Attention: Makers who signed up to test Stabilized Burl

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Burl Source

Burl Source

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Dec 7, 2008
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This is for those of you who agreed to try out our stabilized burl.

I now have two ovens running for the heat curing of the stabilized burl handles. A special thank you to Tom Lewis for his guidance in getting the Resinol cure just right.

The first batches of burl wood were sent out today by Priority Mail.
These were sent to:
Nick Wheeler
Matt Bailey
Mike Griffin
Chris Williams
Mike Jones
Tim Musselman
Jim Moyer
Fred Rowe
Ed Caffrey
Russ Andrews
Karl Anderson
Jeff Yencho
Stacy Apelt

I tried to pick out pieces I thought would go good with your knives. The wood should arrive in a few days. Let me know if you think the wood I sent you will be all right for your knife. If you don't like the piece I sent, let me know and we'll pick out something different.

I will be shipping more on Tuesday so if you signed up but don't see your name here yours will be in the coming batches. I will update the list of names as they are shipped.

I am looking forward to hearing what you think of the wood.
Thanks, Mark
 
I'm certainly impressed by your enthusiasm and persistance to get it right.
I wish you nothing but a TON of success in your endeavor.
Question: Will you accept other people's wood to be stabilized? Are you only offering material for sale, or, once you get your routine all worked up, will you act as a stabilizing service as well?
 
Hello Karl. Thanks for the kind words.

To make a short story long.....

Here where I work there are several acres of burl in the form of whole burls, burl caps, slabs and logs. I guess you could say I am in weird wood heaven. I started cutting wood special for knifemakers a couple years ago. Right now I have several hundred pieces cut into blocks waiting for me to do something with them. Every time I walk through the woodyard I find other pieces I think will make really bizarre handles. If I only cut and stabilized the pieces I have stacked around my shop I would keep going for a couple years. My boss says it's compulsive behavior, but I can't stop myself from picking out and cutting up more pieces.

The way I found this place was when looking for some unusual wood to use on a knife I was making. It is a funky place along the highway on the way to the redwoods and the beach in Southern Oregon. It is a small town; just 2 stop signs. After years of buying wood here I decided to move away from the Seattle area and start a simpler life. Now I live on top of a ridge within a mile of this place so I walk to work sometimes.

The guy who owns this place is an old guy who has been in the burl business since the 70s. Everyone within a 500 mile radius knows if you find unusual wood or burls, my boss will buy it from them. We have new burl arriving almost daily. We are in the middle of a strange area where the trees do weird things so we are always getting really cool wood here.

They use a lot of the wood here to make furniture and carvings for our galleries. I sell a lot to furniture companies, wood dealers and guitar companies. What I like best is selling to individuals who get excited about their projects and are willing to send photos. The knife makers seem to be one of the friendliest groups of them all.

When I started cutting up whole burls and big pieces of wood into small pieces my boss looked at me kind of funny, but he didn't say anything. When the knifemakers alone bought several hundred pieces of handle wood from me for the 3rd month in a row he finally said he thought I made a good decision. That was a couple years ago and now the word is starting to get out. Now my boss buys me whatever equipment I need, built me a new workshop area and lets me buy wood whenever I need something special. In August I have a semi load of buckeye burl coming.

I warned you that I was going to make a short story long. I hope I haven't bored you too much.

Oh, your question about whether I will offer stabilizing services. Maybe after I get caught up.
 
My reasoning is that everything has its limits - even burl.
I acquire all the cool looking material and can get my hands on, and for the most part, a lot of the North American hardwoods need to be stabilized.
I have a box full at K and G getting done right now.
You certainly got a lot of interest here among the knife makers and just think, well, you know......
 
Long story short, indeed... :) Sounds to me like you've got a pretty good job.

BurlSource, I think you're going to do well around here. You have a great attitude and everything you've posted is beautiful. There's surely a market for what you're offering. Frankly, the only reason I haven't ordered from you is, I'm pretty well stocked up for now. Don't take it personally!

Just be "warned", there are also some other fellows on this forum that are selling similarly excellent materials at similar prices. This is GREAT for all of us, IMHO. Competition seems to drive standards of quality up.

I wish you the very best!
 
In answer to James's comment about other guys selling good burl handle material. I won't say which forum members get their raw wood from me, but there are several. Several have gotten in touch with special requests and one is coming here in a couple weeks. I hope they do great because they are going to need more wood from me if they sell everything. I'm not here to compete. I just want to provide some really bizarre stuff and see what you guys do with it.

Yes it is a good job. I get to decide my own hours which means I work every day. Except this weekend. I am taking the wife to the coast for her birthday. We have a nice motel room on the beach waiting for us. The only problem is we have to go through the redwoods and I know where to buy some killer figured redwood. I will try not to make this look like a wood buying trip.

James_Terrio said:
Long story short, indeed... :) Sounds to me like you've got a pretty good job.

BurlSource, I think you're going to do well around here. You have a great attitude and everything you've posted is beautiful. There's surely a market for what you're offering. Frankly, the only reason I haven't ordered from you is, I'm pretty well stocked up for now. Don't take it personally!

Just be "warned", there are also some other fellows on this forum that are selling similarly excellent materials at similar prices. This is GREAT for all of us, IMHO. Competition seems to drive standards of quality up.

I wish you the very best!
Click to expand...
 
go mike said:
Hey, did you send the request for $5 for shipping? If so, I didn't get it.
Click to expand...

What Mike is talking about is the $5 to cover priority mail of the test pieces. I got busy and haven't gotten around to sending the $5 paypal money request to the people who will be getting a piece. You could send the $5 by paypal to itsaburl@hotmail.com or I will send out requests on Tuesday. My biggest priority has been to get the wood ready and on it's way. I trust you guys and am not worried about getting stiffed over 5 bucks.
 
Burl Source said:
OK, now I have to make it a wood buying trip. If I get in trouble with the wife it will be your fault.
Click to expand...

Hey Mark,

I hate to have to be the one :p to let you know about some of the less pleasant aspects of this group ;). But, hey as you are now one of us, you'll likely find out sooner or later.

There are those among us who gather up and horde stuff. Some of these folks sometimes end up with ALL the supply of certain materials. One of the most notable cases often cited on this board is the notorious hording of one of our members of damn near all the 5160 on the planet. I won't name names, but if this guy sets his sights on your redwood burl it might not be pretty. Sure the bidding frenzy that might ensue might appear to make you way more than expected, but in the long run whose to say what the consequences might be?

I just thought you ought to know.

All the best, Phil
 
Phil, don't I recall you swooping the ivory from the for sale forums? :p

And by the way, I sent the shipping money.
 
Mark,
I would love to get my hands on some more of this stuff. I would be interested if you see something similiar along the way.

Thanks Larry
 

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