Is this suicidal?

[Joe Melton]

A neighbor gave me a stump from an apple tree he cut down. It apparently was an older tree as the stump is pretty big. Someone had wrapped a tractor tire about the base of the tree at one time, and the tree grew around it. It was all he and I could do to slide the stump up a makeshift ramp into the back my my pickup. When I got it home, I took a hose to it and cleaned off much of the dirt. That also exposed a brick the tree had grown around. After chipping that out, I rolled it off into a wheelbarrow and then to a place on the ground when I attacked it with my chainsaw. Two blades later, I had it trimmed up and weight was reduced enough that I could carry it into my basement shop. I attached a faceplate and struggled to get it mounted. Once mounted, I had to use my sawzall to trim off pieces that prevented it from turning. I set the (2HP) lathe at the slowest speed, and it wouldn't turn, so I slowly increased the speed. Holy cow! Even barely turning, the lathe started jumping across the floor. I think I need to reposition the faceplate, in the hope I can get it better balanced. There seems to be a lot of kinetic energy in the thing as it swings around, that's for sure.
I think it will make an interesting piece, if I survive. It is green now, which will greatly help in the turning. I look forward to showing pictures of a finished piece. If not, my wife and heir will post a photo of how far I got.
Joe

[Keith Burns]

Dang Joe, can't you find something bigger ??? I truly hope you survive !!!

[Nancy Laird]

Holy @#$%&^! Is your life insurance paid up, Joe?

But you know what "they" say? No guts, no glory!! Go for it!!

Nancy

[Rob Bourgeois]

How much is your wife selling your lathe for...

Good luck.

[Keith Burns]

Rob, I have actually touched this lathe so I got first dibbs

[Neal Addy]

Looks perfectly safe to me as long as you don't actually turn the lathe on.

We could start a pool! When it goes I say it's gonna break a little to the left.

[Andy Hoyt]

Mayo!

Take that you mustardites!

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Just make sure to stand off to the side when you crank that thing up!

Bruce

[Rob Bourgeois]

Rob, I have actually touched this lathe so I got first dibbs

Ok can I buy your old one...AGAIN.

[George Conklin]

That also exposed a brick the tree had grown around.

YIKES!!! I wonder what else might be in there? Be careful .

[Raymond Overman]

To paraphrase a line from the movie "The Princess Bride", "It'll take a miracle" but it's not un-doable. I would say that there is probably some rocks that those old roots have wrapped up in there somewhere. Be careful and weigh your consequences. It'll be a beauty when you get it turned.

Good luck!

[Glenn Clabo]

Oh MAN...Love that movie...
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father... prepare to die."

[Bill Grumbine]

Joe, even if you survive, I think you are going to be disappointed with the results. Looking at the first picture you posted, you have a check going through the pith and beyond. And then beyond that, there looks to be a large arc where there is another crack of some sort. That is most likely going to separate. Looking at it mounted on the lathe, it appears to have a large inclusion running around its middle. That is a potential point (or line) of separation as well.

If it were me, I would cut it into smaller solid pieces, or at least pieces where there are not so many voids running in all directions. Then there is a better chance of not losing it or being bonked in the head.

Bill

[Ken LaSota]

Joe good luck I see a accident waiting to happen. I second the motion to cut it smaller. It probalby has some hidden goodies that will tear your tools up as well . Good luck
Ken

[Bernie Weishapl]

Joe I agree with Raymond and Bill. It seems to have a awful lot of cracks and probably hidden rocks, etc. in it. I would cut it down to smaller pieces. Otherwise I would have a heavy duty helmet, kevlar vest, etc. on when I turned that thing.