What free wood did you find today?

[JonathanH]

Last week tree trimming was taking place around the community here. I snagged some Live Oak branches that are big enough to get some smaller blanks out of. The smaller branches will feed the backyard chimnea.

Was still making Christmas gifts so only processed a couple to see the inside. Mostly just straight white, plain, not spectacular. Nevertheless, I have always liked oak wood. Gave a couple away to other woodworkers in the area. The rest just sealed the ends until I can get to them. It isn't much, but the wood was free and will be a cost-effective way to building skills.

I've rough turned a crotch section into a bowl and put it in a paper bag with the shavings. We'll see what it looks like in February.

 

[Mr. Peet]

Last week tree trimming was taking place around the community here. I snagged some Live Oak branches that are big enough to get some smaller blanks out of. The smaller branches will feed the backyard chimnea.

Was still making Christmas gifts so only processed a couple to see the inside. Mostly just straight white, plain, not spectacular. Nevertheless, I have always liked oak wood. Gave a couple away to other woodworkers in the area. The rest just sealed the ends until I can get to them. It isn't much, but the wood was free and will be a cost-effective way to building skills.

I've rough turned a crotch section into a bowl and put it in a paper bag with the shavings. We'll see what it looks like in February.

View attachment 235326

Which species of live oak?

 

[JonathanH]

Which species of live oak?

I have no idea. I can saw some end grain and take a picture of the leaves and bark if you would like.

 

[Mr. Peet]

I have no idea. I can saw some end grain and take a picture of the leaves and bark if you would like.

I am not good with Live oak ID, but was looking to maybe add another species to the reference collection. I'd ask you to post a few pictures in the wood ID forum to see if we could ID to the species level. Thanks.

 

[Nature Man]

Last week tree trimming was taking place around the community here. I snagged some Live Oak branches that are big enough to get some smaller blanks out of. The smaller branches will feed the backyard chimnea.

Was still making Christmas gifts so only processed a couple to see the inside. Mostly just straight white, plain, not spectacular. Nevertheless, I have always liked oak wood. Gave a couple away to other woodworkers in the area. The rest just sealed the ends until I can get to them. It isn't much, but the wood was free and will be a cost-effective way to building skills.

I've rough turned a crotch section into a bowl and put it in a paper bag with the shavings. We'll see what it looks like in February.

View attachment 235326

Congrats! Always great to see a pickup with wood in it! I also like Oak, and Walnut, and Cherry, and Maple, and…. Chuck

 

[chatometry]

Some cherry to wish you all a happy new year with loads of free wood!

 

[BoonareeBurl]

California coastal live oak. Unfortunately, this might be too big to process. Sad because a log this size is probably good for at least a few pen blanks ...





G

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

California coastal live oak. Unfortunately, this might be too big to process. Sad because a log this size is probably good for at least a few pen blanks ...

View attachment 235991

View attachment 235992

G

Should be able to shoulder that and walk away... Especially if you eyeball the pith and slice that thing lengthwise and maybe at least in half the other way if not thirds.
Once you have a flat surface, the band saw or table saw will finish rapidly

 

[JerseyHighlander]

I love it when I get a call about a tree being taken down in the right of way, especially when it's right down the street! Picked up this 8' walnut log this morning for free. An hour and 15 minutes later I was taking it to the shop.
View attachment 234782View attachment 234783View attachment 234784View attachment 234785

I don't know what I like best there, the haul or the hauler.

 

[William Tanner]

Well, don’t actually have it yet. This has been one of our favorite trees in a local park for some time. Wife and I visit it often as it houses lots of squirrels. Also, seemed to have promising potential for interesting turning wood. Showed up today and found it on the ground. My last position with the city was across the hall from the city arborist. That person has also retired but I made a contact today with a friend who still has contacts with the building and grounds crew. Hope to get a couple of pieces tomorrow. Not sure what kind of tree this.

 

[Nature Man]

Well, don’t actually have it yet. This has been one of our favorite trees in a local park for some time. Wife and I visit it often as it houses lots of squirrels. Also, seemed to have promising potential for interesting turning wood. Showed up today and found it on the ground. My last position with the city was across the hall from the city arborist. That person has also retired but I made a contact today with a friend who still has contacts with the building and grounds crew. Hope to get a couple of pieces tomorrow. Not sure what kind of tree this.

View attachment 236382

Congrats! What a huge snag! Chuck

 

[BoonareeBurl]

Well, don’t actually have it yet. This has been one of our favorite trees in a local park for some time. Wife and I visit it often as it houses lots of squirrels. Also, seemed to have promising potential for interesting turning wood. Showed up today and found it on the ground. My last position with the city was across the hall from the city arborist. That person has also retired but I made a contact today with a friend who still has contacts with the building and grounds crew. Hope to get a couple of pieces tomorrow. Not sure what kind of tree this.

