overview
One of the most difficult problems faced by new and medium-sized lumberjacks is how to deal with the ruptures of grain areas on their projects during the turn. Sometimes, even with the sharpest tools and best methods, you can get torn grain when turning. Inverted areas of grains, soft or downy wood near sound wood, differences in density between early and late trees, wild grains and other situations can sometimes create torn or brewed grains. Some species are more susceptible to torn grain than others, but there are effective ways to deal with this problem, so your grinding will be easier.
Prevent grain breaks when turning
One of the best ways to prevent torn grain is to stop and sharpen your groove if you notice any areas that are not cut cleanly. The extreme life span of your excavation varies greatly, so our first and best answer to any cutting problem we face when turning is to stop and sharpen our tools. If this does not solve the problem, you still have many opportunities to improve the quality of your surface.
Effective methods of dealing with torn grain
One quick and easy way to improve the quality of the slice in the zone of grain breaking is applying paste to the area. Simply wipe a small amount of pasty wax (I prefer microcrystalline wax) into a stubborn area and take another cut with your freshly groove. This can be quite effective on some woods, as the wax helps to slightly secure the fibers so that they can cut cleanly.
Another option is to spray a little transparent varnish on the surface of the torn grain. Allow the varnish to dry and take another cut with the protrusions. This is very effective on many logs, so try it. Shellac spray also works well, but I don't always have it at hand, so I use Lacquer most of the time. The varnish dries very quickly and really helps solidify the broken fibers, which allows them to cut clean.
Other options - scraper scraper
If you do not want to apply anything to the surface, think of a shift that cleans the area with a freshly scraper. When we cut off the scratches, hold the cutting edge angle by 45 degrees and slightly remove the area with a scraper. This will create a goose-like feather shavings. A shear scraper is an excellent technique for processing loosened grain, and a lateral advantage is much less grinding.
Properly scraper can cut your abrasive protocol up to 50%, allowing you to start grinding up to 320 grams. Believe me, you really want to learn how to cut the scratches! I use it primarily to reduce grinding in my studio, but it works equally well to repair torn grain or other damaged areas.
Power tools
And last but not least: you can wet the sand with torn grain and remove it with abrasives. This is the least desirable option for many people, since very few wooden turners love sand! However, sometimes this may be your last, best option. If you have a small section of torn grain that you want to sprinkle with sand, fasten the bar of the lathe and lightly wet the sand on a specific area before you begin grinding the rest of the bowl.
When you remove the damage, open the lathe spindle, turn on the lathe and sand as usual. The area in which you worked with the lathe will be mixed with the rest of the surface and should disappear. If your damage is very deep, this option may plunge into the surface. There are no doubts about other methods of processing torn grains, but they have been the most reliable for me over the years, and I urge you to give one or more of them a try the next time the torn grain returns its ugly head to your studio.
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