealing the ends, what if I were to cut the tree down on a Saturday and then turn on Sunday, is there a time period you need to let your blocks dry or can you turn soon after? Plus also after reading this document http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/d...do=file&id=117, I really don't know what I will get out of the tree, it is probably a maximum of 8" in diameter if that. Thanks again everyone and hopefully I will be successful in turning a bowl, my wife is tired of seeing tops already.

 

[Robert Arrowood]

If you cut on Sat. and turn on Sun, wear a rain coat:rotflm::rotflm:.And be sure to put some wax on the lathe bed.:wink_smil