Motivation... what a find today! BURL!!

O

oilburner

Joined
Dec 6, 2009
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I've only ever finished 3 knives, and then I got a new job which takes all my time away. I travel New York state as a tower rigger (cell towers). We are building a new tower in Oswego County, and cleared a lot of ash and maple for the the tower location, and look what I'm bringing home the end of the week! I've been looking hard for burls when ever we clear a location. The county actuallycut these trees and the property owner was beginning to cut them up and split them for fire wood when I showed up on the site this morning! He looked at me like I was a little crazy when I asked him if he was actually cutting it up, and told me if I wanted it he would cut it off and let me have it. Needless to say it's strapped down on a trailer now and it'll be in my shop friday night.

I've looked and looked for burls, never thought I would find one this big. So the question now is... what do I do with it. always thought I might find one just big enought o get a couple small blocks out of it for handle scales, never considered finding one this big and where to take it, how to cut it up, treat (stabalize what I want from it, etc.). Any of you makers do your own burl handle materials from start to finish? Any tips on where to start, or what you would do with it if it was yours? I don't have much time to work at home anymore, but this has me motivated to get at it again. Thanks for any advice or direction. Mark.
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I am no expert but there are a few on the forum and maybe they will chime in! My advice is to seal the cut ends immediately with anchor seal or latex paint. It will need to dry for a long period of time before it is useful! As too how long I think it may be in the year+ range.
Then it will need to be cut and stabalized before it is useful as handle material!
 
I would say cut close to the burl cluster on both sides and see if the burl actually grew into the tree is is just on the outside of it. This will help determine where you cut it at. +1 on Dixie's post. You will need to seal it and let it dry for a minimum of a year. Anchorseal will seal the moisture in causing it to dry slower but more stable. When you decide to cut it up, might be best tu cut the log from top to bottom as opposed to trying to cut the burls off the trunk. This way you dont end up with as much unusable end cuts. Check your local sawmills, they will probably be willing to cut it up for you for not too much money. When you block it out...plan to spend a few days at the table saw and bandsaw lol.
 
Yeah, you don't want to do anything with that other than ship it to me. I'll pay for shipping :-)
-M

(good find)
 
Wow... crazy looking burl! :) Most of our burls here in the Pacific NW just look like a big round-ish bulge. That one sure is funky! :D

I'd be excited to see what's inside of that!!! :D Nice score! :)
 
Great stuff. I'm envious. I'd talk to Burlsource here on the forums, he knows his stuff about these. Also, Larry Davis at Hardwoods Gallery will know about it.

There was a thread up recently by a guy who had found a really big hophornbeam burl, and was asking what he should do with it. Should be educational for you, probably is still on the first few pages here.
 
Thanks for the advice guys, I'm going to check out the other thread later tonight when the kids are asleep. I'm beginning to like this job for more reasons everyday. Today I went to another sight to start stacking another new tower in the same area, and I found another one, about half the size of the first. Think I can get it next week. I'm going to need some storage space soon, ha ha ha, the wife is definately not going to understand this one. :)
 
I got the burl home, could not believe how heavy it is, had to strap it and pick it with a back hoe bucket. Sealled the cut sides of it, cleaned most of the dirt and loose bark off that I could, then stood it up and we stared at it the rest of the night. I don't know what I'm really going to do with it, would love to get some handle scale blocks out of it some day, who knows for now. Anyways, here are the pics. Enjoy...

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Man,Thats a real cool chunk of wood!No telling what kind of weird figure is lurking in there.Keep collecting that stuff.
 
Some good burls in NY. I have a few and have found a couple more.

If you run out of room, send them up. My wife already gave up on me!! :D
 
i was told to let it dry for 1 year an inch
i found the big iron wood burl
i couldnt wait 24 years for it to dry, so i sliced it up, and have it drying in the shed in smaller peices

mike

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Mike, that is awesome! I was confused on whether I could cut it up and then let it dry, or if it had to dry before cutting it up. Where did you do your research on it all, I would like to read all I can on the subject. Thanks, and that's a beautiful chunk of wood!
 
Parafin is another great material for end grains. Be sure to sticker the wood when you finally cut it. That means putting small strips of wood between the slices so that they dry from both sides and do not warp. The one inch per year is an old standard but not always true. Punkier wood from the same species dries faster and some types dry faster. If you do not have a moisture meter, you can weigh the slabs to judge dryness. When they start both decreasing and increasing in weight (due to changing humidity) you know you are getting closer. Keep them out of any sunlight!!! That is a huge nono. Good luck on your project!
 
im no expert, really i dont know much
i know its better to leave it to dry as you have it, it will crack/check less
as i cut mine up, i cut it up oversized, about twice the size i need or bigger, its cracking a bit at the edges
ive stored it in my shed, wrapped in paper, in boxes, and i change the paper ever few days and rotate the peices around
as for where i got my information, i googled the hell out of it since febuary, and i cut everything up about a month ago
ive been working my way thru my colection, and boiling a few pieces avery time i have a fire, apparently if you boil it for an hour, you reduce the drying time by half, but your also more susceptable to cracking
after boiling i wrap in a towel for the night and then i give a coat of mineral oil before i store it again

one recomendation i got was to put in a paper bag, and then ito another, but i found the wood was getting umm, i dont know if moldy is the right word, but some type of black discoloration growing on it


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_drying

http://www.westbaywoodturners.com/tutorial/Drying_wood.htm

both seem like good resources
heres mine as i got it

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mike
 
If you're coating the wood in mineral oil, won't that interfere with epoxy, stabilizing and any other finishing later ?
 
ive cut the pieces oversized so i dont think its going to matter
alot of what i do i only rub mineral oil onto for a finish instead of a stain
 
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