Replies

1. 
   sschefer | Jul 02, 2002 07:28pm | #1

   My first guess is Walnut. Not sure what species... Jon Arno where are you ?

   Steve - in Northern California

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 03, 2002 03:14am | #3

   Hi Steve.  I've sort of assumed it is walnut -- can't think of anything else (domestic) that would fit the bill, and I doubt that it's an exotic.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   BHosch | Jul 03, 2002 06:07am | #5

   Nice wood ya got there.

   Bob

   the Poulsbohemian

2. 
   observer | Jul 04, 2002 05:04am | #11

   Local burl woods for your area (and mine) include Red Cedar, Arbutus, Maple, Yew, Yellow Cedar, fruitwoods, etc., etc.. Of course you should keep it - would you throw away any other rare or valuable wood? Surely you aren't short on ideas of where it could be used? Jewelry boxes, inlays, borders, banding, bandsaw boxes, decorative panels, etc. etc.

   As a first step, you could take the finish off at least part in order to figure out what it really looks like. A picture then would be more useful for identifying it. Milling it? Why don't you pick up your tools and experiment a bit. You will have a much better idea of how to machine it once you've tried it with a saw, a chisel, a plane, a planer, a sander and so on. Anything but a keyboard. Nothing beats first hand experience as a teacher, not even this forum.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 04, 2002 07:45am | #12

   One of the reasons I posted these pictures is because, since I'm a novice, I didn't want to do something "stupid" with this piece of wood.  OK, so I'm not confident at all, I figured y'all would at least keep me from making any major mistakes with it. 

   If the concensus had been that it would have been better to cut it in pieces and turn it on a lathe, then I'd have offered it to someone else, since lathe work isn't in my future.

   It might be a little light (weight) and soft for walnut.  I'll take some sandpaper to it tomorrow and check for the redwood scent.  If I don't make a clock with it (which is a good suggestion) I might like to mill it to make decorative strips or other pieces for small boxes.

   Mini-Gloat:  I picked up some 8' long x 7"-10" walnut fletches today at about $1.25/bd ft.  A friend who's an experienced WWer helped me pick 'em out.  It's exciting to have the tools (jointer, planer) to work them with, so am looking forward to deciding what to make with them.  He has some cherry too, so may be going back for some of that soon.  Ahhhhhh, the joys of being released from S4S!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   observer | Jul 04, 2002 08:43am | #13

   Best way to build your confidence and your knowledge is to go for it. Get more aggressive with it than sandpaper. Buck off a chunk and play with it, find out what it does. Far more valuable than discussing it. Then you will know better what you want to or can do with it. The most common burl in this area is big leaf maple (Acer macrophylum), but can't tell from your pictures if that is what you have.

   One other thought. It's been a more than a few years so I'm not sure if they are still there, but if they are, visit Targo Hardwoods in Bellingham. Blister Maple, Koa, Kingwood, Holly, Pernambuco, Bocote and many more exotics that you will never find at Edensaw. Small, dimly lit, overstocked shop, a joy to pick through and made Edensaw seem like just a commercial hardwood supplier.

2. 
   forestgirl | Jul 04, 2002 04:10pm | #14

   Ahhh, another excuse to go to Bellingham!  Next time I make a trip to Grizzly, I'll see if Targo is still there. 

   I doubt if this is maple, way too dark on the underside.  The color you see on the finished top is pretty much the natural color.  I woke up early this morning, and had that piece of wood on my mind.  After the fireworks are over and the company packs up to go, I'll get ensconced back in the shop and give it a whirl, see what happens.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   burlymann | Jul 02, 2002 08:13pm | #2

   No clue here, but it's gorgeous. Does anyone suppose that such would could be milled on an 8" jointer? Or is the good bet on hand planing for less chipout? I am in the market for something like this for a border on a chess board, but I wouldn't know how to mill it if I had any such stock.

   Jeff

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 03, 2002 03:17am | #4

   Hi Jeff, how wide would your border be, and how thick?  I just had an inspiration (well, an idea anyway).  The next time I go over the Edensaw woods, I can take this piece with me and ask what they think about how to mill it.  They should be able to tell me.

   It has some kind of finish on the top right now, which I've not tested to find out the type.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   zalecky | Jul 03, 2002 06:19am | #6

   HI! COULD THIS BE REDWOOD BURL?? I'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW OF THESE IN THE WEST!!!LOT OF COFFEE TABLES...  ANY MARKS ON OTHER SIDE ,FOR LECS? "TANK"

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 03, 2002 06:37am | #7

   Hi Tank, it's totally rought on the obverse side.  Doesn't strike me as redwood, but I can't substantiate that impression.  I'll really have to get over to Edensaw with it.  They often have giant cross-sections of redwood there, but not necessarily burl.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jul 03, 2002 05:45pm | #8

   If you're trying to distinguish between redwood and walnut, your thumbnail should do the trick.  Redwood is a softwood, and you can dent it with your thumbnail.  Walnut can't be dented by the same test. 

4. 
   chas011 | Jul 03, 2002 11:20pm | #9

   hello out there in wood land.I have a piece of wood that looks just like these and was told it was redwood burl.Mine is very soft and lite.

1. 
   quatersawn | Jul 03, 2002 11:37pm | #10

   Judging from the shape and the burled pattern in the photo, it looks just like several redwood burls I have. Turn it over and sand some off the bottom, it's a pretty distinctive smell, redwood. You can also take it to a large drum sanding place to have it surfaced. You might have to screw it to a sled  to run it through, and get nice equal passes on it. They look great as clocks, or set on some kind of base for a table top. The edges are probably a little jagged, so if you have little ones around, be careful. I'd make a great big shop clock out of it. Route out the back, drill some holes in the front and insert some light colored wood plugs to represent the hours. Then just install an inexpensive quartz movement. Hang it on the wall, or suspend it from a chain or something. They are beautifull pieces.