I think I found treasure

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I just got back from a trip to the Northern California coast to get some wood.
I think I found treasure. Looks like it should be some good stuff.
The wood is Cascara that was salvaged from a home site being cleared.
Most people know of Cascara as it is used for herbal remedies. The bark makes a real strong laxative.
The wood is real dense and will be whitish with an orange tint. My guess is that the figure will surpass any quilted maple I have ever seen.


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It should look like quilted maple but with an orange tint.
This stuff is heavy!
Took 4 guys (old men) to get the big piece in the back of the truck.
Even the 3 foot chunks took 2 guys.

I haven't seen anything other than quilted maple that had such a pronounced wash board like outer surface before.
Tomorrow we will pressure wash off the bark.
After that I will cut it up into billets for drying. It will take a long time but I figured it would be worth the wait.
I will try to remember to post some photos when I cut it up to show what the figure looks like.
 
That looks like it's going to make some nice pieces. Thanks for the great pictures. Looking forward to seeing the finished treasures down the road. Mike
 
Wow. I have been wondering where the wood being cut in westwood and beverly hills california has been going, I have seen a ton of burl sign throughout the residential areas there. Ironic I know.

I joked with my.son about buying some orange cones for traffic control, and some magnetic signs for the truck door to go outand cut off burl before some state contractor tosses it as waste.
 
It has been a learning experience for me working with a different wood like this.
Usually you can check with the dept of agriculture to get info about drying and processing different woods.
Couldn't find much about cascara.
I have had the slabs set aside in a dark drying room.
They crack through the heart but otherwise arfe drying very nicely.

I pulled out and trimmed up a bunch this weekend but it still needs time before it will be useable.
I did force dry some smaller pieces with a few months in a dehumidification kiln.

This photo shows a snack tray I made for my wife. The bigger piece will be used to make a sign for an upcoming knife show.
The more time I spend with this wood, the more like it.

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That is some insane grain you've got there! Beautiful stuff, won't have trouble gettin rid of it when it comes time to sell it.
 
oldanvilyoungsmith said:
That is some insane grain you've got there! Beautiful stuff, won't have trouble gettin rid of it when it comes time to sell it.
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I have been keeping it locked up to keep the other workers here away from it. I want to take the time to process this stuff correctly before it gets used.

Phillip Patton said:
Cool! Any pieces big enough for a guitar?
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I will be trimming up some for guitar billets. I have a cousin who is the lead in Yamaha's custom shop so I will be sending him one.
Still going to be a while before this is dry enough, especially for guitars. Currently about 16% moisture content on the bigger pieces.
 
Mark - I have a friend who builds guitars and fiddles. He, like Phillip Patton, wants a suitably sized slab of this wood when its ready.

Thanks
-Peter
 
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