Anyone build and or know where to find burl pistol stock wood? Or is the stuff too hard to work with?
Burl pistol stock?
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zimmerstutzen
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burl means different things to different paople.
A walnut burl is a large tumor like growth on the side of the tree. They were highly prized in colonial days for making bowls. Wild Cherry trees often have such burls, but they rarely get large enough to do much with. Some other species of trees also get "burls" but they are rare.
On walnut trees the grain actually covers the burl in a bowl shape. On the cherry trees, the grain inside looks more like a pine cone that has not yet opened. I have seen a burl that was removed from an apple tree and then air dried for use by a guy whose hobby was turning bowls and candle sticks, etc. Don't know if he ever used it.
A walnut burl is a large tumor like growth on the side of the tree. They were highly prized in colonial days for making bowls. Wild Cherry trees often have such burls, but they rarely get large enough to do much with. Some other species of trees also get "burls" but they are rare.
On walnut trees the grain actually covers the burl in a bowl shape. On the cherry trees, the grain inside looks more like a pine cone that has not yet opened. I have seen a burl that was removed from an apple tree and then air dried for use by a guy whose hobby was turning bowls and candle sticks, etc. Don't know if he ever used it.
zimmerstutzen
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Pipes are often made from briar wood, not girl, although similar grain
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Burl.....cherry burl....all the cherry that I have seen has been fairly seriously ravaged by insects. Very pretty but unpredictable grain growth. Hard.
Here's a pic of a bit that I am working on now, hollowing it with a gutter adze. Notice the insect damage.
I suppose that you could cut scales from the sides....just keep cutting until you had two.
A pic of a cup made from a larger piece. Lots of sealing and plugging (not visible in the pic) in order to get it to hold water.
Here's a pic of a bit that I am working on now, hollowing it with a gutter adze. Notice the insect damage.
I suppose that you could cut scales from the sides....just keep cutting until you had two.
A pic of a cup made from a larger piece. Lots of sealing and plugging (not visible in the pic) in order to get it to hold water.
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This is a picture of a little utility knife that I made. The scales are from the piece of burl-like root from a dead Mountain Laurel that is behind the knife. I wet the scale down to highlight the grain. A large enough piece would make a nice grip.
I do some woodworking and turning. Best advice I can give is to keep your eyes open and scrounge. A lot of guys who like unusual woods keep a chain saw in their vehicle. If you see trees being cut, ask if you can cut the pieces you want. Folks are usually cooperative. If there is a mill in your area, burls are often considered waste and tossed into a pile.
There is a lot of waste cutting burl for a project. Effort can be worthwhile though. Often it will need stabilizing to hold together.
There are on-line sites that sell unusual woods, do some searching.
There is a lot of waste cutting burl for a project. Effort can be worthwhile though. Often it will need stabilizing to hold together.
There are on-line sites that sell unusual woods, do some searching.
Many Klatch
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If you know someone with a nice wood pile, just go through the pile. Up in Wisconsin where you live you should be able to find a nice piece of oak or maple crotch that would work. Usually that kind of wood doesn't split easily and you can pick it out by sight.
Look for a piece from the crotch of a tree or the root. The grain is usually pretty crazy there. I suggest the wood pile because you want some wood that has been drying out for a couple of years.
We got some firewood two years ago with some maple with really wild figure in it. It has been drying in my basement ever since we unloaded the truck.
Many Klatch
Look for a piece from the crotch of a tree or the root. The grain is usually pretty crazy there. I suggest the wood pile because you want some wood that has been drying out for a couple of years.
We got some firewood two years ago with some maple with really wild figure in it. It has been drying in my basement ever since we unloaded the truck.
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what ManyKlatch said ... my best goofy wood comes from the woodpile ... a pain in the XXX but well worth the effort ... some really cool looking pieces if you're willing to spend the time going through the pile.
good luck with your project!
good luck with your project!
I was going to say, Doesn't burl also come from the base of the tree down by the roots?
This site says it is often found in the root system of the tree.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_7950365_part-tree-burl-wood.html
http://www.ehow.com/facts_7950365_part-tree-burl-wood.html
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Root burl.....yep. Takes a bit of looking......this is the little knife pictured earlier and the Laurel root from which the scales were cut. The cuts for the scales are visible in the picture to the left of the little knife.
zimmerstutzen
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I think technically, that a burl, is different from what some call crotch grain. I just cut down a massive cherry that had very large split trunks coming from one stump. the grain between the two centers was quite whorled.
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