What I did today... (pics)

[Bill Grumbine]

Good afternoon everyone

Despite the arctic like weather, good wood waits for no one. So the first part of today was spent outside in, shall we say, brisk weather. A friend of mine invited me to go down to a secret contact of his for the purpose of filling my truck with some wild cherry, and as a way of saying thanks for giving him storage room in one of the barns.

<img src = "http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/januaryloghaul01.jpg">

This load was a turners dream. We were able to drive right to the log, back the truck up, slice it up, load it up, thank you very much, and goodbye. The man we met was a very gracious and generous sort, and as a result I am now the owner of over 1000 lbs of wild cherry.

<img src = "http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/januaryloghaul02.jpg">

I got two logs. The big one is a good size, and should yield some bowls in the 14" - 16" range. The small log will yield bowls in the 10" range, and is a great size for my bowl classes. Now all I need to do is figure out where to stash it so I can still get to it with all the drifting snow.

Bill

[Rick Prevett]

Well worth the walk in that 'brisk' weather, I'd say!

I'm 'green' over the 'cherry'.

rick

[Chris Padilla]

No 4 or 6 foot sections for some flat work?

[Jim Becker]

Bill, Bill, Bill...why do you have to live an hour and a half away? I could surely store some of that cherry for you, although it might come back in a different form!

[Jason Tuinstra]

Bill, great haul! Perhaps it's the pictures, but is there any sap wood on those cherry chunks? The pictures make it look like there's barely any. Is that possible? Regardless, nice day's work.

[John Preston]

Admit it, you need a Bobcat.

That would be perfect for hauling around those 48" rounds, and chucking them up on your lathe. Then you'll need it again to haul all the shavings out of the shop.

Nice score.

Signed,

Just Jealous in Mississippi.

[Robert Ducharme]

Do you mean that wood comes in more brands than pine trees and plywood?

[Tom Sweeney]

between your Major Maple haul & this one - I can see you'll be needing some help with turning all that wood. Seeing as how I haven't turned the lathe on in 2 months You might just have to trade me a free refresher lesson in exchange for me helping you turn all that wood - but I guess that would be OK with me

Congrats on the bodacious Haul!

BTW I was driving home from a meeting about an hour ago & in the same spot, at the end of my neighborhood, where I got my box elder haul there were about 8 large nicely cut up logs - looked like maple but not sure in the dark. I'm wondering if my friendly public works dept. left me another present to make up for all the taxes I pay or did someone cut it up for themselves to come back & get it?????? This time they're right at the curb on the side of the road - Hmm what will I be doing tomorrow morning

[Martin Shupe]

Bill, seeing that cherry cut up so small makes me want to cry. If I had a cherry log that big, I would have "turned" it into 16" wide lumber for my future shaker projects!

Congrats, anyway.

[Tom Sweeney]

Didn't the Shakers make wooden bowls too

Bill, seeing that cherry cut up so small makes me want to cry. If I had a cherry log that big, I would have "turned" it into 16" wide lumber for my future shaker projects!

Congrats, anyway.

[Mark Singer]

Better have those boys over again a little early!

[Tyler Howell]

Bill,
Your pic reminded me of this photo making the rounds. No pun intended.
He's got a few board feet there.

[Bill Grumbine]

Good afternoon everyone

Well I wasted no time in cutting into some of this stuff. I have to say that it is a bit disappointing. The log had been laying for at least four or five years, and while there was no real indications of rot, except in a few spots, the quality of the wood has suffered. It turns almost like it was "dead on the stump" as we say around here - that is, the tree died and was standing dead before it was cut down. Something happens to wood when that is the case, and it just doesn't have the strength it should, and I think that is the case with this log. The color is not what I would have expected either.

Now, having written all that, I have yet to see if that is the case all the way through. I used one of the small pieces for a student today, and while the wood is not the greatest, we managed to get two useable 10" bowl blanks out of it. I'll have to see how the rest of it looks. Even if it all turns into firewood, I am still ahead of the game from an economics point of view, so I am not too worried about it.

Bill