An old boy comes down

[begreen]

Thank you for the offer Brian. As we start splitting the trunk I am seeing some incredible wood and grain. Some of the heartwood is as dark as walnut with incredible figuring. But we are making progress with the tree. I am considering pulling out some core pieces for turning. The wood is so beautiful, it is painful to see it split.

 

[rottiman]

When you look at a big old tree like that you kinda think about what has transpired over ,under and around it for all those years. No doubt survived some ungodly weather during that time. As for the woody's, we have had a family of them around our bush for the last 4 years. Watched the female teach the fledges how to hunt bugs in the lawn this year, it was hilarious.

 

[smokinj]

This is what I keep saying about silver maple. Guess most people really just do not find them as big and twisted as I have. Bottom 8 foot of Trunk of a 45+inch tree holds its own against any premium hardwood.

 

[begreen]

We are down to splitting up the wood near the crown and I had to stop. It is just too beautiful to burn. Fortunately after a couple calls to some woodworking friends I found a nice retired rocket scientist (no kidding) that now makes custom furniture and as a hobby has been turning bowls. He immediately saw what I saw in the wood and will be taking several good chunks for turning into bowls. There is one big burl that looks to have particularly awesome potential. I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Here are a few shots of the raw split wood.

I am also still searching for someone to cut a few slabs of the large crown section. It would make a stunning table, about 48" across. Hope I can find an artist looking for a good project. I'm told it will take about 3-4 years for the slab to properly dry if it is 3-4" thick.

 

[Pagey]

That's some good looking stuff, BG! I hope you can get something nice made from that wonderful grain.

 

[pen]

While my wood cutting mission is to stay warm, I would have had a hard time turning those pieces of wood into dust/heat also. Good save.

pen

 

[Woody Stover]

Wow, those splits are like paintings! I can look at them and imagine landscapes and oceans. Very cool!

 

[bluedogz]

Pileated woodpecker! I only get to see one once every few years if I'm lucky around here.
pen

I have a couple living in the locusts that Irene took down. I'm hoping that the bit they call "home" is still ok. Anyone have any idea how these things nest?

 

[begreen]

The bowls have been rough turned and a couple taken to final stage with a first coat of oil. This is fascinating. The big bowl with the wild spalting is from a burl. It has too many bark inclusions to turn further, but that is ok. I like it still and will keep it for its own beauty.

The others will be turned into final bowls this week. I am going to try to make some spoons out of some of the split stock.

 

[pen]

Well worth saving that.

pen

 

[Chargerman]

Those are very nice, a fitting memorial to the old shade tree.

 

[WoodPorn]

If you coat those bark inclusions with a good CA glue, they can be turned down to just about any thickness you desire...

 

[smokinj]

The bowls have been rough turned and a couple taken to final stage with a first coat of oil. This is fascinating. The big bowl with the wild spalting is from a burl. It has too many bark inclusions to turn further, but that is ok. I like it still and will keep it for its own beauty.

The others will be turned into final bowls this week. I am going to try to make some spoons out of some of the split stock.

Thats Sweeet! Those who hate the soft maple just haven't found the right one!

 

[begreen]

If you coat those bark inclusions with a good CA glue, they can be turned down to just about any thickness you desire...

I was wondering about that, but was thinking of epoxies. What is CA glue? Cyanoacrylate aka superglue? Does the thick stuff really set up across gaps?

 

[Thistle]

If you coat those bark inclusions with a good CA glue, they can be turned down to just about any thickness you desire...

I was wondering about that, but was thinking of epoxies. What is CA glue? Cyanoacrylate aka superglue? Does the thick stuff really set up across gaps?

Depends. Small shallow ones 1/8" or less wide I've had good success.Havent tried it on larger.Unless the chunk of wood is extra special,I'll cut out a wider split & use the remaining pieces in smaller projects.Though if its a lengthwise crack it can sometimes be salvaged by ripping out the defect & gluing the 2 pieces back together.

 

[ecocavalier02]

I'm always slightly saddened to see old trees come down........

I have often counted the rings, and thought of events that have happened over the life of the tree.

But I can soon get over that, with the thought of those cosy warm evenings spent burning all that wood ;-)

or when on it falls on your house or it knocks power out. you wont miss it. 75 percent of the problem here with our power outages is lack of tree trimming. lot to do with people not wanting the massive tree there grandfather planted to get taken down

 

[certified106]

I have been so busy at work i havent had time to keep up with the forum however i just got done reading through this thread and i love what you are doing with the wood from your tree. Congrats on the firewood also

 

[Mrs. Krabappel]

Wow beautiful!!

My friend researched woodpecker response to prescribed burns. They prey on the large influx of beetles whose larvae feed on, pupate in, and emerge from fire damaged
trees. THose birds would be on the trees before they had even fully cooled from a burn!

 

[Pagey]

The bowls look fantastic, BB. Glad to see that you got something nice and long lasting from that tree. I wish I had the skills to work up something like that!

 

[WoodPorn]

If you coat those bark inclusions with a good CA glue, they can be turned down to just about any thickness you desire...

I was wondering about that, but was thinking of epoxies. What is CA glue? Cyanoacrylate aka superglue? Does the thick stuff really set up across gaps?

I've had great luck with cracks/voids up to 3/8". I use Penn State Industries gap filling CA. (broken link removed to http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKGLUE52.html)

If you try it, just take your time and build the voids up slowly, the areas covered with the CA will be stronger than the rest of the project!

They also have thin viscosity CA for hairline cracks (broken link removed to http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKGLUE51.html)

 

[begreen]

If you coat those bark inclusions with a good CA glue, they can be turned down to just about any thickness you desire...

I was wondering about that, but was thinking of epoxies. What is CA glue? Cyanoacrylate aka superglue? Does the thick stuff really set up across gaps?

I've had great luck with cracks/voids up to 3/8". I use Penn State Industries gap filling CA. (broken link removed to http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKGLUE52.html)

If you try it, just take your time and build the voids up slowly, the areas covered with the CA will be stronger than the rest of the project!

They also have thin viscosity CA for hairline cracks (broken link removed to http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKGLUE51.html)

Good tips all, thanks.

 

[begreen]

We got our bowls yesterday. One is finished and the other is still a rough turning that had to be stopped before it blew apart. I still may sand it down and give it an oil finish to bring out the marvelous details and figuring in the wood. The fellow that did these turnings has made about 10 bowls from the tree so far. He agreed that this is the most unusual maple he has ever worked with. That's saying a lot considering his 40+ years of professional fine woodworking. I'm glad we saved a bit of this tree's beauty. There are now two maples planted in replacement. They will have much showier autumn foliage, but may never have this old boy's inner beauty.

 

[babzog]

Pileated woodpecker! I only get to see one once every few years if I'm lucky around here.

It's unfortunate she had to come down, but you have to do what you have to do.

pen

You can have mine. Thing starts banging away on the tower (fortunately, it's far enough away to not be too annoying), sounds like a mini-machine gun.. tat-tat-tat-tat-tat. Wouldn't be so bad if he realized that it's not wood he's banging on... but nooo. No sir. Nope, he's gotta bang away at it. Over and over. Stopped. Starts again. Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat.

Nice pile of firewood and very nice bowls!

 

[WoodPorn]

BG,
That unfinished bowl will be the most interesting and the best looking peice of art if it is completed, It CAN be finished on the lathe!!

 

[pen]

Your salads will be served most presentably! Very nice!

pen