One for Stig

[Paul B]

I saw this link about large burls today, thought it might interest you.
http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/potd/2011/04/olympic-peninsula-forest.php

 

[Cobleskill]

Speaking of Stig. A friend of mine dug out some 12" black walnut trees. He got most of the tap root. They have been lying outside for a couple years, but appear to still have some good wood. Think they are worth doing anything with?

 

[stig]

Wow, those are nice burls.
I have one just like them, but smaller outside my shop right now.
Beech burl, dropped off by a forwarder driver, who wants me to make him a bowl from it.


I think the heartwood on those walnuts will be sound still. As long as there isn't too many rocks in the roots, they'll be fine for woodworking.

 

[simplypete]

I have a large burl from a Box Elder tree that Darin helped me with recently. Know anything about that trees quality? The burl I have is about the size of the one above only on a larger stem.

 

[stig]

It is valued by turners and when stabilized by pen-turners and knifemakers.

I've never worked it myself, i only know of 2 boxelders around here and none of them have burls.

 

[Peter]

I sold this one to a woodturner recently, he asked how big it was on the phone, I said from memory about 24" across, and then when he came to pick it up it measured 42"x35"........

He was both delighted and at a loss as to what to do with it, his lathe is big enough but the damn thing is so heavy even the two of us couldnt lift it between us.

 

[stig]

What is that.

Platanus acerifolia?

I've sold about 5 tonnes of Elm burl from my stockpile within the last 3 years.
Paid for my wife's greenhouse and my trip to California 2 years ago, more or less.
Since there is no more to be had, because all the elms are gone here, prices have gone way up.
A piece of the size of yours would net me some $ 6-800.
Best part is, I still have about 6 tonnes left in the shed

 

[Dave Shepard]

How big does a cherry burl have to be to be useful? I took down several cherries this week and they had burls 10" to 18" in diameter.

 

[Peter]

Yup, Platanus.

Never seen an Elm burl here, but I will look out for them now!

 

[stig]

10" is plenty big enough for turning.

I had a turner come by yesterday to pick up a 8" ash burl with birdeye figure ( which is rare in european ash). He made a two hour drive to get that burl.

I have a thread on the danish woodturning forum ,where I announce when I have brought turning wood home.
Most of it ( about 3 tons a year) I give away to members, who then make a donation to the forum.
That brings in quite a bit of money.

The better pieces I sell and keep the money for myself.

 

[Paul B]

Good of you to turn over some of the wood to the forum, good karma.