Is Holly Wood any good for turning!!!!

[Sklig]

Hi,does anyone know if Holly wood blanks is any good for turning,friend just cut down loads of good size branches.Regards Steve.

[GBF]

In my opinion it is good for turning into firewood

Regards George

[bodrighywood]

Personally I like it. Can be very bland coloured but makes a good contrast with woods like walnut.  Needs to be dry though IME as it can split badly.

Pete

[malcy]

I use holly in segmented turnings. If it is seasoned properly it will end up quite white. Otherwise it is a dirty grey colour. It turns very nicely but is quite bland and has no really visible grain. I use it in small pieces with other coloured woods and gives an excellent contrast. Because if it’s blandness it would be good for colour decoration in a turned piece. Hope this helps. Malcolm.

[ChrisF]

Yes, really bland, boring wood, good for nothing........on the other hand, have a look at it first before condemning it, you never know......

p.s.  Photos taken before it was properly finished so no comments on the sanding marks please 

[Derek]

I have a bit of holly and use it for small pieces I want to decorate or even just to experiment with, great for finials especially if ebonising them

[fuzzyturns]

Holly tends to be quite hard, and if harvested in autumn or winter, and dried properly, almost white. It has very fine grain, with little flecks in them. This makes it ideal for segmented turning or for finials, also boxes, lids on boxes, knobs, handles, smaller items. I can well imagine it also being good for lace bobbins, hair ornaments, etc. Should also be good for  non-turned work: inlays, boxes, etc.

[Sklig]

Hi,thanks to everyone who  posted a comment about Holly Wood blank turning and I will take onboard all comments. Kind Regards Steve....

[hughie]

I have a fair bit of it and it turns ok but is prone to splitting so thats the major issue for me. I have a piece in the lathe at the moment and filled the splits etc with black glass resin, trying to mimic spalting.

[fuzzyturns]

In case anybody is interested, I have yesterday taken down a holly in a friend's garden, about 14" diameter at the bottom, 20ft tall, and an extremely long crotch from about 5ft to about 8ft up (and then a split trunk). Obviously this is all green, but it has its end grain sealed and the bigger pieces have been cut into half along the pith. I'd be happy to sell (for very affordable money) if there's interest.