I always worry that roots and root balls will have a lot of rocks and dirt that can damage tools.

 

I don't see any problems with turning clean tree roots but it will take a while (2 to 4 years) for them to dry. If you want them dry seal the end cuts and put in a cool dry place and keep your fingers crossed.
If you want to try to work with the center root section you will need to be careful of rock and dirt pockets.

You could also turn them wet using some of the wet turning techniques. Turn and let it warp as it will. Rough out and pack in saw dust or in a paper bag in a cool dry pace; rough out and microwave (check various methods on the internet). Then finish turning when dry.

I doubt the roots could get into a fresh water line but they will seek out sewer lines because many of them do not have tight joint seals (old clay tile lines) which can be penetrated. Tree roots are treacherous on septic systems.

 

Pipes have been made from roots for eons., Briar.
Dont see why not.

 

Not turning but my moms grandfather made canes and as the story goes he make a stack full and most were made from roots of trees. He'd hollow out knots and inset marbles in them and tack little badges on them. My mom still has a few as does my uncle. Point being if you make them they should hold up just fine. I don't remember any rocks being in them either. And no cracks in the ones my mom has.

 

Check out Phil Anderson's utoob channel Shady Acres Woodshop. He turns the most ridiculously weird pieces of wood that people send him, including many root balls. Fun to watch the pieces evolve from what looks like impossible-to-turn chunks!

 

Thank you for the replies. Some comments -

About rocks and dirt in the roots, I had not thought about that. I have cut this piece into 4-6 inch sections and have not seen any dirt or rocks. The cross-sections just look like limbs with a thicker bark. I'm not too concerned about rocks though, because the house was built on sand. The area I live in was a river delta long ago, and the sand is about 500 feet deep.

I knew they would take some time to dry, but 2-4 years for a 4" diameter piece?? Dang, I'll be an old man before they get dry. Oh, wait! Dad gum it!

Pipes. Didn't think about pipes. But being an ex-smoker I don't really want to promote anyone else to smoke either.

Canes. The pieces I have I don't think would make very good canes, but there are other pieces that could.

These roots can't really get INTO the water line (1" copper from the meter to the house), but they chafe them until they start leaking, can bend them til they break, or crush them.

I am not an expert turner, but I have thrown a couple of pieces on the lathe thinking "What's the worst that can happen?", just to spend the next hour or two trying to find all of the pieces that went flying. Isn't it the strangest feeling when you are turning and you hear this little "pop". You turn around to see where it came from and don't see anything that could have caused it, so you return to your turning only to find there is nothing mounted in your lathe?

Wayne

 

Am finding interesting root pieces in my woods. Do l need to soak them in something to kill any bugs or whatever? Would like to make scenes with sm animals/people.

 

Lots of YouTube videos on this. Make for some unusual turnings.