What free wood did you find today?

I actually wish I had a couple of Scarlet Oaks planted in my yard because of the nice Fall color.
 
djg said:
I actually wish I had a couple of Scarlet Oaks planted in my yard because of the nice Fall color.
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Well, the acorns with holes have already been eaten from the inside, so plant some different ones. Use lathe wire or old BBQ grill grates to cover against chipmunks and treerats. Moles and voles can be an issue too. If you plant inside a crab trap, that works well also. Put about 3-5 inches of the trap below grade. That protects the sprouts come spring for a few weeks until you get other netting or fencing in place.
 
A friend of mine called and said he had about a dozen black oaks with burls and wanted to know if
I wanted them... I said , well I don't know, OK! Cut two open today to reveal the prize within and
I wasn't disappointed.

Black oak burl 1.jpg Black oak burl 2.jpg
 
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eaglea1 said:
A friend of mine called and said he had about a dozen black oaks with burls and wanted to know if
I wanted them... I said , well I don't know, OK! Cut two open today to reveal the prize within and
I wasn't disappointed.

View attachment 249451View attachment 249452
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I can see many reasons to be pleased. Also see a great reference sample...
 
I went out to the log yard the other day and picked up the Yew shrub. Now what do I do with it? :lol2:
IMG_2228.JPG

I've got wood piling up on my driveway again so hopefully I'll process it Saturday.
 
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djg said:
I went out to the log yard the other day and picked up the Yew shrub. Now what do I do with it? :lol2:
View attachment 249675

I've got wood piling up on my driveway again so hopefully I'll process it Saturday.
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How you process the wood will depend on what you want to make. Not sure if you have experience with both end grain and side grain work. If you do end grain you could cut it into reasonably size spindle type turning blocks and make a nice vase or hollowform. Otherwise, you could look at it as a log and slice it for bowl blanks. Just cut a slice to your preferred thickness then cut a “round” on your bandsaw, or with your chainsaw, and turn a bowl. You've got a big piece there so you can turn it into a variety of items. Just be careful with the dust. Possible wood toxicity issues (Yew wood) of which I’m no expert.
 
JD1137 said:
How you process the wood will depend on what you want to make. Not sure if you have experience with both end grain and side grain work. If you do end grain you could cut it into reasonably size spindle type turning blocks and make a nice vase or hollowform. Otherwise, you could look at it as a log and slice it for bowl blanks. Just cut a slice to your preferred thickness then cut a “round” on your bandsaw, or with your chainsaw, and turn a bowl. You've got a big piece there so you can turn it into a variety of items. Just be careful with the dust. Possible wood toxicity issues (Yew wood) of which I’m no expert.
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I have ZERO experience turning. I've been cutting blanks for my Nephew who turns, but I think this may be outside his experience level also. Something to grow into. I think I understand what you are describing on how to cut it. I do plan on saving some for myself for when I start turning.
For me, I see one of those candles like this (hope you don't mind me using your pic):
1700131759023.png
I think it would look pretty cool. And I picked up some branches that are big enough to make bottle stop and pen blanks for him. In addition to the other stuff I will give him.

And yes, someone here had mentioned the toxicity. I looked it up and will definitely be wearing a dust mask and collector when turning/sanding.
 
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djg said:
I went out to the log yard the other day and picked up the Yew shrub. Now what do I do with it? :lol2:
View attachment 249675

I've got wood piling up on my driveway again so hopefully I'll process it Saturday.
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Look at the bottom, any branch areas that show a line of bark on the bottom will have a non union crotch area and may as well be separated. Any stems that are clean wood between them, you may be able to cut crotch figure blanks from
 
djg said:
I have ZERO experience turning. I've been cutting blanks for my Nephew who turns, but I think this may be outside his experience level also. Something to grow into. I think I understand what you are describing on how to cut it. I do plan on saving some for myself for when I start turning.
For me, I see one of those candles like this (hope you don't mind me using your pic):
View attachment 249690
I think it would look pretty cool. And I picked up some branches that are big enough to make bottle stop and pen blanks for him. In addition to the other stuff I will give him.

