Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-04, страница 67

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As with any tree, the wood should be milled as soon as possible after the log is cut. then stacked and stiekered. We have found that it air dries quite well, but if dried too fast, it can develop surface cracks.

The wood will shrink about 5% when drying and 5% in use. To make this more understandable, a !2"-wide flat-sawn board will shrink 5/32" from 20% moisture content down to 12%, and 1/8" from 12% to 6%. So, allow 1/8" for seasonal movement in any project you make with it. As for turning, it is not too bad for a soft hardwood. If you keep your tools sharp, you will not need

The Catalpa's flowers arc very distinctive and beautiful. They are large and white with yellow and purple dots and lines, have a notched lower petal, and are borne in clusters at the ends of branchlets. The ornamental species have a wide range of colors. When a tree is in bloom, it is alive with humming birds, bees, and butterflies that are the active pollinators.

Flateaiwi view

or no cracking compared with other species. Keep in mind that the larger the diameter, the greater the tendency to crack. So, if you want crack-free disks, keep them under twelve inches.

Along with the leaves and flowers, the seed pods provide an instant diag-nosis as to the species. They arc 8 lo 20 incites long and contain many oblong, thin winged seeds that have long hairs on the ends. They arc released in October, bui ihe pods remain on the tree throughout the winter.

There is not too much information published on the working characteristics of this wood, so let me fill you in on what 1 have learned. The wood is light, strong, very resistant to rot, and has historically been used for fence posts—but it. doesn't end there. It is also a delight to carve. It works like Butternut with hand tools, isn't prone to burning when machined with power tools, and takes all glues and finishes that I have tried. T don't know how it steam bends as I have never tried that, but thin strips bend as well as any other wood, achieving a tight radius before splintering. The grain pattern is similar to Butternut, while the color is a little bit darker, sort of a grayish brown. It is a very stable wood in service and dries with very little degradation. In fact, it is one of the best woods to use for disks (lhat is. when the log is cut across like a plate) because il dries in many instances with little

End grain view

much sanding, but it will tear out quite a bit when you catch il. I hear that this doesn't happen to good turners, so I guess I have a way to go. Bxpect to use more finish because of the open grain—but it will finish up quite nicely. I have not experienced any reaction from skin contact or the dust; however, if you have never worked with this wood before, take precautions until you are satisfied that you are safe. As is normal, protect your breathing from all wood dust whether you arc allergic lo it or not.

Creative Woodworks & Cratts April 2004 • 67