Norfolk Island Pine Tips!
Would you like some Norfolk Island Pine tips for a better woodturning experience? Remember, no two pieces of Norfolk Island pine will be exactly the same. This was a growing tree so we have no control over its growth characteristics, such as how many knots it has, or if they are in an even row or was the limb damaged when the tree was young making the branch shorter or a different color on the inside. We try our best to see that each piece has at least five knots, but they can have as many as 8 or 9. Not knowing what our customers are going to make with the woodturning blank they order, we try to leave enough wood on either side of the knot so the piece can be used as either a bowl blank or a closed form blank. Would you like a size that isn’t shown? You can email or call with the size that you need. We try to keep several Norfolk Island pine logs in stock. There will be a custom cutting fee or a minimum order required.  The limbs of the Norfolk Island pine naturally grow on an angle within the tree. For an easy way to determine the angle of the limb (knot) look at the limb center or pith. You will notice it is off center in the limb. If the pith is off center towards the top of the limb as shown in this picture the limbs are running on a downward angle to the center. This is the limb location used to make bowls or similar items in which you want to see the limbs in the bottom of bowl. Some turners refer to this as the flower or wagon wheel spokes.
 If the pith is off center towards the bottom of the limb as shown in this picture,the limbs are running at an upward angle to the center. This woodturning blank would be used to make the closed form shown below or similar items where you want to see the limbs on the top as shown in this picture. Decide which type of item you are going to turn to determine which end of the wood turning blank you will make your tendon on or whatever mounting method you use. I enjoy the challenge of making this type of closed form. This one measures 10" in diameter by 3 1/2" in height.
SPALTING NORFOLK ISLAND PINE In central Florida, spalting of Norfolk Island pine will occur just by leaving the wood outside, but out of the sun. In a whole log it usually takes about three months to spalt, spalting begins on each end working its way towards the center. Since we process a whole log at one time, some woodturning blanks can be heavily spalted and others just starting. I prefer spalted, the more spalting the better. I like the black lines which appear in waves and different shapes. If when your woodturning blank arrives, it isn’t spalted enough for you, it’s easy to increase the amount of spalting. Rough turn your Norfolk Island pine item; read our "how to" article. Place it in a plastic kitchen or yard waste bag. Store it out of the sun. Every couple weeks open the bag to check its progress. If left long enough it will turn almost completely black. Be prepared for a bad looking piece of wood when you open the bag after it has been sealed up for about a month. When ready to final turn, just wash off the slime and mold. Another Norfolk Island pine tip to try before placing your rough turned item in the plastic bag, spray a couple of quick coats of any clear lacquer on each knot, both sides if exposed as in a bowl. I use clear Krylon from Wal-Mart. Let this dry, then use CA glue and cover each knot plus ¼ inch outside the knot CAREFULLY KEEPING THE GLUE ON PREVIOUSLY SPRAYED AREA. Sealing the wood with the spray lacquer will keep you from getting those dark glue lines caused by the glue soaking into the wood. Gluing the knots will keep them from shifting or cracking during the drying period. If I am just rough turning and not looking for more spalting, I always coat the inside and outside of my rough turned Norfolk Island piece with a couple of heavy coats of Pentacryl Wood Stabilizer. I use this product on almost everything that I rough turn. Just remember, once Pentacryl is applied, the spalting process stops. If I could use this product on only one type of wood, it would be Norfolk Island pine. There is almost no cracking or warping. It seems to take away that little extra challenge called tear out that you get with end grain turning. It also makes sanding so much faster and easier. At about $20 per quart, it’s not cheap but if you hate sanding as much as I do, it’s well worth it. Pentacryl penetrates the wet wood and mixes with the water molecules. Drying time for green wood can be reduced by up to 90%. I purchase this product at Packard Woodworks or Craft Supply. I hope these Norfolk Island Pine tips will help you with your next woodturning project. The completed pieces are beautiful and are my top-sellers at the galleries where they are displayed and also with my artshow customers.
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