I have two cherry logs 6 foot long by 24" around. they were cut last
fall at my mother-in-laws house. I recently bought myself a lathe. I
want to turn the logs into turning blanks. I have two issues. First
they have been sitting on ground for six months I'm afraid I have ruined
at least one side of the log. what should I do about that? second I
can't move them with out a crane. So I'm planing on turning them into
bowl blanks but I will not have the time to rough turn all of that wood.
I'm looking for opinions on what I should do the the wood.

please chime in I really don't want to loose that much good wood.

Thanks in advance
Mark Russell

"Mark Russell" wrote in message
ink.net...
I have two cherry logs 6 foot long by 24" around. they were cut last
fall at my mother-in-laws house. I recently bought myself a lathe. I
want to turn the logs into turning blanks. I have two issues. First
they have been sitting on ground for six months I'm afraid I have ruined
at least one side of the log. what should I do about that? second I
can't move them with out a crane. So I'm planing on turning them into
bowl blanks but I will not have the time to rough turn all of that wood.
I'm looking for opinions on what I should do the the wood.

please chime in I really don't want to loose that much good wood.

http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/

http://www.aroundthewoods.com/

Enjoy!

Hi Mark

The Cherry is probably still just fine, sherry is one of those woods
that don't rot overnight, however if you are able to get them off of
the ground that would be better, more important IMO is to get them out
of the sun if possible, and leave the bark on.

You say 24" around. do you mean around or diameter ?? if around then
we're talking about a 7" to 8" log and you should be able to manhandle
those, if however 24"D were talking a whole different story.

Whatever, I would in a case like this try to get them off the ground
and in the shade, then get some wood sealer and seal the ends of the
logs.(Anchor seal is one that is used a lot)

First cut of a slice or two till past any splitting, then cut off a
portion just longer than the width and cut lengthwise through the pith,
try to cut in such a way as to get equal amounts of wood on either side
of the pit, don't forget to seal the log before leaving with your
halves, then take your halve logs, chainsaw off the corners or bandsaw
into rounds and go and rough them out on your lathe, and have fun.

And so on and so on.

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo

wrote:
Hi Mark

The Cherry is probably still just fine, sherry is one of those woods
that don't rot overnight, however if you are able to get them off of
the ground that would be better, more important IMO is to get them out
of the sun if possible, and leave the bark on.

You say 24" around. do you mean around or diameter ?? if around then
we're talking about a 7" to 8" log and you should be able to manhandle
those, if however 24"D were talking a whole different story.

Whatever, I would in a case like this try to get them off the ground
and in the shade, then get some wood sealer and seal the ends of the
logs.(Anchor seal is one that is used a lot)

First cut of a slice or two till past any splitting, then cut off a
portion just longer than the width and cut lengthwise through the pith,
try to cut in such a way as to get equal amounts of wood on either side
of the pit, don't forget to seal the log before leaving with your
halves, then take your halve logs, chainsaw off the corners or bandsaw
into rounds and go and rough them out on your lathe, and have fun.

And so on and so on.

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo

the logs are 24" diameter. I can't move them with out a crane. that 's
why they are still sitting on the ground.

Thanks for the advice I'm looking forward to getting some slices off the
logs to try to turn.

where do you get the Anchor seal?

Hi Mark

24"D that's a heavy bole, even the pieces will be heavy, I just cut up
part of a 40"D American Elm log, my 18" chainsaw could not get halfway,
so had to cut the log into 2 half moons and a centre piece, they still
where very heavy and all I could muster, to get them in my truck.

Here are some names and also a link for the wood sealer,
Lee Valley, Woodcraft, Craft Supplies USA, all carry wood end sealer, I
also have the Anchor seal manufacturers website, they ship and there is
also a dealers listing
https://www.uccoatings.com/

Also a link to my website and some bowl turning pic's
http://homepage.mac.com/l.vanderloo/PhotoAlbum26.html

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo

On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 20:10:22 GMT, Mark Russell
wrote:

I have two cherry logs 6 foot long by 24" around. they were cut last
fall at my mother-in-laws house. I recently bought myself a lathe. I
want to turn the logs into turning blanks. I have two issues. First
they have been sitting on ground for six months I'm afraid I have ruined
at least one side of the log. what should I do about that? second I
can't move them with out a crane. So I'm planing on turning them into
bowl blanks but I will not have the time to rough turn all of that wood.
I'm looking for opinions on what I should do the the wood.

please chime in I really don't want to loose that much good wood.

Can you roll them? It'd help to move them about a bit so that the
side that's been on the ground for six months gets a little sun.

Beyond that, my suggestion- if you can swing it- is to find someone
who does logging as a hobby. One of the guys I work with likes to log
on the weekends, and I had him slab and transport a truckload of
willow burl in exchange for babysitting his puppy over Christmas. He
had the equipment, liked to do it, and it saved him about $150 in
boarding fees and vet costs, so it turned out well for both of us.
The burl hunks were (well, still are, for the most part) still pretty
large and weighed about 70lbs each, but that is manageable enough to
move them around and cut them with my little electric chainsaw.

With logs that large unless your lathe can handle it I'd cut them up
into usable chunks ASAP.

If your lathe can handle it your going to need a way to lift them
anyways so you might look at getting something. For heavy logs I roll
them onto a dolly ie put the dolly near by then stand the log up onto
the dolly. As your new to turning I'd still cut them up and turn
smaller pieces.

Mark Russell wrote:
I have two cherry logs 6 foot long by 24" around. they were cut last
fall at my mother-in-laws house. I recently bought myself a lathe. I
want to turn the logs into turning blanks. I have two issues. First
they have been sitting on ground for six months I'm afraid I have ruined
at least one side of the log. what should I do about that? second I
can't move them with out a crane. So I'm planing on turning them into
bowl blanks but I will not have the time to rough turn all of that wood.
I'm looking for opinions on what I should do the the wood.

please chime in I really don't want to loose that much good wood.

Thanks in advance
Mark Russell

william kossack wrote:
With logs that large unless your lathe can handle it I'd cut them up
into usable chunks ASAP.

If your lathe can handle it your going to need a way to lift them
anyways so you might look at getting something. For heavy logs I roll
them onto a dolly ie put the dolly near by then stand the log up onto
the dolly. As your new to turning I'd still cut them up and turn
smaller pieces.

Mark Russell wrote:
I have two cherry logs 6 foot long by 24" around. they were cut last
fall at my mother-in-laws house. I recently bought myself a lathe. I
want to turn the logs into turning blanks. I have two issues. First
they have been sitting on ground for six months I'm afraid I have ruined
at least one side of the log. what should I do about that? second I
can't move them with out a crane. So I'm planing on turning them into
bowl blanks but I will not have the time to rough turn all of that wood.
I'm looking for opinions on what I should do the the wood.

please chime in I really don't want to loose that much good wood.

Thanks in advance
Mark Russell
I only have a midi lathe (for now) so they are in the process of getting
cut up.

"Mark Russell" wrote in message
k.net...
I only have a midi lathe (for now) so they are in the process of getting
cut up.

Sheesh! me with the 3000, and both of my new logs are under 16"!

Of course, I wouldn't cut up a log with bark intact. Years of keeping with
cherry.