The timber I use for my wood turning generally comes in 2 forms: large planks (say 2m long) or locally felled trees that I've split into quarters and air dried myself, and which by it's nature is odd in shape, and usually large.
To use this timber safely and effectively on my wood turning lathe, I need to cut these large pieces down into more manageable sizes - generally into a roundish shape on the faces where I will shape it on the lathe.
Cutting this timber usually involves 2 processes: Firstly cutting the large pieces, and secondly cutting the edges off these pieces, so I can mount them on my lathe and turn them, either as face work or between centres.
When possible, if I just need one piece of timber, I'll use a hand saw to cut the piece (if the timber's not too large) - it's a quick and safer way to do this - and my preferred method. As well as having a Japanese pull saw, I also have an old rip and cross cut panel hand saw, which I can sharpen myself, to do this. I then let this piece of timber rest, in case of any tension within the timber, which could result in warping or splits later on.
But the reality is that this isn't very efficient - I need a larger supply of timber, resting and ready to use, in various sizes and woods, so I can find something that might fit a particular idea or design I have in mind.
This is where my electric chain saw comes in use, to convert larger pieces into smaller ones. I'd be the first to admit that I'm not the greatest fan of chain saws - I have long term health conditions, and I have to be careful in when and how I use these - and take plenty of breaks whilst using - they are dangerous machines. I also use and wear appropriate safety equipment (not shown here). For all of these reasons, it is a tool that I only rarely use.
Like all tools, it needs maintenance, which is something I've just done - following the manufacturers instructions in cleaning it, and sharpening the chain, and topping up with oil once I'm done. I'm not going to use a blunt chain, it isn't safe in my personal view, nor will I ignore the maintenance, it's surprising how much stuff can get inside the working parts that needs cleaning.
Once I'm' happy with the state of the chain saw, I use it to cut up a few logs and planks of timber. I use a robust sawing bench (not shown) to hold the timber I'm sawing steady - I've worked with wood for 14 years in many different ways - it isn't safe to work on poorly secured wood - accidents aren't things that happen to someone else - they could happen to us at any time with a moment's inattention - there are no short cuts.
Once the timber is cut up, it is left to rest - it is dry (it's been sitting around for some years drying, I check the pieces as I cut them). However, splits can still appear in timber - especially when cut directly from logs from trees, however carefully they are dried.
Wood is a natural material, and whilst growing can be subjected to all kinds of stresses during it's growing life (trees need sunlight, reaching this might introduce uneven stresses in timber for example), and when it dries out (wood is very wet when growing, but to use the timber we need it to be dry, process of letting water escape takes a long time, and can introduce cracks - there is a whole other story about that).
If I didn't let it rest, once I've turned it on my wood turning lathe, cracks could appear later - whilst no one can 100% prevent this, I want to reduce the risk as much as possible, so it rests at the ambient temperature of my studio for a good few weeks before I use it. As I make smaller quantities of items, I can afford to do that.
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