Last week I got a PM from Robo Hippy asking for my snailmail address, as he had gotten into some Myrtle and knew I never turned this wood, so was going to send me a piece.
So of course I gave him the address and thinking he would send a small piece for me to turn .
Well on the evening of May 10 Anny and I drove by the post Office and Anny went in to fetch the mail from our postal box, as she came back into the car she asked, what you order ??
Nothing I say, but then remembered that Robo was going to send a parcel, so I say, that must be the wood Robo Hippy send me, had to pick it up at the rear of the post office, but by that time the Post office was closed of course.
So next day May 11, “(my birthday)” I went and there they gave me a large USPS box, 50 pounds US
I opened the box when we got home, just wondering if it was several pieces, but no a solid piece of Myrtle, 12”X12”X5”
So yesterday I set out to turn something from it, using the large dimension without wasting a lot of wood, sawed the corners off and then sawed a 2” slab off of it and set that aside.
The 3 inch thick piece I then had was cut so that I got the piece for the bowl and also had 2 longer 2”X1.5”X12" and 2 short pieces, (see picture).
Marked the center and screwed a faceplate on it, mounted it on my large lathe and started shaping it, plus I made a recess to be able to hold it for turning the top side.
The wood turned just fine, I was expecting it to be harder wood, but no it turned just fine, it reminded me of turning Ailanthus, it has for me also a similar look.
This piece has some ripple in the wood, it doesn’t show hardly at allin the pictures, probably come out much more when it is finished and polished.
So after doing that part I mounted it on my Delta midi lathe and turned shaped the top, cut 2 thin grooves in the edge and used a wire to burn those.
I haven’t finished it as I will let it dry, it sits already in a brown paper bag, I also have not finish turned the foot/base, I’"ll wait for that till it is dry as the wood will change shape somewhat while drying.
Thank you Reed, it was fun turning something new
Myrtle pieces.jpg Myrtle bowl top.jpg Myrtle bowl bottom.jpg Mytle bowl profile.jpg