Bill Gooch wrote:
I was given a half dozen large chunks of basswood - 4ft lengths about 10
inches round. It's green and I'm not having much luck turning it. Either
its the wood or my technique but I seem to be ripping the wood apart rather
than getting the nice curls coming off the gouge that I get with ash etc.

In addition to the suggestions you already have, you might try using a
tool with a much more acute sharpening angle than your standard bowl
gouges. Maybe you have a spindle gouge sharpened like this which you
could try out to see if it makes a difference before regrinding your
bowl gouges. (I assume you are bowl turning rather than spindle?) I say
this based on the general rule of using finer sharpening angles on
softer woods.

The other thing I would try is cranking up the lathe speed and making
really fine cuts.

I have not turned basswood, but I did try a chunk I have here with my
carving chisels. I must admit that it did not cut nearly as cleanly as lime.

--
Derek Andrews, woodturner

http://www.seafoamwoodturning.com
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