new boy question

[crazylegs]

Any ideas on drying lilac wood and what is it like to turn?

[seventhdevil]

seal the ends immediately pray and hope they season well and be prepared to loose the lot to splitting...

[Paul Hannaby]

Nice to turn if you can dry it without splitting. Improve your chances by cutting along the grain and through the pith. Seal ends well and dry slowly!

[APH]

I never really found out what Lilac was like as I got a bad allergic reaction to the dust from it and had to stop before I could complete the turning.
The only wood that's effected me like that in twenty five years of turning.

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

I echo the other comments about drying it, I have never dried a piec without it splitting. Nice to turn though, I use it for lace bobbins.

[otterbank]

Could turn it wet. If it survives after drying all good ,if not you've had some practice out of it anyway. Win ,win.
Michael

[Bryan Milham]

If you mean the shrub, I have a stem about 3" diameter. Nice tight grain and turns well but at 3" only small items can be made from it.

[crazylegs]

thanks. I may give it a miss. I need some more experience to tackle this one.