The answer is really rather simple, the piece was not dry and when you
turned it (nice job, bye the way) the tensions in the wood caused it to
split.

The best thing to do with green wood is to rough turn it, leaving the side
walls 1/10 the diameter of the bowl. The put it in a brown paper bag and
put it up on a shelf for six months to a year. I use a postal scale to
check for dryness (or as dry as it gets in my place) and when the weight
quits dropping, I know its dry enough to finish turning.

Deb


Keith wrote:

I had a section of some kind of tree that Hurricane Igor lambasted, The
ends were coated and it sat for about 6 moths - most of it in the shed
outside where winter cold had a go at it for several months. I brought
it inside and this week, two months later decided to make a bowl for a
the friend who gave me the wood. (actually brought it from their home
500 miles away!!)

It turned out very nice and I was surprised at how light colored the
wood was...My wife was to deliver it to the friend this weekend. THEN
#$$#@ a small crack appeared and this morning it was split on one side
top to bottom.

I had sealed it and waxed it What happened?? I notice the same thing
happens with Lilac tree here. First time running into this.

Here's before and after:
Keith P