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Thread: Hackberry turning?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Manassas, Virginia
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    889

    Hackberry turning?

    Can someone tell me if hackberry is worthwhile as a turning wood?

    Thanks to all!

    Harv

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Central Ohio
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    858
    I like it. I've got some that spalted too far and not worth salvage. But what I've turned I liked.

    It used to be considered part of the elm family. It's been moved to its own lately.
    Ridiculum Ergo Sum

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Pueblo West, CO
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    495
    I've turned 2-3 chunks of it and really like it. I'd like to get a lot more of it. Some of it is creamy and some is quite colorful. It all turns and finishes well, at least in my view

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Manassas, Virginia
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    889
    Thanks for the opinions guys! I have some spalted hackberry that got. Just wondering what it might be like to turn.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Eau claire, Wisconsin
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    3,084

    Hackberry is part of the elm family

    Harvey, I have turned a ton of hackberry and it can be very beautiful, lots of shades of brown to gray and creamy sapwood. It gets pretty hard when dry and sometimes smells a little odd (like the cat box) but the spalting can be very dramatic aslo. Have fun and good luck!

    Jeff
    To turn or not to turn that is the question: ........Of course the answer is...........TURN ,TURN,TURN!!!!
    Anyone "Fool" can know, The important thing is to Understand................Albert Einstein
    To follow blindly, is to never become a leader............................................ .....Unknown

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Topeka, KS
    Posts
    132
    My very first bowl was from Hackberry. As it was green and very wet it felt like I was cutting air most of the time. Great fun seeing those long curls flying through the air. Mine did not have any spalting but has some very sutle blue-greens and yellows running through it.
    Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly and for the same reason.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Goodland, Kansas
    Posts
    22,605
    Spalted hackberry is a great wood to turn and you can get some really pretty pieces out of it.
    Bernie

    Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.

    To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone.



  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Wimberley, Texas
    Posts
    2,828
    Ditto what Bernie said. Just don't leave it too long, as it may turn into funky.
    Richard in Wimberley

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    24
    I really like turning hackberry. If it is spalted you can soak it in Minwax hardener and it helps it not fly apart as easily. It makes very beautiful pens and small bowls.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Manassas, Virginia
    Posts
    889
    Thanks to all for your thoughts and recommendations!

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