Cutting a burl question

Beile

Beile

Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
772
Where would I start to cut this thing, does it matter, good way, bad way? My brother found this on a beach, maybe redwood?

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I'd chop a flat from each point on the burl about a 1/2" thick, sand to 220 and lightly wet it with a sponge to see the figuring. Then decide which pattern like and slice that way.
 
Hey thanks Erik, I'll give it a shot. I just didn't want to destroy it, I've never cut into one before. Tim
 
I have a piece of holly and while not a nice burl, it's a root ball. I let it set and dry in the garage for a year or so and just started "facing" it with a chain saw to rough out the block. Also because I didn't have a table saw large enough :D Haven't gotten around to finishing it out but it did give me a good look at what the grain and everything looked like. That's a nice looking piece. I slab it oversize and send it to WSSI or somewhere for stabilization. Maybe even have some or all of it dyed by them too. I'd be interested to see what it comes out as!
 
Yeah, that's where I'm having a problem too, finding a big enough saw!
 
I tried to find a lumber yard or wood supplier that had a large band saw but no luck.
 
Ahh, there's an idea, thanks. I have a friend who works at a redwood lumber yard, totally forgot! I don't know if they have a bandsaw or not though.
 
orientation of the cut is a bugger. Expect a very uncomfortable amount of waste.
Generally, you will find one cut gives you birds eyes and the 90 cut to that gives you rays, like sun rays. For other burls, you will see swirls and straight grain. It depends on the wood. You have to decide which cut you like best and want to show on your handle. You then have to orient your cuts to maximize what side you want to show on your handle. I normally make a big cut down middle if the burl is large. I'll cut it 1/3 if the burl is smaller. This is to see what is going to show (eyes or rays) and to give me a flat side to cut from on my band saw.
 
Yeah, I was trying not to waste it, I guess I'll try one end. So is this considered a big or small burl?
 
OK, I sliced one end off about 1/4" thick with a hacksaw just to see what was in there.
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My brother found this on a beach in Oregon about 20 years ago and had it sitting in his shed, I started bugging him for it about two years ago and he wouldn't give it up but on Christmas he surprised me.:D
 
Now that's gonna be one pretty grain stabilized! Nevermind on the dye suggestion :D
 
That looks a lot like Oregon myrtle burl I've used and have on a guitar top. Very pretty wood you have there.
 
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