Replies

1. 
   AlanTurner | Oct 23, 2002 04:19pm | #1

   Can you post a photo?

1. 
   chrislowery | Oct 23, 2002 08:27pm | #4

   Unfortunatly not at this time, but I should have one on the net by this sunday and I'll post it then

2. 
   chrislowery | Oct 26, 2002 02:20am | #6

   Here`s a picture

   
1. 
   Marcello | Oct 28, 2002 04:36pm | #7

   Looks like rotting wood. You should get rid of it, in fact, I should go pick it up and get it off your hands - the nice guy that I am. (grin)

   Kidding aside, I have seen bark in trees like that but only in two or three places in a log -- not like those photographs.  It is amazing!!!  What are you planing to make with it?  Will you fill the holes with clear epoxy, or leave them open?  I am not sure what to call it.  I am sure there is an expert out there with a name for it.

2. 
   DaveHeinlein | Oct 29, 2002 02:08am | #8

   That's some very interesting maple you've got there. Maple can do some funny things, here's some that was cut down at the Bronx Zoo. How I got it is another story, but the whole log was like this woth burl patches every 3 feet or so. It also includes all the other figure occurences(sp) comon to maple.

   
1. 
   Armin110 | Oct 29, 2002 03:16am | #9

   It's called "Captured Bark Maple" I have about 3000 ft. of the stuff sitting in my shed waiting for the right client. Last winter I made a huge bar top (see photo) for a client who wanted a rustic polished look. The stuff I have is from the hard maple tree although it will occur in almost any kind of wood, not very common.

   
1. 
   chrislowery | Oct 29, 2002 05:01am | #12

   WOW! thats some beautiful work you've done there.The finish on the top must have taken you hours.Are the pie sections veneer or real boards.The bread basket edge really sets off that piece.What size board did you use for that edge and what did you use to fill any voids on the top.Can you tell me if your wood was kiln dried or air dried and what was it like to work with. (checking cracking, shrinkage.)Sorry for asking so many questions.

2. 
   Armin110 | Nov 01, 2002 06:18am | #18

   Sorry for the delay in answering your questions. The top is 1/8 in. thick veneer, resawed from matching boards and laminated over a 1 1/2 in. thick core of baltic birch plywood. The edge is 12/4 hard maple and bullnosed with a 1.5 in round over bit. Lumber was kiln dried, finish is 4 coats Kem-Var conversion varnish spray applied. Total top is 20 ft long with a 55 in. round table end. The captured bark is a bear to work with, hard on tooling, seems the bark pockets contain sand and other nasty stuff that eats up cutters. I edge glued the veneer, then glued the veneer on to the core using Unibond 800 glue with some dark walnut dye added to approximate the color of the bark voids. I use a vacuum bag for laminating, the pressuere forces the glue out of the voids and seals the gaps pretty good. The top is about a year old and held up pretty good considering the amount of use it gets.

3. 
   chrislowery | Nov 01, 2002 06:58am | #19

   Thanks Armin.You Certainly don,t have to appoligize for that. Everyones time is limited these days. I appreciate the answer just the same.That top is beautiful.and it certainly looks like you,ve got this wood down pat.I have'nt decided what I,m going to do with this wood yet.I have approx over 400 maybe 500 bf.170bf in 1x10 and larger. so there,s enough for a couple of different projects but it might make a room look pretty busy.I,m thinking about some period furniture and when things get under way and I come across some problems I may ask you for some advice if you don't mind.

4. 
   RSRose | Oct 29, 2002 06:46am | #15

   Armin,

   That is one heck of a mean table you've got there! Beautiful finishing job. I'll bet it's a real conversation piece.

   R

2. 
   jonsherryl | Oct 29, 2002 04:11am | #10

   Dave, it sure is amazing what that New York pollution can do.

1. 
   DaveHeinlein | Oct 29, 2002 06:12am | #14

   Because the burl clusters were so evenly spaced along the trunk, I was thinking it may have been caused by animals nipping off young shoots of branches, and over time caused this effect. The clusters occured about every 3-4 feet.

3. 
   chrislowery | Oct 29, 2002 04:45am | #11

   That is some beautiful looking wood you have there.Is it coated in varathane? did you stain it at all?Did you recieve this wood all ready planed or did you plane it and was there any need for epoxy(or something similar) to fill any voids or loose inclusions. I really like the finish youve put on this board.

1. 
   DaveHeinlein | Oct 29, 2002 06:07am | #13

   I picked this wood right off the saw, and after drying it, milled it and made benches for a diining table I built for a client. The finish is BLO/urethane(oil) with no stain. There were no voids in these particular boards.

   Thanks for your interest,

   Dave

   
2. 
   RSRose | Oct 29, 2002 06:48am | #16

   Dave,

   Beautiful table. That "natural" edge is a very nice touch. I'll bet that the picture doesn't begin to do justice to that Maple.

