On Sat, 22 Mar 2014 15:20:51 -0400, "G. Ross"
wrote:

Ralph E Lindberg wrote:
In articleY4mdnZQfY9fvJbfOnZ2dnUVZ5o2dnZ2d@giganews. com,
"G. wrote:

When I first got addicted to turning I scrounged around for wood to
turn. Now it turns up in my yard. A friend had a sweetgum blow down
on his farm. He cut it up in chunks about 20 inches long and 19
inches diameter. He wanted to bring the whole bunch but I told him 5
pieces would be enough. He brought 7.
After cutting a 3-4 inch slice out of the center to remove the pith,
I was left with 14 blocks weighing average 70 pounds. Too heavy for
me to cut out on the bandsaw any more, so I drew a circle on the flat
side and cut it into an octagon with the chainsaw.
Using the Bowl Saver I got 28 bowls roughed out. Finished roughing
them and hauling two truck loads of scrap and shavings off on Monday.
Tuesday I heard a chainsaw in the neighborhood--two good-sized
dogwoods had bit the dust.
Have them sealed and mostly sliced, some roughed out. Looks like
another 25 bowls to rough out. Dogwood is one of my favorite turning
woods.
A lot of work for not much money, but like a shark I have to keep
moving or else.

Sounds like the spalted Poplar the BIL gave me (only I burn the scap in the fire place and the shaving go to friends with chickens ..

Sweetgum is not fireplace wood due to it propensity to pop and spit
and blow out red-hot coals. I do not have a heater to burn it in. I
put an ad in the local shopper's guide about the shavings. A man who
has horses called. When he learned I had only 5 large bags full he
said that wasn't enough to bother coming to pick up. I did give some
to a man who raises rabbits. He said he would check later for more.
Never heard from him again.

The first time I attempted to split some sweet gum for the fireplace I
found out why the guy who was giving it away smiled as I cut it down
and hauled it off. Impossible to split. One of my 2 wedges got stuck
in the middle and it resisted all efforts to remove it. Finally threw
the whole piece in the fireplace and when it finally burned up I got
my wedge back.

I am assuming that the heat of the fireplace ruined the temper of the
wedge. The next time I used it a large piece broke off the side and
left me with a nasty cut on my shin.

Jim