Best way of cutting monkey puzzle timber?

[daviddb]

Hey nice work there in your shop Kraftinwood! And thanks for the infos......

 

regards

 

David

[18 stoner]

Hi I read with interest the threads re Monkey Puzzle trees, you may have seen my first thread posted Monday this week. I am a woodturner and am especially interested in Monkey Puzzle trees and happy to pay a fair price and collect within a hundred miles. I am picking one up from Essex on Friday unfortunately its only smallish but the larger the tree the better.

I was quite amazed when I saw one planked, not sure why anyone would do that as when end turned the whorls really look best and always create a lot of interest. Most of the bowls and hollow forms in the picture attached are Monkey puzzle and are not finished yet. I have a photographer taking some individual finished pieces in the next week or so for my new website so I will upload a few.

I agree they are not easy to cut down but I have never had a real problem with my chainsaws clogging up albeit I leave the hard bit for you guys I just wander along afterwards and section it up. Yes the sticky sap you mention is a problem but to get the black staining they have to be left on end for 18 months to 2 years so tend to dry out a lot before I turn them so I guess you guys get the worst of it.

For anyone that may not know it is best cut midway between whorls as that gives the best choice of what to turn from each piece. I actually turn a lot with two sets of whorls so anything 14" or under can be cut midway between every other set of whorls.

Anyway please do not skip it as suggested just call me and I’ll be there.

Kraftinwood

Woodturning Large Bowls and Hollow Forms, Australian and Native Burrs.

 

If you are interested in mine have a look at distance from you to HU16 as I still have some rounds if you want them.