Not sure of the best thing to do with this.. (Paul.J) ??

[woodfarmer]

A few years ago I cut some wood for fence posts, one was a bit big so I set it aside thinking it might become a gate post. I have been eyeing it up since I got my lathe thinking the knotty bit at the bottom could be hiding something good.

So today had a go at it, I originally thought it would make a bowl of about 8-9" but the rot and flaws has reduced this somewhat. I may just end up with a tea light.

Anyone any ideas, is just still being roughed into a blank, I did wax the outside to try to slow the woods movements.

The screw holes should have been in the waste wood of the bowl I had in mind.

 

[Paul.J]

To be honest WF this looks like it may be a lost cause as it has quite a few areas where branches were growing out the sides,so these areas will be prone to splitting in the drying stage.
The rot,depending how bad it is might have to be removed completely at the finishing stage,but the split going to the left in the first image may also cause a problem here and might break off,once again depending how bad it is??
Looks like the tenon you have is still holding it all together,so if you carry on with it be careful and keep out the firing line if it does go.
The screw holes i'm afraid unless you paint it there is not a lot you can do there either.
Always mark the length of the screws on the blank to start with so you have an idea where they are and add about another half inch to an inch past them for parting off.
So depending how you feel about the piece and your confidence in finishing it carry on with it and prove me wrong,also as you cut into it and make it thinner check for flex and make sure none of it is loose and ready to break off,but as i say be careful and make sure you are wearing a face shield of some sort!!!!!

 

[woodfarmer]

To be honest WF this looks like it may be a lost cause as it has quite a few areas where branches were growing out the sides,so these areas will be prone to splitting in the drying stage.
The rot,depending how bad it is might have to be removed completely at the finishing stage,but the split going to the left in the first image may also cause a problem here and might break off,once again depending how bad it is??
Looks like the tenon you have is still holding it all together,so if you carry on with it be careful and keep out the firing line if it does go.
The screw holes i'm afraid unless you paint it there is not a lot you can do there either.
Always mark the length of the screws on the blank to start with so you have an idea where they are and add about another half inch to an inch past them for parting off.
So depending how you feel about the piece and your confidence in finishing it carry on with it and prove me wrong,also as you cut into it and make it thinner check for flex and make sure none of it is loose and ready to break off,but as i say be careful and make sure you are wearing a face shield of some sort!!!!!

I thought this wood would be "interesting", but I have had to get down to less than 6" diameter instead of the 8 or 9 that I thought due to rot. The big fissure seen on picture looking down into the "bowl" ending on '99 extends around to the branch emerging from the side seen in picture ending in 00. That large bit is getting to the point where there is an increasing risk of the lump spinning out.
I may just face it off past the screw holes and make a tea light. That way I shall be standing in front of the end if it lets go. It is a pity because there is some interesting grain and figuring in this piece of acacia (AKA false locust or robinia).