Two years ago, we cut a 22″ cottonwood burl (on an 8″ branch) and dragged it to the canoe and back to the truck from a sacramento river delta forest. We had to leave the huge 4′ burl on the 2′ trunk because it was just too big and was about 10′ up the tree!
I’ve turned a few small cottonwood burls and they are dramatic with a honey brown color and lots of flashing figure.
But this big burl is a bit precious, given that we’ve seen only a handful in years of paddling the cottonwood forests.
My question (at last), is how to cut the burl. I’d like to turn a fairly large bowl with half burl and slice some veneer out of the other half. Should I cut perpendicular to the axis of the branch? Planes parallel to the axis of the branch? Any help would be appreciated.
Replies
Is the grain in a burl is completely random in it's orientation. If it is you are going to have to decide this one yourself.
When I have to decide something like this I put it in the middle of the workspace and look at it. Turn it over and walk around it until the way you want to cut it comes to you.
It's like turning, more art than science.
Have fun!
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