Sycamore Trees

[Robert Strebler]

I have an opportunity to pick some lumber from a Sycamore tree that's being cut down this week. Is it worth hiring a portable sawmill? What is the general opinion on Sycamore?

[Lee Schierer]

I've never used it, but here is what The AMerican Hardwood Association says about it: Sycamore

[Fyrman Dave]

I recently wondered the same when I had to remove a smaller (8") one. While my tree isn't large enough to do anything with, I'll be interested in any responses.
Dave

[Fyrman Dave]

I've never used it, but here is what The AMerican Hardwood Association says about it: Sycamore

Thanks Lee, I've now bookmarked that.

[Tim Malyszko]

If you have it quartersawn, it looks a lot like lacewood.

[Jim Becker]

Quartersawn is how you want it cut, both for the figure and to insure you have stable material. Flat sawn sycamore can be "really bendy"... QS sycamore is really incredible...I used it for the top of the bookcase next to the, um...throne...in our new master bath.

[Wade Lippman]

I built a couch out of it last year. It has a distinctive grain that you might or might not like.
It works easily enough, but you had better like the natural color because staining or dying it is just about impossible. I didn't know that and had to use tinted shellac.

[Joe Meazle]

Here is a Cherry and 1/4sawn Sycamore box I made a couble months ago. I think that if you have a good sized single striaight trunk tree it is worth it. Quarter sawn is spectactular IMHO. Syacamore gets a bad rap for warping while drying. It commonly grows on creek banks and reaches out over the creek leaning to grab sunlight. These trees have lots of internal stress. One with a straight and plumb trunk that grew in a yard or feild should not have these problems. I have milled my own and bought sycamore. the stuff I milled did fine. It was either 1/4 or rift sawn and was from a straight tree. the stuff I bought has maybe 10% of the boards with warping issues. It was mill run and I have no idea about the tree from which it came.

[David Werkheiser]

I agree with what Jim Becker said and add that flat sawmakes good "Pallet" lumber. It is very wet and is pron to sticker stain so restack your boards often. The wood is soft but, quater saw is stable and beatulful
David Werkheiser