What free wood did you find today?

So all over the tree(probably collected 6-8 of them, cpl had no weight to them) there were these little burly growths. Didn't expect much out of them but I whittled away at one and there seems to be some promise. May turn a cpl? What do yall think?

20230724_043225.webp
 
I had a co-worker that worked in the log yard and he would pick them up and share with me. We called them potatoes :ponder:. Here are a couple of pictures of one of them that I sanded and finished with WOP. It's Oak but not sure of Red or White.

IMG_8609.webp

IMG_8608.webp
 
I had a co-worker that worked in the log yard and he would pick them up and share with me. We called them potatoes :ponder:. Here are a couple of pictures of one of them that I sanded and finished with WOP. It's Oak but not sure of Red or White.

View attachment 245119

View attachment 245120
Folks in Idaho would probably buy these by the bushel! Chuck
 
Would those be considered "galls" rather than "burls"? They're both abnormal growth areas, maybe just semantics.
They look to be insect galls, really common with soft maple. However, any strange growth of wood that becomes available for sale, is often sold with the word "burl" close by...
 
I appreciate the info. I knew wasp & weevils sting acorns but hadn't heard about galls. I guess what threw me off is on the back side of the infected area(don't know what came first the chicken or the egg) there is burly esq figure.
 
Last edited:
Does it count if it’s in your own backyard? We have lost a bunch of our small Aspen and just got a to cutting them up and either hauling to the chipper pile or cutting into practice sections. I did save 4 or 5 root balls so I can experiment like @Nubsnstubs Jerry has encouraged me to do.

IMG_7285.jpeg
Crummy picture in the front of the shop, but 15-20 practice pieces not counting the root balls. One thing I want to turn are gnomes. We stopped by a craft table and a newer wood turner had some. For only turning a year or so she is doing great and I passed on our forum info.
 
Last edited:
Does it count if it’s in your own backyard? We have lost a bunch of our small Aspen and just got a to cutting them up and either hauling to the chipper pile or cutting into practice sections. I did save 4 or 5 root balls so I can experiment like @Nubsnstubs Jerry has encouraged me to do.

View attachment 245206
Crummy picture in the front of the shop, but 15-20 practice pieces not counting the root balls. One thing I want to turn are gnomes. We stopped by a craft table and a newer wood turner had some. For only turning a year or so she is doing great and I passed on our forum info.
I would say that wood from your yard definitely counts! Some of the gems I've seen over the years on this forum have been wood from WB yards! Chuck
 
Can you say Flame Norfolk Island Pine !!! It's rare. Only seen it a couple dozen times in past 23 years. This one looks like the best yet.

When a Norfolk is topped off or the top breaks off, the juices create an orange stain which goes most way down inside the trunk. Fairly common down here in hurricane alley. But the hard dark line separating the orange & normal yellow wood is quite rare. This tree has been leaning at 45 degrees for many months. I drove by in morning & it was still standing. On way home it was cut up & on side of road, fell across road during the day. Lucky no one (me) was killed. Still 5 pieces there for the next week if anyone wants to come get it. 12" - 14" diameter with flame 6" in center.
Photo of fresh log 8" dia & 2 turned from past logs.


Flame NIP2.jpg

Flame NIP.jpg

Flame NIP1.jpg
 
Last edited:
Can you say Flame Norfolk Island Pine !!! It's rare. Only seen it a couple dozen times in past 23 years. This one looks like the best yet.

When a Norfolk is topped off or the top breaks off, the juices create an orange stain which goes most way down inside the trunk. Fairly common down here in hurricane alley. But the hard dark line separating the orange & normal yellow wood is quite rare. This tree has been leaning at 45 degrees for many months. I drove by in morning & it was still standing. On way home it was cut up & on side of road, fell across road during the day. Lucky no one (me) was killed. Still 5 pieces there for the next week if anyone wants to come get it. 12" - 14" diameter with flame 6" in center.
Photo of fresh log 8" dia & 2 turned from past logs.


View attachment 245277

View attachment 245278

View attachment 245279
Incredible. I call dibs on a pen blank. Lol

G
 
This was week before it came down. Trunk gave way 4 feet above ground.
Leaning at 45 degrees for several months.
Plantation, FL. Next to Ft. Lauderdale

Flame NIP3.jpg
 
Last edited:
Can you say Flame Norfolk Island Pine !!! It's rare. Only seen it a couple dozen times in past 23 years. This one looks like the best yet.

When a Norfolk is topped off or the top breaks off, the juices create an orange stain which goes most way down inside the trunk. Fairly common down here in hurricane alley. But the hard dark line separating the orange & normal yellow wood is quite rare. This tree has been leaning at 45 degrees for many months. I drove by in morning & it was still standing. On way home it was cut up & on side of road, fell across road during the day. Lucky no one (me) was killed. Still 5 pieces there for the next week if anyone wants to come get it. 12" - 14" diameter with flame 6" in center.
Photo of fresh log 8" dia & 2 turned from past logs.


View attachment 245277

View attachment 245278

View attachment 245279
Grab all of it! Plenty of WB folks that would like a chunk. Chuck
 
Can you say Flame Norfolk Island Pine !!! It's rare. Only seen it a couple dozen times in past 23 years. This one looks like the best yet.

When a Norfolk is topped off or the top breaks off, the juices create an orange stain which goes most way down inside the trunk. Fairly common down here in hurricane alley. But the hard dark line separating the orange & normal yellow wood is quite rare. This tree has been leaning at 45 degrees for many months. I drove by in morning & it was still standing. On way home it was cut up & on side of road, fell across road during the day. Lucky no one (me) was killed. Still 5 pieces there for the next week if anyone wants to come get it. 12" - 14" diameter with flame 6" in center.
Photo of fresh log 8" dia & 2 turned from past logs.
That's just plain gorgeous!
 
Ok, this is probably boring to many of y'all, but makes Lil Mikey Jiggly (did not have to look that one up in a thesaurus!) He was sitting at his desk dreaming of purdy wood when he heard a familiar sound that was not a train (we office next to a RR.). Immediately recognized the sound and shot up outta the chair, cleared the cobwebs outta the eyes and looked out the window. At Alan Jackson's fan club building, they were cutting down a mature bradford pear. Shrieking like a Valykrie, Lil Mikey runs out the rear door and across the parking lot only to find out the chain saw operater - No Comprende - no habla ingles. Fortunately his handler walked up and I was able to convince them to set a few pieces off to the side.

"Turns like Buttah!" And since my last spoon was long dead and HARD mulberry, might give a try with a Bradford Pear spoon! Biggest about 14' dia crotch - smallest 8" Don't got none of that fancy end grain sealer so went went with multiple coats of exterior latex.

1691072542319.png 1691072745283.png
 
Last edited:
Back
Top