I had to cut down a large holly tree that was diseased and dying. It’s trunk was about 24 inches at the base and split into two trunks over 12 inches. The wood is a light brown in the center (like a light walnut with nice figure) about two thirds of the way up with it being solid white at the top. Is this darker wood standard for a holly or due to its condition? This darker wood is pretty. Is it useable? I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it to get the wood cut into boards as it will cost me about $150. I have some solid pieces which are solid white about seven inches in diameter and two to three feet long. I thought that these would be worthwhile for turning, but was told that turners need pieces of wood cut off center to the trunk as they don’t want to have to turn through the plith at the center. Is this always the case? The center seems quite hard. What would a chunk of wood like this be worth? I know that I have to move fairly quickly before the wood starts to grey. I’ve got the ends of the pieces painted.
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Replies
Turners exclude the pith from their work simply because circumferential shrinkage centers on the pith. Including the pith makes it much more likely that shinkage will produce a split radiating out from the pith. Without the pith, shrinkage will produce distortion, but hopefully not a split.
Holly is quite hard to come by specially in the dimensions you mentioned.
If you decide to have it sawn you may want to sell some of it to some one who does boat restoration, I used to do that in the past and finding holly to match old teak and holly soles was quite a challange and I used to pay through my nose for it.
C.
Sounds like a lot of money to saw up some thing that small. Try this, http://www.woodweb.com/Resources/RSSDGsawyers.htmlRon
OHD,
I would talk to someone experienced about sawing and drying holly before you pay to have the log cut up. I tried cutting and drying some holly much like what you have only to throw it all in the trash as it developed a blue fungus in the drying process. I am told this is quite common - I may be wrong but I would find someone who has had success with it before I start. There is a reason holly is extremely expensive, it's not because it's rare, it's because it is hard to dry without a great amount of degrade.
Lee
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