Hornbeam is notoriously hard, earning its historical reputation as ‘ironwood’, but when fungi get into it, that density works to your advantage. The wood stays structural enough to hold a clean, sharp edge along a rim even as dark fungal lines web through the pale sapwood. This particular piece was well seasoned, and took several hours to turn with tiny, shallow cuts.
Turning it is a constant exercise in tool control. you can transition from rock-hard timber to soft, spongy spots in a single pass. Sharp gouges and a light touch are essential to avoid tear-out, but the reward is a bowl with high-contrast zone lines against a tight, cream-coloured grain. It has a lovely pronounced texture when a finish is applied.
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