Book Review
Turning Green Wood by Michael O’Donnell
Having relatively easy access to fallen and freshly felled timber meant this book was an
obvious choice of reading. I have now borrowed it three time – not because it’s a difficult
read or hard to understand, but because the advice is so good, the book is well laid out
and none of the other books in the library deliver the same breadth and detail about
working green wood.
It starts by considering all aspects of a tree from the basic structure to the significance of
reaction wood, moisture, shrinkage and how distortion or splitting during drying can be
anticipated and controlled. A most useful chapter is devoted to excellent descriptions and
drawings showing how different orientations of a bowl blank in the log affect both its
distortion during drying and the appearance of the final bowl. In addition to the basic log,
the potential of crotch wood in both end and cross grain orientations makes you realise
how many bowls, with totally different figure, are contained within the same piece of wood.
And all that is before burls and spalting are considered.
The significance of the log in determining final form is continued in that part of the book
which describes a few well chosen projects, ranging from a thin stem goblet to a functional
bowl. Unlike many other books there is more emphasis on timber selection, marking out
and orientation of the blank for each project, than on ultra-detailed description of tool
technique. Having said that, the basic order of cuts as well as specific techniques for
retaining natural bark edge, thin walls, etc. are well covered. The inclusion of clear,
dimensioned drawings is a very useful feature not found in some books.
Even if you can only get branch-wood from the garden, this book provides a basic
understanding of how to use this free source of timber. This is a book that gives sufficient
principles about how green wood behaves for you to successfully tackle unconventional
timbers like Cotoneaster or the split prone Eucalyptus.
This book is a must-have if you want to enjoy the pleasures of green wood turning without
the frustration of splitting or unintended distortion.
Spinning Brewer
Turning Green Wood by Michael O’Donnell
Having relatively easy access to fallen and freshly felled timber meant this book was an
obvious choice of reading. I have now borrowed it three time – not because it’s a difficult
read or hard to understand, but because the advice is so good, the book is well laid out
and none of the other books in the library deliver the same breadth and detail about
working green wood.
It starts by considering all aspects of a tree from the basic structure to the significance of
reaction wood, moisture, shrinkage and how distortion or splitting during drying can be
anticipated and controlled. A most useful chapter is devoted to excellent descriptions and
drawings showing how different orientations of a bowl blank in the log affect both its
distortion during drying and the appearance of the final bowl. In addition to the basic log,
the potential of crotch wood in both end and cross grain orientations makes you realise
how many bowls, with totally different figure, are contained within the same piece of wood.
And all that is before burls and spalting are considered.
The significance of the log in determining final form is continued in that part of the book
which describes a few well chosen projects, ranging from a thin stem goblet to a functional
bowl. Unlike many other books there is more emphasis on timber selection, marking out
and orientation of the blank for each project, than on ultra-detailed description of tool
technique. Having said that, the basic order of cuts as well as specific techniques for
retaining natural bark edge, thin walls, etc. are well covered. The inclusion of clear,
dimensioned drawings is a very useful feature not found in some books.
Even if you can only get branch-wood from the garden, this book provides a basic
understanding of how to use this free source of timber. This is a book that gives sufficient
principles about how green wood behaves for you to successfully tackle unconventional
timbers like Cotoneaster or the split prone Eucalyptus.
This book is a must-have if you want to enjoy the pleasures of green wood turning without
the frustration of splitting or unintended distortion.
Spinning Brewer
