"Arch" wrote in message
...
I have some NIP logs over two years old with pith left in that have not
cracked, split nor decayed. They are a little dry, but turned as end
grain, they cut nicely and finish well. Anecdotal, of course, and
perhaps works only in S.E. Fla. and only for me, but if you try it, you
_might_ like it. This is what I do with NIP without blushing. I'm not a
chemist, arborist. botanist, dishwasher, nor manicurist, but I do turn
NIP.

I let fresh NIP (and only NIP) logs lie in "sunshine and in shadow" on
the ground for one or two moons. Then I debark, pressure clean and rough
turn, leaving tenons and/or center dimples. Then I slop any brand of
dish detergent liberally over the entire blank. Then I store the blanks
covered and off the ground until I want to turn them in the years to
come.

Adverse comments, questions of senility and implications of stupidity
are expected and welcomed. Meanwhile I'll turn some old, but uncracked
NIP blanks into ? art.


Is the bark waterproof? If you have to debark after a couple years, sounds
as if it might be. Birch behaves like that, but with no resin, it goes punk
pretty rapidly.

It would appear from how common long-grain turnings in NIP are, that it's a
pretty forgiving wood on that account. Almost like aspen or elm.

I know the British found it unsuitable for masts and spars, being too
fragile. Since Eastern white pine was prized for the same, it must be
strange indeed.

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