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An old boy comes down

Post in 'The Wood Shed' started by begreen, Oct 1, 2011.

Page 2 of 3

  1. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Thank you for the offer Brian. As we start splitting the trunk I am seeing some incredible wood and grain. Some of the heartwood is as dark as walnut with incredible figuring. But we are making progress with the tree. I am considering pulling out some core pieces for turning. The wood is so beautiful, it is painful to see it split.

    Attached Files:

    begreen, Oct 15, 2011
    #26

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  2. rottiman Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 23, 2009
    1,082 posts
    Ontario Canada
    When you look at a big old tree like that you kinda think about what has transpired over ,under and around it for all those years. No doubt survived some ungodly weather during that time. As for the woody's, we have had a family of them around our bush for the last 4 years. Watched the female teach the fledges how to hunt bugs in the lawn this year, it was hilarious.
    rottiman, Oct 15, 2011
    #27

  3. smokinj Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 11, 2008
    15,420 posts
    Anderson, Indiana
    This is what I keep saying about silver maple. Guess most people really just do not find them as big and twisted as I have. Bottom 8 foot of Trunk of a 45+inch tree holds its own against any premium hardwood.
    smokinj, Oct 15, 2011
    #28

  4. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    We are down to splitting up the wood near the crown and I had to stop. It is just too beautiful to burn. Fortunately after a couple calls to some woodworking friends I found a nice retired rocket scientist (no kidding) that now makes custom furniture and as a hobby has been turning bowls. He immediately saw what I saw in the wood and will be taking several good chunks for turning into bowls. There is one big burl that looks to have particularly awesome potential. I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Here are a few shots of the raw split wood.

    I am also still searching for someone to cut a few slabs of the large crown section. It would make a stunning table, about 48" across. Hope I can find an artist looking for a good project. I'm told it will take about 3-4 years for the slab to properly dry if it is 3-4" thick.

    Attached Files:

    begreen, Oct 17, 2011
    #29

  5. Pagey Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 2, 2008
    2,419 posts
    Middle TN
    That's some good looking stuff, BG! I hope you can get something nice made from that wonderful grain.
    Pagey, Oct 17, 2011
    #30

  6. pen Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2007
    6,071 posts
    N.E. Penna
    While my wood cutting mission is to stay warm, I would have had a hard time turning those pieces of wood into dust/heat also. Good save.

    pen
    pen, Oct 18, 2011
    #31

  7. Woody Stover Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 25, 2010
    3,401 posts
    Southern IN
    Wow, those splits are like paintings! I can look at them and imagine landscapes and oceans. Very cool!
    Woody Stover, Oct 18, 2011
    #32

  8. bluedogz Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 9, 2011
    857 posts
    NE Maryland
    I have a couple living in the locusts that Irene took down. I'm hoping that the bit they call "home" is still ok. Anyone have any idea how these things nest?
    bluedogz, Oct 18, 2011
    #33

  9. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    The bowls have been rough turned and a couple taken to final stage with a first coat of oil. This is fascinating. The big bowl with the wild spalting is from a burl. It has too many bark inclusions to turn further, but that is ok. I like it still and will keep it for its own beauty.

    The others will be turned into final bowls this week. I am going to try to make some spoons out of some of the split stock.

    Attached Files:

    begreen, Nov 7, 2011
    #34

  10. pen Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2007
    6,071 posts
    N.E. Penna
    Well worth saving that.

    pen
    pen, Nov 7, 2011
    #35

  11. Chargerman Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 22, 2009
    369 posts
    SW Wisconsin
    Those are very nice, a fitting memorial to the old shade tree.
    Chargerman, Nov 7, 2011
    #36

  12. WoodPorn Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 24, 2009
    1,297 posts
    South of the Pats, North of "the bucket"
    If you coat those bark inclusions with a good CA glue, they can be turned down to just about any thickness you desire...
    WoodPorn, Nov 7, 2011
    #37

  13. smokinj Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 11, 2008
    15,420 posts
    Anderson, Indiana

    Thats Sweeet! Those who hate the soft maple just haven't found the right one!
    smokinj, Nov 7, 2011
    #38

