Going big!

[blackhawk]

I roughed turned this massive boxelder piece over the weekend that came from a friend of mine's cow pasture. The tree was 20" diameter at breast height. I cut the trunk into 24" long pieces and had to rip them in half to lift them with 2 people into my truck. The blank in the 1st pic weighed over 70 lbs when I put it on the lathe. This thing was full of water and about drowned me with the water it was slinging off. The roughed out bowl ending up being almost 18" diameter at the rim. I also cored out another 14" bowl from the center.

Does everyone agree that this is boxelder? I didn't think that it was when standing. The diameter was so large and the bark seemed a little too rough/deep to be boxelder. But the light color of the inside and the red streaks definitely appear to be boxelder.

 

[Raymond]

Can't say if it is boxelder but it sure will be pretty when you are through with it!

 

[beloitdavisja]

Wow that is big.

Certainly looks like flaming box elder to me.

 

[Steve Martin]

Looks like box elder to me. Did the leaves look like maple? Did the color go up to the branches? If yes to both questions, more evidence that it is box elder. Regardless, keep the pieces out of the sunlight, as sunlight turns box elder red color into brown. Even UV resistant finish will not save it, over time. Finishes much like a soft maple. Sounds like you have a lot of it available so enjoy turning it.

 

[Gotcha6]

Fantastic!

 

[sawman101]

I too think it's box elder.

 

[Jim M.]

I agree it looks like too, but WOW! that's a pretty bowl.

 

[blackhawk]

Thanks for the compliments! I filled 1-1/2 trash bags (39 gallon bags) with the chips from that one bowl.

Steve - There weren't any leaves or buds yet. It did have the red colors up in many of the branches. There was one branch big enough for small bowls with some great color. I haven't cut into that portion yet.

 

[gmakra]

That is box elder let it dry slowly or it will crack.

 

[Mauser44]

Beautiful !

 

[woodworkingshop.com]

What a beautiful chunk of wood - love it!

 

[awldune]

Pretty incredible the amount of shavings a big bowl makes. Good luck with the drying! Did you apply paint/Anchorseal to the end grain?

 

[ashley_phil]

that is beautiful and w/o a doubt a feat to get it turned that far.

 

[blackhawk]

Pretty incredible the amount of shavings a big bowl makes. Good luck with the drying! Did you apply paint/Anchorseal to the end grain?

Yep, coated it completely with anchorseal.

 

[Jeff]

Box elder tree. The "flame" is thought to arise from a fungal infection, bacterial infection, or stress but there's no clear scientific evidence for any of them. I suppose there could be box elder trees without the "flame". ?????

Boxelder (Acer negundo)

www.carolinanature.com

box elder

www.hobbithouseinc.com

 

[Gotcha6]

Hope you didn't toss all those shavings. Most people that turn bowls like that put them into a paper bag covered with the shavings from the turning to cure. Are you doing that?

 

[blackhawk]

Hope you didn't toss all those shavings. Most people that turn bowls like that put them into a paper bag covered with the shavings from the turning to cure. Are you doing that?

No, I don't pack mine in shavings. I coat the entire bowl with Anchorseal to slow the drying.

 

[Mrfixit71]

Did you core any smaller bowls before tackling the big one?

 

[blackhawk]

I cored one 14" bowl from it.