American Steamed Beech Kiln-Dried Woodturning Blank – Rough Sawn
Approx. 75mm x 75mm x 305mm
Approx. 3" x 3" x 12"
This is a kiln-dried American Steamed Beech woodturning blank, rough sawn and suitable for larger spindle turning projects.
Beech is a medium-strength hardwood and is a very useful wood for new woodturners. It is firm enough to give proper feedback from the tools, but not so difficult that it becomes frustrating to practise on. It is a good choice for learning cuts, improving tool control and making practical or decorative turned pieces.
This 3" x 3" blank gives you more width than the smaller 2" x 2" blanks, while the shorter 12" length keeps it manageable and easy to store. Shorter sizes can sometimes be just what you need, especially if you want enough wood for a chunkier small project without buying a longer blank.
Suitable Projects
This size is useful for larger spindle turning projects such as:
● Larger spinning tops
● Small boxes
● Tool handles
● Chunkier decorative pieces
● Practice spindle work
● Small pots or hollow forms
● Projects where a 2" blank may be too small
At approximately 12" long, you can cut off what you need for each project, allow a little extra for waste, and keep any remaining wood for another small turning where possible.
Rough Sawn Finish and Natural Variation
Please note that these blanks are rough sawn. They may show saw marks, uneven surfaces, natural marks or slight variation in size from the original cutting.
These surface marks should turn away once the blank is rounded and shaped on the lathe.
These are not planed or polished pieces of wood. They are practical woodturning blanks, ready to be cut, mounted and turned.
As with all real wood, grain, colour and markings will vary from blank to blank.
Why I Supply These Blanks
One of the hardest things about starting woodturning is finding suitable wood to practise on. Not everyone has access to dry hardwood, and buying full boards or large pieces is not always practical.
For that reason, I supply a small range of hardwood blanks that are already cut into useful sizes for woodturners. There is quite a bit of work involved in buying, cutting, sorting, sealing and storing these blanks, but they are useful for beginners and hobby turners who want wood they can actually use.
Useful for Beginners and Woodturning Students
These blanks are especially useful if you are new to woodturning and do not yet have an easy source of suitable hardwood.
A lot of beginners struggle to find dry hardwood in small, manageable sizes. Buying full boards can be expensive, awkward to transport and wasteful if you only want to practise or make a few small projects.
As a woodturner who also teaches beginners, I cut and supply these blanks in practical sizes so that hobby turners, students and anyone starting out can get straight to the turning rather than spending time trying to source suitable wood.
The 3" x 3" size gives you more room to shape the piece and is useful when you want to move beyond very small spindle projects. The shorter 12" length keeps the blank easier to handle while still giving you enough wood for chunkier small turnings.
End Grain Sealed
This wood is kiln dried. After cutting, I seal the end grain with PVA glue to help reduce moisture movement back in or out through the exposed ends.
This helps keep the blank more stable while it is stored, although as with all real wood, some natural movement can still happen over time, especially if blanks are stored in changing temperatures or humidity.
Weight and Shipping
Each 12" blank weighs approximately 1.2kg.
Orders of woodturning blanks should be kept under 25kg maximum to keep the parcel weight manageable for shipping. If you need a larger quantity, please contact me before ordering.
Collection is also available and may be the best option if you are buying several blanks or heavier pieces.
More wood may be available than is currently listed online.
Please Note
The photos show an example of the type of blank available. They are not the exact pieces you will receive, but your blanks will be of the same general type, size and quality.