And yes, someone here had mentioned the toxicity. I looked it up and will definitely be wearing a dust mask and collector when turning/sanding.
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Dan - first off that's a beautiful turned object but it's @Jonkou photo/item
Anyway - without much experience on your part, or nephews, then just start small. You can lay that thing on it's side and cut slices about 2' thick and then maybe 6x6" for a somewhat smaller size bowl blank. Also - As Frank @2feathers Creative Making mentions, when you have a multi-stem trunk section be on the look-out for "included bark" (you can Google it). That type of union between branches has practically no holding power. Included bark joints between branches are prone to failure when it is spinning and being cut on a lathe. You either want to entirely avoid included bark joints or know how to recognize if the piece is being held together with enough solid wood surrounding the inclusion to make it safe to work.

You can also cut off the individual stems and use them like you would any other branch (for whatever you want to make).

Good luck with it as it's really beautiful wood to work.
 
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JD1137 said:
Dan - first off that's @Jonkou photo (no problem)
Anyway - without much experience on your part, or nephews, then just start small. You can lay that thing on it's side and cut slices about 2' thick and then maybe 6x6" for a somewhat smaller size bowl blank. Also - As Frank @2feathers Creative Making mentions, when you have a multi-stem trunk section be on the look-out for "included bark" (you can Google it). That type of union between branches has practically no holding power. Included bark joints between branches are prone to failure when it is spinning and being cut on a lathe. You either want to entirely avoid included bark joints or know how to recognize if the piece is being held together with enough solid wood surrounding the inclusion to make it safe to work.

You can also cut off the individual stems and use them like you would any other branch (for whatever you want to make).

Good luck with it as it's really beautiful wood to work.
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Yep, one of those inclusions cost me 9 stitches once. ……… Jerry (in Tucson)
 
JD1137 said:
Dan - first off that's a beautiful turned object but it's @Jonkou photo/item
Anyway - without much experience on your part, or nephews, then just start small. You can lay that thing on it's side and cut slices about 2' thick and then maybe 6x6" for a somewhat smaller size bowl blank. Also - As Frank @2feathers Creative Making mentions, when you have a multi-stem trunk section be on the look-out for "included bark" (you can Google it). That type of union between branches has practically no holding power. Included bark joints between branches are prone to failure when it is spinning and being cut on a lathe. You either want to entirely avoid included bark joints or know how to recognize if the piece is being held together with enough solid wood surrounding the inclusion to make it safe to work.

You can also cut off the individual stems and use them like you would any other branch (for whatever you want to make).

Good luck with it as it's really beautiful wood to work.
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If I understand you correctly, I don't see anyway to cut it without getting some pith somewhere (see photo of bottom above). I'll study on it.

And yes, I knew it was his pic; didn't mean to infer it was yours.
 
Well I shouldn't do it. I should just stay away from the log yard. I managed to abstain from going there this Spring/Summer while I was working on my roof/house. But I did it anyway. Big pile of Walnut. Nothing huge, maybe 16" dia. at the base. If I had a sawmill, of course I'd saw it up. Just not a primo log for a mill. Lot of sapwood too. But as I said, I did it. I brought a load of potential firewood (that's what the rest will end up as) home to cut into blanks. Cut into 32" lengths. Heavy and hard to lift into my truck. Man it was wet. Cursing my putting new shocks on. It sets 6" higher than before. So now I have another pile of project wood setting on my driveway.
IMG_2232.JPG IMG_2235.JPG IMG_2242.JPG IMG_2238.JPG

As anyone ever turned Walnut sapwood? Of course I mean attached to heartwood. I think a half and half peppermill would look neat.
 
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A few months ago, we lost a great wood turner - John Jordan. Although he used many woods, he liked walnut and the interplay between the sapwood and heartwood, and used it many times. He also had the "thing" about carving and texturing - as you can see below!. And as Eric said, the sapwood will turn darker. John offered me some from his woodyard stash a few months before he died, but unfortunately it had all been there quite some time and the color difference was much less pronounced! I swear I heard a rattlesnake, but he said it was all in my head!

1700174250632.png
 
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