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Thread: Mesquite gloat

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Midlothian, TX
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    359

    Mesquite gloat

    My wife called me at lunch. She saw someone had cut a limb off of a mesquite tree a few blocks away. She asked and they said that we could have it. I got 2 pieces about 11" dia. and 2 + ft long and 5 smaller pieces about 6" dia. They had been laying for a few days but haven't checked too badly yet. I don't have any sealer since I havent turned green before. Will latex house paint work OK in a pinch? If I remember correctly, I can turn mesquite green with out it cracking later as it dries. Correct?
    Deane
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  2. use several coats of latex paint if that is all you have, and then go ahead and order some anchorseal.........re-coat when you get it..........2 or 3 coats to help prevent any further checking.
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Spokane, Washington
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    Don't know about mesquite, but if you do get some anchor seal, ask for the original formula, not the newer one.

    Dan
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  4. #4
    free mesquite, gloat gloat gloat

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Victoria, Texas
    Posts
    42
    Wanna share with a fellow South Texan.......no need to seal, just cut and put in brown HEB bags until u r ready to use it.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    College Station, Texas
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    893
    Deane, you can turn green mesquite to finish size and it won't crack on you. Just get lighter and lighter. Love the stuff.
    Tom

    2 Chronicles 7:14

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Goodland, Kansas
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    Deane I agree with Tom. I turn mesquite to finish size and it very stable. I have turned several bowls from green to finish with no problems.
    Bernie

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

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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Fredericksburg, TX
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    2,576
    I agree that turning green to finish is OK, but the wood should be sealed (or bagged) if it is not going to be used soon. Some of the pieces show some internal checks that are found in a lot of Mesquite and one of the big reasons for all the epoxy or other filling and they will likely get bigger if left to dry without sealing. You got some good wood there and should end up with several nice pieces.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Wittmann, AZ
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    2,503
    Nice gloat!
    I agree with Tom. Mesquite is very stable when turned, but in raw form it will check and crack if not sealed. I've never had a turned piece crack, but I've got lots of logs with cracks even after sealing. Cutting the logs up into blanks without the pith would also help fight cracking.
    "If it is wood, I will turn it."
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  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Cullowhee N.C.
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    991
    I've only turned one piece of mesquite and loved it, but store tons of wood in plastic bags until I or my students can turn it. It may mold if you wait more than a few weeks to turn it but the mold is just on the surface and turns away. I simply can't afford anchor seal for all the wood my students go through so I started storing burls and bowl blanks I cut out for them in large garbage bags. I've keep some pieces for 6 months or more with zero cracks or checks. Keep the bags sealed up and they can be used over and over again. If I get logs I simply cover them with a tarp and cut of 4 inches each time I cut them into blanks. I have keep logs in this form for 3 years before the outer section starts to get to soft. It is a cheap and reliable way of preventing your wood from becoming fire wood.
    Jack

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    sLower Delaware
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    5,464
    Congrats on the wood! You may have already coated the ends but it might be helpful to trim off the end cracks before coating. Otherwise, they will just keep on going.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Harvey, Michigan
    Posts
    20,801
    Deane - congrats on all that Mesquite! You should have a lot of fun turning it!

    Latex paint can work temporarily but remember that it is a water-based paint and when the paint dries, so does the wood under it and it will crack. I have had much better luck using plastic garbage bags for temp storage. Keeps all the moisture in the wood until you are ready to turn it.
    Steve

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