Tupelo Gum

Re: Tupelo Gum

Don Orr

Try WoodFinder-link found at top of page.

Woodfinder at top of REPLY page

Kneale Brownson

I don't see it at the top of every WoodCentral page

curiosity question

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

There are several species with "Gum" in their name as well as "Tupelo". Are you looking for lumber from the tree that grows in coastal swamps that has the large buttresses? Or, here in E. TN. we have a tree known locally as Black Gum that is also known as Tupelo? It is a handsome tree that yields lumber nearly impossible to dry flat and work because of inlocking grain, as I learned from a money loosing experience.

As far as I know none of these species is harvested for furniture construction as a result of the wood's uncooperative drying and working properties. Hence, your difficulty finding a commercial source.

What are you using this wood for? Depending on what properties you need, perhaps there is a more readily available substitute.

Is this for carving?

Keith Newton

Your profile indicates that you are. I may have what you need, if, Blackgum or Black Tupelo is what your after. What I have is about 10’ x 3” thick slabs with 2 live edges, air dried for about 3 years.

Drop me an email, and I’ll send you some pics if your interested.

Oh yes, and I have a pretty large chunk of burl which is loaded with bark inclusions that when dig out is like Swiss-cheese but I’m not sure I’m willing to part with it.

Re: curiosity question

Doug Ridley

Carving wood. I'm getting ready to replenish our inventory of tree ornaments for next year as we have pretty well sold out this year. I will be making about a hundred of them over the next 'coupla months so I need good light white soft Tupelo as I need to be able to carve them pretty fast.

Re: Is this for carving?

Doug Ridley

Never mind, Kieth. I wasn't thinking. If they are 10' long there is no way they could have come from below the waterline,which is what I would require for what I am doing. Thanks though.

Doug

Basswood?

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Basswood is the wood of choice for carvers here and it is a widely available commercial species. I understand the large cell structure of the Tupelo buttress makes this wood exceptionally lightweight so it might be softer than even basswood.

Re: Is this for carving?

William Duffield

Woodcraft carries it in a few sizes of carving blocks:

https://www.woodcraft.com/search?q=tupelo&button=search

For those who are curious, it is preferred by carvers of working waterfowl decoys because it is easy to carve, floats high on the water and is rot resistant. It also easily accepts wood burning details for painting feathers.

Tupelo Gum source

DizD

SC Forestry Commission mill directory has a mill which lists tupelo bowl blanks available. Try this.

https://bigbearlumbercompany.com/

Bigbearlumbercompany@gmail.com

Phone : 843-543-2382

below water line?

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I would be curious how timber is cut below the water line. Anyone that has inadvertently got the tip of a chain saw in water will know the issue. Another issue is how the short buttress sections are sawed. Not easily on the typical mill. It is no wonder buttress wood from this common coastal tree is uncommon, and probably expensive.

As I understand from reading about this species it is the buttress that has the unusual cell growth that leads to light weight wood (Encyclopedia of Wood, USDA). Presumably any of the buttress consists of the light wood, whether it is out of the water or not? If anyone has cut this tree is the transition from buttress wood to trunk wood obvious in a sawed plank?

Re: below water line?

Doug Ridley

Bill the really good soft Tupelo is cut from the stumps when the water has receded.

Specialized logging

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

A typical mill would not be able to saw the short tapered buttresses. I would suppose mills have a carriage modified to hold these logs. I can see why this wood is not a common product. The good news is that it would dry quickly if you find some not quite dry enough.

Any idea on how its density compares to basswood at about 0.30 pounds per cuft?

Not to hijack this thread, but ...

AZ in Colorado Springs

... I have little experience using a chain saw and no experience using one near water. So, what happens if one inadvertently ges the saw into water? I'd imagine it turns water near the chain into a shower. What else? It can't be good for the saw.

think fire hose, not shower

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

"I'd imagine it turns water near the chain into a shower." an extreme understatement of the result. And guess what way the fire hose points?

The volume can be adjusted by chain size

Re: think fire hose, not shower

Barry Irby

Long long ago I was in the army and we had chainsaws that ran on compressed Air. A huge air compressor on a trailer could run more than one at a time. One of the "selling points" was that we could run them under water. I never did but I imagine if the saw were completely submerged it would reduce the fire hose effect. The other advantage was the compressor on the trailer could be muffled to the point of being nearly silent and so the saws could be very quiet. You can hear a regular chainsaw during combat. Not an advantage to a Combat Engineer.