Sycamore Tree to Lumber?

Sure

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

My shop desk from spalted Syc and Walnut

Storage bench for daughter also spalted with sugar maple base and drawers

Re: Sycamore Tree to Lumber?

Barry Irby

I think it needs to be quarter sawn to reveal the ray fleck. Otherwise its in the maple family and very plain.

Re: Sycamore Tree to Lumber?

Dave Bair

Quarter-sawn is stunning.

Re: Sycamore Tree to Lumber?

Michael van pelt

Beautiful quarter saw lumber but it is very difficult to dry correctly. Be sure your sawyer is experienced with cutting sycamore and your drier has had experience in drying sycamore. Most sycamores grow along creeks, rivers, and wet areas. They love water!

Re: Sycamore Tree to Lumber?

Sgian Dubh

You might consider end rearing or end racking of any milled boards for sycamore. Applies to maple too. You have a source for more information; check pages 127 and 151. Slainte.

Re: Sycamore Tree to Lumber?

William Duffield

To get the best ray fleck figure, you need to do more than just quarter sawing it. You need to radially saw it. The fleck disappears very quickly as the saw kerf gets just a few degrees off from radial. The problem here is that it is very wasteful of otherwise very bland wood.

The other problem is stability while drying. Some old geezer once observed: "It'll dry straight if you tie it down. Otherwise, it'll get up and walk away on you."

Re: Sycamore Tree to Lumber?

John McGaw

Absolutely! See the other recommendations about quartersawing (or better yet radial sawing) and be cautious with the drying. I air-dried a lot of what I've used and it does take some serious time but the results can be stunning if you get it right. If you were to look at my site and do the math you'd find that a high percentage of the furniture I've posted is sycamore. It is hard to beat free wood for value if you discount the labor involved.

Re: Sycamore Tree to Lumber?

Pete in Holland MI

Deep woods tree or a yard tree? Yard tree, don't expect a lot of clear lumber due to all the branches, and the branches cut off years ago and healed over. If a yard tree, most mills won't touch it due to risk of nails.

Deep woods tree? Could be fun !