Sweet Gum Anyone?

[davejones]

I will be bringing down a sweet gum tree in the near future. I seem to remember hearing that it was good for turning, so I thought I would offer.

The tree splits into two trunks, each about 10 inches diameter. There is a crotch section near the ground where it splits.

If anyone is interested, let me know and I can save some pieces.

 

[CarvedTones]

I am having a large one cut soon and the tree guy tells me my price (I am getting a good price on cutting and stump grinding, piggybacking on my neighbor's larger job) will just about double if I want him to haul it away. I have split some before and understand why; it has interlocking grain.

It can be very pretty when properly spalted. It does carve and turn well. It is easy to dry without checking, but really likes to do the twist. Lots of colonial treenware was sweetgum.

 

[TBradley190]

The only thing I thought it was good for was the woodstove?:dontknow:

Tim

 

[merrill77]

The only thing I thought it was good for was the woodstove?

I've never used it, but I've read that if you can get it to dry straight, it can be really nice stuff:

Sweet gum wood, though, has been another story. The often beautifully figured stock can resemble walnut. And when quartersawn, it passes as the costly Circassian walnut fancied for fine furniture and gunstocks.

http://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/lumber/wood-species-3/sweet-gum/

http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-300-W.pdf

Sweetgum is one of the most important commercial hardwoods in the Southeast and the handsome hard wood is put to a great many uses, one of which is veneer for plywood. The wood is very compact and fine-grained, the heartwood being reddish, and, when cut into planks, marked transversely with blackish belts. Sweetgum is used principally for lumber, veneer, plywood, slack cooperage, railroad ties, fuel, and pulpwood. The lumber is made into boxes and crates, furniture, radio-, television-, and phonograph cabinets, interior trim, and millwork. The veneer and plywood are used for boxes, pallets, crates, baskets, and interior woodwork. Being readily dyed black, it is sometimes used instead of ebony for picture frames, and other similar uses, but it is too liable to decay for outdoor work.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidambar_styraciflua

 

[jtdums]

One of my favorite bowls is spalted sweet gum, but it is also the only wood that I have ever had an allergic reaction to while turning. (migraine like headaches) Be careful and mask up or use a breathing system is my advice.