What are the disadvantages of turning green wood?
What are the disadvantages of turning green wood?
While green wood turning has many advantages, there are also some disadvantages that woodturners need to consider:
Risk of deformation and cracking: green wood tends to warp and crack during the drying process. This can result in undesirable changes in shape and dimensions of the turnings after the wood has dried.
More difficult to sand and finish: Green wood is more difficult to finish smoothly. For example, the moisture in the wood can cause fiber formation during turning or drying. Sanding wet wood does not work well and many varnishes, stains and waxes do not adhere to green wood.
Longer drying time required: If you plan to allow the turned workpiece to dry further before finishing, this may take a significant amount of time depending on the type of wood and environmental conditions.
Risk of mold and rot: green wood can be more susceptible to mold growth and rot if not dried or stored properly. This can negatively affect the quality of the turning work. Or positively, if you want to have Spalted drawings formed in the wood
Weight loss after drying: After drying, green wood often loses a significant amount of weight, which can lead to unexpected differences in the final product compared to what was originally turned. Wood shrinks during drying, so keep this in mind.
Less predictability: The behavior of green wood during turning and drying is less predictable than that of dry wood. This often requires experience and skill to achieve the desired end result with green wood.
Possible health risks: Turning green wood can throw moisture out of the wood, some types of wood have toxins in them that can irritate the skin. The lathe can also suffer from this. Most lathes have a steel lathe bed that can quickly develop rust. By spraying the lathe bed with for exemple Unispray or Covering with a tarpaulin prevents rust formation.