turning green

A friend recently gave me a large mesquite log that had been freshly cut, or "green." Turning green is great because it is easier on the tools, easier on the turner, and cuts down on the dust. The downside is that you have to turn the log fairly quickly after it is cut, because wood has a tendency to split as it dries.

These are two hollow forms that got turned from that "green" log. They were turned to finish thickness. The platter was from a piece of dry mesquite that had been in the shop for a long time. The number (must have been running through my head, because the short one is 9" wide x 7" high, the tall one is 9" high x 5 1/2" wide, and the platter is 9" wide. The pencil is just in the picture for reference.

The platter has 3 coats of oil so far, and the hollow forms do not have any finish put on them yet.