You’ve just got to show us what’s inside! Chuck
What free wood did you find today?
- Thread starter woodtickgreg
- Start date
Picked up a Greasewood (Creosote Bush) stump a couple days ago. Turned it yesterday. It was about 5"OD when started, but is now at 4 1/4" OD and it will be about 4" tall when done. My findings are it is a beautiful wood, it's hard, and probably the only thing that kept it together was the pressure from the chuck. It also cracks pretty easily along the grain lines. The long crack dead center of this pic almost looks stable and it was while turning, but it could possibly split more at that juncture later in time, possibly when I'm ready to remove the tenon.
The cracks in the next two pictures looks like it was bark from one of several crotches in this very small stump. That large crack looked a whole lot better before that piece and the bark flew out. Notice that both cracks go into the tenon. I can squeeze the top rim and get it to close up about 1/4" OD from 4 1/4 to 4" OD.
This picture shows the different trunks that the stump has. It looks like 5 in it with just a little bit of wood holding each piece together. The center is punky, but strong. I'll remove the tenon today and call this experiment completed.
The inside needs just a tiny bit more turning before I can call it complete. It's a shame I didn't go thinner on the rim, but at the start of this, it was an experiment
............ Jerry (in Tucson)
The cracks in the next two pictures looks like it was bark from one of several crotches in this very small stump. That large crack looked a whole lot better before that piece and the bark flew out. Notice that both cracks go into the tenon. I can squeeze the top rim and get it to close up about 1/4" OD from 4 1/4 to 4" OD.
This picture shows the different trunks that the stump has. It looks like 5 in it with just a little bit of wood holding each piece together. The center is punky, but strong. I'll remove the tenon today and call this experiment completed.
The inside needs just a tiny bit more turning before I can call it complete. It's a shame I didn't go thinner on the rim, but at the start of this, it was an experiment
............ Jerry (in Tucson)
Did it have an odor?
I didn't notice if it did. Just a piece of wood. I have about 15-20 trunks of this, but possibly only large enough for maybe bottle stoppers, a call blank or two, and definitely pen blanks are what these stumps will produce.
Last week I was in Walnut Grove. On the way home, I stopped and checked out this pile of desert debris at the end of this one particular field I've been eyeing every time I drive by. They have cleared the desert and just pushed all the desert growth at the ends of the fields. I knew there would be some Greasewood, but was not prepped for the large stuff I was looking at. Some of the inviduale trunks were about 3" OD. Lenght was about 3-5 feet, but had a crack running the full length. I'm going back by there in May, so will stop and grab some of the larger stuff. ...... Jerry (in Tucson)
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Does it react to blacklight exposure?
Mark, it looks like it might show some reaction. Right now it's too bright to determine if it really does. Tonight, I'll light it up again to see what happens. ............. Jerry (in Tucson)
Was offered free apple wood today if I pay his rate to slab it on his Wood Mizer and if I don’t like it when its cut I don’t pay…duh ok! The burly one has been down for a few years, the other was destroyed in a storm this past winter. It was a good afternoon.
Good score! Don't see apple that large very often anymore.
Lucky strike! Like nearly all fruitwood, Apple is prone to checking and splitting. Hope your yield is bountiful! Chuck
Can't wait to see the inside of that burly one!
Went to a Buds yard today to check out his winter cut stash. What’s the odds of finding two caches of large apple within two days… got a few cutoffs without the heavy equipment, will be back for more and some curly oak and catalpa.
What a beautiful sight! Lots to keep you busy for awhile! Chuck
Wonder if that is a swirl burl or a grow over on that apple?
Been doing a lot of trimming on our Leland Cypress “green fence”. We have about 17 of the things along a property line and the dead branches reach out and grab me each time I pass by with the mower. This has led to double digit trips to the county landfill. Why am I not burning it or using the shredder in the garage - just do not ask.
Anyway, visiting the landfill does allow me to scavenge a bit. Often some nice stuff to take back out. But I’ve got to be a bit sneaky about it because I’ve been made to put things back I tried to spirit out. Don’t ask me about that either, cause I don’t get it.
Again anyway, today I absconded with this. Not exactly sure what it is, but I like it. Mixed in with other things so no for sure leaves to associate it with. Boy is it heavy. Osage Orange?
PS, also absconded with some great looking maple. But don’t tell those guys at the weigh station.
Anyway, visiting the landfill does allow me to scavenge a bit. Often some nice stuff to take back out. But I’ve got to be a bit sneaky about it because I’ve been made to put things back I tried to spirit out. Don’t ask me about that either, cause I don’t get it.
Again anyway, today I absconded with this. Not exactly sure what it is, but I like it. Mixed in with other things so no for sure leaves to associate it with. Boy is it heavy. Osage Orange?
PS, also absconded with some great looking maple. But don’t tell those guys at the weigh station.
Bradford pear?
Hope you aren’t taking all the Leland Cypress to the landfill. It’s really a nice wood to turn, and smells good, also. Chuck
Don’t know, but might be a “fruit” tree.
Only taking the dead lower branches, Chuck. We’ve been at this for 4 days and have 3 trees to go. I’m whupped.
I think you are right, Frank, Bradford Pear.
Helped a neighbor take down about 50 Leyland cypress when they started dying from the center out . Still have a yard full of stumps.