Monkey Puzzle Tree for Handle Material

[Erin Burke]

I've got a huge Monkey Puzzle tree in my front yard that has pretty-much died over the last couple of years. I have heard of folks turning bowls from this wood... but has anyone ever seen it used as a handle material? Are there any pieces that I should salvage that might end up having enough interesting figure to be worth drying and stabilizing? Or is it firewood all the way???

Erin

 

[Dixieblade57]

Well this well out of my expertise as far as wood but, I googled it and anything that will turn out a bowl with grain like this, would definately be on the gotta try list.
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph27.htm

Scew down about halfway on this llink and you can see the grain in the sign they made of one board.
http://www.freewebs.com/woodworx/handcarvedsigns.htm

I would bet if you could get someone to quarter saw the logs it would make some fantastic grain. If nothing else I would sell it to a bowl maker and buy some wood with the money!

 

[lukus]

Wow, that's some pretty neat looking wood. I'd try.

.... I googled it and anything that will turn out a bowl with grain like this, would definately be on the gotta try list.
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph27.htm

The lady holding her "cones" made me laugh.