Hi everyone,
Recently a Black Birch tree came down in my backyard. I originally thought it was a wild Cherry, but after looking at the flowers (or catkins, I think they're called) and smelling the wood, it seems it's a Black/cherry birch.
Anyway, I figured I'd give hand hewing a shot, to see if anything could be made from it. I was thinking about maybe getting some slabs for a traditional Roubo style bench. Well, I started to hew one side yesterday with a chainsaw and axe, and it seems like an extremely hard wood, and dense. Maybe it's because it came down in the winter, and it's on the dry side, I don't know.
My question is, does anyone have any experience with this wood? Is it valuable in anyway? In other words, should I have looked into getting it milled, rather than wasting some of it by hewing it? I haven't cut much yet, because I started on one log section (about 10' long) that was a little bowed. I only removed the bow out of one side so far.
I think it would make a good benchtop wood, given how tight and hard it seems. I just don't know if it's better to save for anything else.
Joe