We now turn a wide variety of woods from our local forests. In addition to aspen, an array of hardwoods such as cherry, maple, beech and elm are available. We search for dead and down trees keeping an eye out for spalted woods and burls. The wood we choose is not prime for use as lumber or firewood. We also do not disturb logs that woodpeckers or other forest dwellers have chosen for their own purposes.
Green Turning
A live tree is full of sap. Sap laden wood is called "wet" or "green" wood. The process for turning green wood is different from the way dried wood is turned. When green wood is first turned on a lathe, the object is wet and has to be properly dried before it can be finished. To prevent ruinous cracks, the piece must be dried slowly over many weeks or months. While drying, the shape of the piece changes naturally. This is referred to as warping. Once sufficiently dried, the piece is re-mounted on the lathe and finished off by turning it a second time.Spalted Aspen
Aspen (populus tremuloides)also known as trembling aspen or quaking aspen.
Aspen, a common tree of the intermountain west of North America, is a wood which can excite the senses with its kaleidoscope of rich colors and textures. In a world of "faux" embellishments, spalted aspen demonstrates authentic natural transformation - the wood is changed from plain to spectacular by insect and microbial activity.Legions of insects, accompanied by microbes (fungi), stride through a bland virgin log creating a maze of worm hole caverns and an array of red, auburn, and black hues in the wood. This transformative process, called spalting, is no less wonderful than the creation of wine and cheese.
Seen as a living organism, aspen grows in groves. Each tree is an expression of the larger organism that is the grove. Unlike most vegetation, aspen reproduces, not by seeds alone, but through multiplying from one parent stock by sprouting young tree stock from roots (also called suckers or clones). These new little trees are identical to the parent stock. In autumn the aspen's leaves turn brilliant gold. Distinct groves of aspen, genetic clones of one ancestral stock, can be seen by observing the quilt-like patchwork of golden color in the mountains.
How we turn spalted aspen into works of art.
We turn spalted aspen wood that has dried "on the stump" on a wood lathe to make art pieces such as bowls, platters, candlesticks, vases, lamps and plant stands. As a natural part of the life cycle of the grove, mature aspen trees commonly die off once reaching about twelve inches in diameter. This creates new growth opportunities for smaller trees in the grove. In the arid environment of Northwest Colorado, the wood in the dead standing mature trees dries as it stands.
When this wood is harvested at the right time, it has good integrity and has spalted. Spalted aspen is a surprisingly lightweight and colorful wood with amazing textures created by the forces of nature during the wood's aging process.
We put a log on the lathe and allow the design to emerge from the wood. Each piece is a one of a kind object.
Wood turning is an ancient craft that involves shaping a spinning piece of wood using gouges and other hand tools. The wood spins on a machine called a lathe at speeds of 500 to 2500 rpm. (revolutions per minute)