   R

3. 
   DaveHeinlein | Oct 29, 2002 01:47pm | #17

   You're right Rich, It doesn't show the book matched flitches well at all. The table top is some very wild Sugar Maple which because it was band sawn it was a real task to get flattened and matched to it's mate. The end result was stunning though. Maybe I can find another shot of it. Thanks for the compliment.

   Dave

3. 
   b1gcountry | Nov 01, 2002 07:50pm | #20

   I would call it karelian burl, or karelian maple. It can go for a pretty penny too. I have a bit of it in veneer form, and make chessboards out of the stuff. I've never heard it called captured bark maple, but everybody has their own names for things.

   Tom

   (see picture)

   
1. 
   Armin110 | Nov 02, 2002 04:45am | #21

   Big country,

   OK I'll admit "Captured Bark Maple" is my name for the ingrown bark lumber from northern Michigan. I coined the phrase after I developed a line of products catering to the log home market, had to call it something, around hear the more common name is firewood. I suspect your karelian maple is something totally different from what we have here. My lumber is a mutant of the hard (sugar) maple tree and is about a common as a good politician, grows in the far northern maple range. I never heard of karelian maple where does it grow?

   Photo below of cabinet door panels

   
1. 
   chrislowery | Nov 03, 2002 03:09am | #23

   As my father in-law would say, HOLY BALDY!!!!!!! I never would have thought this wood would look that good on cabinet doors, but you cured the problem by tonning it down with different wood on the frame.I never would have considered that.And this house needs a new kitchen .The door on the right does it for me.Thats beautiful. Thanks again Armin

2. 
   Marcello | Nov 03, 2002 07:50am | #24

   Great looking set of doors!!!!

3. 
   Armin110 | Nov 04, 2002 02:26am | #25

   Thanks for the compliments guys, a client just saw the samples of my doors and ordered 4 interior doors, some built in cabinets and a stair railing made from the wood with no name. I'm gonna get a beer and party down.

4. 
   b1gcountry | Nov 04, 2002 05:13pm | #26

   Well, like I said, everyone has different names for things, and the rules about which grain is called what is subjective. I wouldn't doubt that the wood we have is different, except by degree and the way it was sawn maybe. I picked that up in Indiana, but I have no clue where it was grown. They seem to sell it at http://www.certainlywood.com, which is where I got the photo. The tight flecks make interesting squares on a chessboard.

   Tom

5. 
   Armin110 | Nov 04, 2002 11:55pm | #27

   Big Country,

   Now you got my interest up, did a little research and karelian burl is an import, baltic birch to be exact comes from Finland and neighboring countries.

   Edited 11/4/2002 3:56:16 PM ET by Armin a.k.a. The Laminator

6. 
   chrislowery | Nov 05, 2002 03:53am | #28

   So your saying I have to start over again.How did you get korelian maple as baltic birch. THese two  can't even be considered close close.Is korelian a baltic word for birch? Yo,ve spoiled my whole day.I thought I was on to something here.Sure sounded good.

7. 
   Armin110 | Nov 05, 2002 06:45am | #29

   I called the dudes at Certainly Wood they sell korelein burl veneer, I never heard of the stuff till yesterday. The man said it's  sold as baltic birch aka korelein burl. It's all Finnish to me.

2. 
   chrislowery | Nov 03, 2002 03:01am | #22

   big country: Love the handle: There are some places on some of these boards that are identical to that grain on your photo. I'm curious where you picked up that name "karelian".I think I'll check some background on this stuff and that name might be a place to start.Would you happen to have some pictures laying around of some of the work you've done with this wood? Thanks for your reply.

2. 
   Marcello | Oct 23, 2002 05:10pm | #2

   It could be two trunks growing too close together.  Over time, they blended with one another.  The bark portion you see could be an air gap between the trunks.  I saw a pictures of a bicycles embedded in a tree.  Someone many years ago left the bicycle frame straddled over the crotch of the tree. The tree just grew around the parts.

1. 
   chrislowery | Oct 23, 2002 08:23pm | #3

   I don't think that is the case here. These pieces of bark are very small,probably 1/4" on average. The tree was probably 80 feet in height and straight as an arrow. I logged it from my own bushlot and sawed it too.and the pattern never changed no matter which way I cut the logs. It looks like leopard skin.

1. 
   Marcello | Oct 23, 2002 08:30pm | #5

   "These pieces of bark are very small,probably 1/4" on average. The tree was probably 80 feet in height and straight as an arrow"

   Wow!!  As s4s suggested, can you post a picture of it?  Very interested in looking at it.

   Edit:  Just saw the message you wrote to s4s.  I'll be looking for it. Thanks.

   Edited 10/23/2002 1:36:49 PM ET by TMARCELLO