I continually try to improve my processes and methods to become a more skilled woodworker. But in one area, I have allowed myself to go unchallenged and haven't made improvements: maintaining a super-sharp edge on my curved carving tools. I finally had enough and decided I would turn a stropping slip with a handle.

Turning wood while it's still green presents a number of special issues that differ from those encountered when turning dry wood. On the plus side, green wood is relatively easy to turn and cuts well with sharp tools. It's easier to get thin, even translucent, walls with green wood. But on the minus side, the wood is especially prone to movement after turning as it dries, which can not only result in unplanned shapes but—worse—cracking that can destroy all the work devoted to shaping it. To counter this tendency, extra planning and mitigation steps are needed, which O'Donnell covers thoroughly in an organized, easy-to-follow manner. In the process, he takes the reader from harvesting through planning to turning techniques. The result is a complete resource on green wood turning.