Cutting up a mesquite burl for scales

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Foot Patrol

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Mar 5, 2013
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I recently was given a few green mesquite mistletoe burls and I sealed the ends. I have been told I do not have to wait to cut them up. Should I cut the burls lengthwise down the pith or across the burl. Do I then seal the whole piece with anchorseal 2?

I am hoping the wood has some nice figure to it.
 
Personally I would wait until the burl has dried out. Maybe mesquite is different from most other burls, but I kinda doubt it.
 
If they're green and you've sealed the ends, let them sit a year or two. If they were cut from a dead tree, you might get away with 3 to 6 months. As far as with/across the grain, try it both ways. Cross cut mesquite has a nice look, and if it's burly, the cross cut will give you rays. Cut with the grain is kind of plain, but can be good also. Quartersawn with the grain will sometimes give you eyes if you've got the right kind of burl. Basically, slab it down into 1.5" slabs or so, then decide how you want to cut each slab for the best figure.
 
I let green wood sit for 2-3 years, and dry wood for several months. I use a vegetable dehydrator prior to stabilizing though.
 
If you let the wood set, watch out for borers. Mesquite seems to come with them and they can do a lot of damage.
 
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