Fruit wood bowl

I think this is some type of plum, but I'm not sure. This was rough turned from green wood then microwaved 4 times for 2mins at 20% power. been about a week and no noticeable warping. 4 1/4" diameter. Sanded to 600g and finished with Briwax Friction Polish.

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Negeltu

Registered: February 2005
Location: Oregon, USA
Posts: 223

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Date: Thu July 21, 2005
Views: 1,225
Keywords: fruit wood bowl

Comments

Gil

Another solid, good-looking bowl with a smooth finish. Nice rock assortment too.
Maybe I should try your "Plum micro waving". I have several Chunks of Plum, but have been ignoring them due to cracks after turning. Thanks, Negeltu.

#1 Fri July 22, 2005 12:18am

Negeltu

Thanks Gil. I don't know if it is mainly the water loss or irradiating the cells that prevent the warping and cracking. Probably both. I know that irradiating the wood changes the cellular structure. It probably releases some of that tension that is in the wood.

#2 Fri July 22, 2005 12:51am

Gil

I can see cellular structure change after true irradiation in living trees, but microwaving non-living wood just raises the temperature of the mass by over stimulating the internal moisture. I know that microwaving speeds up water loss by changing it to steam (at least in the ones that I attempted). Possibly the cells are ruptured when the water is heated (expanded) enough to generate steam. I am not interested enough to delve into the physics of the process, I just like it to work reliably.

#3 Fri July 22, 2005 1:17am

Rev. Doug Miller

Rev. Doug Miller

Very pretty piece. I love the limb inclusion.

#4 Fri July 22, 2005 2:16am

Negeltu

That is kind of what I meant by changing the cellular structure. The cells rupture..which is changing the cell structure. Smile

Seems to work reliably enough in this plum. I'm trying apple next. Smile

Hopefully I have similar results. Then I will try Myrtle and I have some red plum too.

#5 Fri July 22, 2005 3:02am

Negeltu

If anyone is interested here is a link to a pdf on microwaves. In there is a short section on the affects on wood.
http://www.crcwood.unimelb.edu.au/docs/factsheets/microwaves.pdf

It says that not only does it help speed up the removal of residual water, but it also be used to easily infuse timber with liquids like stains and dyes.

#6 Fri July 22, 2005 3:11am

Gil

Thanks, Negeltu, that is a good article.

#7 Fri July 22, 2005 3:45pm