View attachment 236382

I think photos of leaves can be very helpful in identifying tree species.

I wish I knew the tree superintendent for my area ...

G

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Well, don’t actually have it yet. This has been one of our favorite trees in a local park for some time. Wife and I visit it often as it houses lots of squirrels. Also, seemed to have promising potential for interesting turning wood. Showed up today and found it on the ground. My last position with the city was across the hall from the city arborist. That person has also retired but I made a contact today with a friend who still has contacts with the building and grounds crew. Hope to get a couple of pieces tomorrow. Not sure what kind of tree this.

View attachment 236382

1 is obvious. Largest and likely spalted.
2 probable curl.
3 crotch figure, wide spread should have lots of feathering.
4 likely has a partial void might make an interesting hollow form.
5 possibly a small burl and likely modest curl.
6 should be checked for curl and figure, if not, it should make a decent board or 2.
7 likely has a healed broken branch which should give you figure.
Other than those few pieces, you likely could pass on the rest of it unless it turns out to be highly valuable black walnut...

 

[William Tanner]

View attachment 236400
1 is obvious. Largest and likely spalted.
2 probable curl.
3 crotch figure, wide spread should have lots of feathering.
4 likely has a partial void might make an interesting hollow form.
5 possibly a small burl and likely modest curl.
6 should be checked for curl and figure, if not, it should make a decent board or 2.
7 likely has a healed broken branch which should give you figure.
Other than those few pieces, you likely could pass on the rest of it unless it turns out to be highly valuable black walnut...

Thanks Frank, you have got me excited. Your information will help me decide what to take.

 

[William Tanner]

I think photos of leaves can be very helpful in identifying tree species.

I wish I knew the tree superintendent for my area ...

G

Thanks Grant. Will look for a leaf. The city will know what kind of tree it is.

 

[Mr. Peet]

Thanks Grant. Will look for a leaf. The city will know what kind of tree it is.

Looked a bit bumpy toward the top like a hackberry...

 

[William Tanner]

I did receive a phone call from the city at 9:00 this morning. I could have had all of the wood but settled with what you see here. I only knew one of the guys and he said he still has the bowl I made for him years ago on display in his living room. The arborist said his best guess would be this is a green ash. Found the wood to be pretty plain so I didn’t take much. I was back home by 9:45.

 

[William Tanner]

Thinking of chucking this up tomorrow. Any suggestions on how to attack this piece? It is approximately 15 inches in length.

 

[trc65]

I would try for a hollow form (or two)with that, if you can find a couple good points to mount it between centers. Might be 2-3 hollow forms depending on how hollow it is. Would definitely have lots of character.

If you wanted a bowl out of it, see if you could cut it down the middle and have enough to get two bowls out of it. If there is too much hollow, try for one good bowl and see what you have left.

 

[Nubsnstubs]

Bill, I see one that you could do with one piece pictured below. The one I'm talking about is the one with the cut off branch with healed over feature.

Center a spur in that hole and use your live center on the opposite end. Turn your tenon/recess and then the outside shape, including up to the area below the hole, leaving as much of the natural area as you can.

When you have the outside done, turn it around and mount into your chuck. Turn on the lathe, and just touch off the edge of that hole only to get an actual size of the hole. Do not clean it up as you might like the idea of a natural look. Do what you can to preserve most of the natural hole.

After you have established the hole, then continue with hollowing with without molesting the natural hole. When you are done hollowing, get back to me and I'll let you know what I would use to mount it to remove the tenon.

Below your picture is 2 pictures of two pieces I did several years ago.


Here is the first I ever turned with the natural opening. Mesquite with a healed over broken branch with a lot of bug tracks, but that only adds character. The touch I mentioned is just about the middle of that crack below the bug hole on the left. There is still some bark that gives it even more natural look. Done in 2014 and have been looking for more pieces like it, but for some reason they are rare.



Here is the Oak from Walnut Grove, Az.

It was a little more complicated to set up, so I instead used my Chuck Plate as the piece was hollow where a spur would have gone. Made the tenon, and shaped the piece. When the tenon was done, I repeated all the steps mentioned above.
After it was complete, I then set it up to remove the tenon. Again, if you choose to do this, Let me know when you are ready to remove that tenon and the process will come to light for your benefit.

One thing I didn't mention before is that the widest part of the finished natural top is smaller than the widest part of the body. More details on that if you choose to try this look. ................ Jerry (in Tucson)