"Jesse" wrote in message
news
Thanks for the advice on the new tools .It all makes sense so i will hold
off a bit longer before i go and get some new ones.My next question is: I
have access to a fair bit of green wood both cherry and red oak .How to
you guys go about using it on a lathe without it cracking or splitting?Use
a chemical to treat the wood or dry it somehow?
Thanks again for any help .

Turn the wood green to overthick if you're going to re-turn it, desired
thickness if not. Let the water evaporate, but not too fast. If you have a
high humidity area like a basement, could be all you need to do is leave
them alone for a couple three months for an inch thickness. You can game
the system by studying wood technology at
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fp.../fplgtr113.htm where you
will find the average shrinkage numbers for various woods. Essentially, the
thinner you turn at the outset, the sooner it dries, so if you anticipate
the loss due to average warp, you can turn thinner than the 10% people keep
talking about.

All kinds of ways to push drying, but all carry a risk of loss greater than
the patience method. Even some absurd ideas and some snake oil out there
periodically. Some places are better than others, some otherwise great
information is interspersed with stuff you have to shake your head at. Get
the old turner instructions through the URL at Darrell's site and maybe
these for something to read while the wood dries.

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Tur...g_to_turn.html
http://www.a1studio.freeserve.co.uk/...o/wtintro.html
http://www.customwooddesign.com/turninggreenwood-1.html