  14. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    I was wondering about that, but was thinking of epoxies. What is CA glue? Cyanoacrylate aka superglue? Does the thick stuff really set up across gaps?
    begreen, Nov 8, 2011
    #39

  15. Thistle Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    3,909 posts
    Central IA
    Depends. Small shallow ones 1/8" or less wide I've had good success.Havent tried it on larger.Unless the chunk of wood is extra special,I'll cut out a wider split & use the remaining pieces in smaller projects.Though if its a lengthwise crack it can sometimes be salvaged by ripping out the defect & gluing the 2 pieces back together.
    Thistle, Nov 8, 2011
    #40

  16. ecocavalier02 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 12, 2008
    1,441 posts
    ct
    or when on it falls on your house or it knocks power out. you wont miss it. 75 percent of the problem here with our power outages is lack of tree trimming. lot to do with people not wanting the massive tree there grandfather planted to get taken down
    ecocavalier02, Nov 8, 2011
    #41

  17. certified106 Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 22, 2010
    1,472 posts
    Athens, Ohio
    I have been so busy at work i havent had time to keep up with the forum however i just got done reading through this thread and i love what you are doing with the wood from your tree. Congrats on the firewood also
    certified106, Nov 8, 2011
    #42

  18. Mrs. Krabappel Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 31, 2010
    1,311 posts
    Blue Ridge Mountains NC
    Wow beautiful!!

    My friend researched woodpecker response to prescribed burns. They prey on the large influx of beetles whose larvae feed on, pupate in, and emerge from fire damaged
    trees. THose birds would be on the trees before they had even fully cooled from a burn!
    Mrs. Krabappel, Nov 8, 2011
    #43

  19. Pagey Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 2, 2008
    2,419 posts
    Middle TN
    The bowls look fantastic, BB. Glad to see that you got something nice and long lasting from that tree. I wish I had the skills to work up something like that!
    Pagey, Nov 8, 2011
    #44

  20. WoodPorn Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 24, 2009
    1,297 posts
    South of the Pats, North of "the bucket"
    I've had great luck with cracks/voids up to 3/8". I use Penn State Industries gap filling CA. http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKGLUE52.html

    If you try it, just take your time and build the voids up slowly, the areas covered with the CA will be stronger than the rest of the project!

    They also have thin viscosity CA for hairline cracks http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKGLUE51.html
    WoodPorn, Nov 8, 2011
    #45

  21. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Good tips all, thanks.
    begreen, Nov 8, 2011
    #46

  22. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    We got our bowls yesterday. One is finished and the other is still a rough turning that had to be stopped before it blew apart. I still may sand it down and give it an oil finish to bring out the marvelous details and figuring in the wood. The fellow that did these turnings has made about 10 bowls from the tree so far. He agreed that this is the most unusual maple he has ever worked with. That's saying a lot considering his 40+ years of professional fine woodworking. I'm glad we saved a bit of this tree's beauty. There are now two maples planted in replacement. They will have much showier autumn foliage, but may never have this old boy's inner beauty.

    Attached Files:

    begreen, Nov 27, 2011
    #47

  23. babzog Member

    joined: Oct 25, 2011
    230 posts
    Eastern Ontario, Canada
    You can have mine. Thing starts banging away on the tower (fortunately, it's far enough away to not be too annoying), sounds like a mini-machine gun.. tat-tat-tat-tat-tat. Wouldn't be so bad if he realized that it's not wood he's banging on... but nooo. No sir. Nope, he's gotta bang away at it. Over and over. Stopped. Starts again. Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat.

    Nice pile of firewood and very nice bowls!
    babzog, Nov 28, 2011
    #48

  24. WoodPorn Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 24, 2009
    1,297 posts
    South of the Pats, North of "the bucket"
    BG,
    That unfinished bowl will be the most interesting and the best looking peice of art if it is completed, It CAN be finished on the lathe!!
    WoodPorn, Nov 28, 2011
    #49

  25. pen Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2007
    6,071 posts
    N.E. Penna
    Your salads will be served most presentably! Very nice!

    pen
    pen, Nov 29, 2011
    #50
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