Burl Harvest

[beanbag]

I first discovered the wonderful world of burled wood through knife collecting. I've also been getting into carving things like spoons, forks, little bowls and such. So for some time now, I've been on the prowl for a harvestable burl. I've seen plenty on live trees, but I would not just hack one off a live tree. I'd say I've been scoping for well over a year.

Well two weekends ago while mountain biking with my son, I got lucky and spotted this big burl on a downed maple tree:

We hiked back out this last weekend armed and ready, and successfully harvested a small part of it using my Wetterlings axe and a two handed baton.

This is what we got. I know it doesn't look like much from the outside, but I'm sure it's "beautiful on the inside."

I'm going to estimate that the burl is about 16" x 9" across the front and about 25 pounds. I'm actually going back out to get some of the larger main burl with a chain saw in the near future.

Though I'm a novice wood carver, I have big dreams when it comes to the things I'd like to make out of this baby. I'm thinking about a big bowl and some smaller stuff like spoons, knife handles etc.

Though I'd like to get started making something right away, I know that there is a drying period and other things that need to be done to prepare it.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Also regarding the main burl in the first picture, if anyone has any suggestions on how best to harvest that, I'd be interested.

Thanks,

Bean

 

[dboles]

I too also search for them
I have pieces of a silver maple one thats been drying for a year now-needs another year
Used to always look at the burl-one day when walking home from work the tree was on the ground and the tree cut up I only managed to get pieces.They are earmarked for knife scales when I cut it up.
I have a small palm sized black cherry one that I use for a bearing block with my bow and drill
A huge Engleman spruce one in the garage waiting for something
Box elder one for knife scales
And been carving on a Hemlock one I managed to knock off a dead tree this summer
Good luck on the harvesting the rest and with the projects they involve
Dan'l

 

[John G]

Great find! I'm always on the lookout for carving material, haven't been as lucky as this though.

 

[dboles]

As for advice didnt have time yesterday to type- as with lots of us typing is a slow time consuming task
So heres some of my experience.Others mileage may vary!
The ones I have harvested.I have done 2 things and that depends on what you intend to do with the burl.
For knife blanks or burl clocks and such,just slab the burl off in pieces like cutting a loaf of bread. At least 2 or more inches thick
If you are going to carve a bowl,kuska or something simular knock the burl off as close to the main trunk as you can.
As for drying if the tree has been on the ground you might get away with some time as it may be already partialy dried if not- and heres the bad news 2-3 years to dry.
Unless you are near a mill with mill worker friends you may get them to slide it into the lumber kiln,other than that time
You can get or someone may have (not sure of the name)the instrument that measures % of water content in wood.I think around 14% is where you want to be at
I have logger friends who have sheds full of burls that they never seem to do anything with except keep adding to the pile
Good luck have fun
Dan'l

 

[Carolina River Rat]

At first glance, the thread title looked like "Bud Harvest" and I was going to question whether you should post pics or even admit to such an activity on a public internet forum. That's a fine lookin burl, though, ought to make a beautiful bowl and spoons set. A friend has a couple nice ones on his land that I've been eyeing covetously, but I don't think he'd want me felling his trees just to get at some burl.

 

[beanbag]

Mine was a lowly "burl harvest." The "Bud Harvest" starts next week in CA after the referendum passes.

 

[PB Wilson]

Whether you leave it in one piece or cut it into smaller chunks or slabs, coat the non-bark parts with wood sealer (there are commercial products or you can use paint or wax in a pinch) to keep the checking to a minimum.

I have a beachball-sized chunk of cherry burl left to me that had no sealer and it formed some serious cracks that possibly could have been avoided or at least minimized if it was sealed.

Good luck!

 

[Todd Robbins]

There is a HUGE burl on the largest catalpa tree I've ever seen at Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home in central Kentucky. I used to drive by there regularly and would stop and covet that burl every time. It was probably 5 feet across. I know they get bigger burls out west , but I've never seen one near that size here in the south.

To have the best chance of avoiding cracks/checks, coat all the cut surfaces with wood glue or wax. Don't remove the bark. You want it to dry very slowly. I know of a specialty wood dealer here who lets most of his burls dry at least 3 years before fooling with them, longer for bigger ones. You might look up Burl Source over in the maker's forum or the supplies for sale forum and ask him how to treat it.

 

[beanbag]

Thanks for all the advice gents.