Storm Wood

[Mike Cutler]

Well folks, we had a storm pass through a few days back and I had some trees get damaged. One of which is a large Catalpa Tree, (Southern Catalpa actually.) The diameters of the limbs are 8"-18"in diameter,and 6'-10' long. If I have to cut it back closer to the trunk today the material may exceed 20" diameter.
Anyone ever work with Catalpa? Is the wood worth keeping, and possibly turning into shorter pieces of material, or even as a turning wood? I have the ability to mill it, just wondering if it's worth the effort.

[Gary Herrmann]

If it's the same as Catalpa we get here in MO, I'd say it's worth keeping for turning. It's soft and some have complained about tearout, but I haven't had a problem with it. When you turn it wet, it smells just like cotton candy.

[Chris Padilla]

Limbs are typically "reactionay" wood so you may have some funny stuff happen while working it so:

(1) Be careful and
(2) Be prepared for that flat board or turned item...to change....