I believe the Monkey Puzzle tree is also the Chilean Pine, and is
turned like the Norfolk Island pine, as in end grain, with the branch
knots radiating out from the center, thin and translucent. It does
have pitch in it, so difficult to sand, and an LDD (liquid dish
washing detergent) soak helps.

Sycamore and London Plane is fairly soft here, and not usually much
color, but quartersawn pieces can have beautiful medullary rays that
are smaller than what you will find in quartersawn oak. If wet, there
can be a lot of shrinkage as in way more than the normal 10% rule for
twice turned bowls. It does tend to really soak up the finishes.

robo hippy



On Feb 19, 3:19*am, "bassdiva" wrote:
In the UK you see Monkey Puzzle turnings occasionally, *usually done big or
tall as in a vase shape *to show off its variety of colors and grain. *I
think its a bit like turning Pine. *And usually turning it wet gives you the
best cut. *I think I have only seen it finished with oil, and I believe it
can have a lot of resin in it.
We turn a lot of sycamore over here, *I usually buy it in plank form and
store standing on its end unlike most other woods that I store flat and
stickered. * If good quality it should be a nice even grain, almost white in
colour that will change to a yellowy cream over time. *Usually cuts nicely
but if it has been dried too fast in a kiln can go soft and feathery and be
a right pain to cut and get nice. Cuts like butter when wet, *but will split
if left too thick. *It can also get a silver grey coloring through the grain
that makes it look dirty. *But if its spalted it can look spectacular.
Good luck
Hotfoot.