One challenge that many woodworkers face is choosing the proper type of wood for each project, especially when it comes to turning wooden spindles. When choosing wood for your spindles, the type of wood you choose can make the turning process easier or more difficult. Furthermore, opting for low-quality and inexpensive pieces of wood can be detrimental to your entire project, as it can jeopardize the longevity of whatever you build from it. Here is an overview of different types of wood that might be used on a lathe from a woodworker’s perspective. This guide should help you increase your chances of building extraordinary and aesthetically pleasing wood spindle projects that will make you proud.
Hickory
Hickory is sometimes used when turning spindles. Not only is hickory known for its immense durability, but it is also quite resilient, which is why it’s frequently used in woodworking. Remember that, despite its durability, hickory tends to scratch quite easily. Also, you need to use the sharpest tools when turning hickory spindles because of the extreme hardness of the wood. Therefore, using hickory for other wood-related projects is a good idea, although some woodworkers do choose hickory for turning spindles.
Cherry
Cherry is a top choice when it comes to wood for spindle-related projects, as it’s known for its beauty and ease of use with lathes. It’s also a top choice for spindle turning because this type of wood is excellent at holding details. You should choose cherry wood when creating intricate projects like blanket ladders, outdoor plant benches, candlesticks, and more. It’s best to turn cherry wood spindles using an end-grain technique.
Maple
Maple trees aren’t just for extracting delicious maple syrup, as the wood from these trees is excellent for wooden spindles. Maplewood makes turning spindles a cinch, as it’s easy to shape. Since it’s so easy to shape and sand, woodworkers enjoy working with maple and creating the necessary details to make their projects beautiful and flawless. Maple is also very smooth and easy to finish, making it perfect to use for wooden spindles for candlesticks, table legs, and more.
Birch
Similar to maple, birch is a very soft wood that makes its use in spindle turning simple and quick. Birch is also visually appealing, as its natural wood grains are attractive. So, whether you’re working on a table-leg project, candlesticks, or something else, the natural beauty of this wood is likely to make it a winner every time. One downside of using birchwood in spindle-turning is the amount of dust that it causes to accumulate. However, proper and effective dust collection tactics can make cleanup less of a nuisance.
Walnut
While walnut wood is sometimes used for wooden spindles, it’s not a top choice. Walnut is gorgeous; its creamy white color and grain pattern are eye-catching. However, this type of wood has a prominent end grain that can make sanding a challenge. It’s also necessary to use sharper tools when turning this type of wood, as it is a hardwood. Though it’s possible to use it for wooden spindles, there are some difficulties to contend with when working with walnut. As long as you have patience and the proper tools, walnut can create some beautifully finished projects.
Oak
Not many woodworkers would use oak wood for their wooden spindles. Firstly, oak is a very dense hardwood that makes turning nearly impossible. Oak is even more difficult to work with than walnut, as it is susceptible to cracking and shrinking. As oak wood dries, it shrinks and cracks, making it difficult to use this type of wood on a lathe. Oak certainly has its uses in woodworking, but you might want to think twice about using it on a lathe, as you will encounter many obstacles. If you’re up for a challenge, using oak for turning spindles is possible, but you must have the correct tools and equipment.
Exploring Wood Types Beyond the Basics
There are thousands of varieties of trees around the world, each one with its own unique characteristics. While most woodworkers in North America are familiar with the types of wood mentioned above, other types from around the world could possibly work even better than what you’re used to using. Here are the pros and cons of some wood from trees outside North America:
- African Mahogany – Native to many parts of Africa, wood from this tree is a good choice for spindle turning, although you must ensure you have the proper tools. African Mahogany wood tends to break tools and even cause injury to the user due to the way its grain changes while being processed.
- Cedar – You can find cedar trees in the mountains of the Himalayas and the Mediterranean. This wood is often used for wooden spindles due to its excellent weather resistance, but it has some possible issues. Not only is cedar quite aromatic, which can be too overpowering for some woodworkers to tolerate, but it can catch or break if not handled properly.
- Kanuka – Native to New Zealand, Kanucka is a hardwood that is sometimes used for wooden spindles. Kanuka is a hardwood that has a smooth texture, which is why it’s used in spindle turning. Like many other woods, Kanuka has its challenges.
As you can see, the type of wood you choose for your spindles can significantly impact the overall quality and appearance of the finished project. It can also affect the time it takes to complete the project and the ease of performing the turning process. Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand why choosing the proper wood is so important when creating the perfect project. The more you experiment with different types of wood, the easier it will be to perfect your skills and exceed your customers‘ expectations every time.
