Turning
Pruning the apple tree can have many benefits besides a better crop of apples. Great practice can be had by
turning an apple tree branch into a number of file handles or log of apple wood into a mallet or a set of marine buoys
to be used as maritime themed wedding reception table ornaments. You suddenly appreciate
the difference between green and seasoned wood and the aesthetic result of leaving a little bark on the branches
by not cutting too deep into the oval cross section. The wood grain takes on a wonderful
3-dimensional quality with an incredible variety of patterns observed from different aspects.
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Making ornaments from all sorts of wood is fun since the turning process perfectly highlights
the grain. I remember being mesmerized in the soukes of Marrakesh by a young artisan creating a small spindle ornament on
his foot powered lathe and forming a captive ring in the middle. It looked so simple. I have tried this with the traditional turned
mushrooms and toadstools - another useful practical lesson. With only basic lathe tools I had to fabricate the tool needed to free
the wood disc into a captive ring.