Itchin' for some burl

Re: Itchin' for some burl

RevDoug

>Try the wood finder link that you can see all over this site. You can put in the wood you are looking for and even zero it in to your local area.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug

Re: Itchin' for some burl

Bud Gabaree

>I've tried the woodfinder link, but I'm looking for tried and true resources for decent size (say up to 12" diameter) blanks. I've been all over google and ebay, but I just can't seem to zero in on a site that has a variety of burls other than West Penn. There has to be some sites favored by the members here (I understand this is not a forum for promoting individual sites, so don't beat me up).

Thanks, Bud

Re: Itchin' for some burl

Molly Winton

>Ask Mike Schwing. He's got a great source from Oregon.

E-bay

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>Hi Bud,

Have you checked around on e-Bay? I've found several nice pieces of burls there. Search under lumber, otherlumber, turning blanks.

Good luck!

Jennifer

Re: Itchin' for some burl

Russ Fairfield

>If you don't mind paying the price and freight, the best possibilities that I know of for Maple Burl are:

Northwest Wood

http://www.nwwood.com/

Northwest Timber

http://www.nwtimber.com/

That Figures

http://www.thatfigures.net/

If you are interested in outrageous figuring in Claro and English Walnut give California Walnut Designs a look. They also handle Myrtle and Maple burl and figured wood. Their website is

http://www.ca-walnutdesigns.com/select.htm

Re: Itchin' for some burl

Dick Hines

>check Curley Woods.com.

Re: Itchin' for some burl *LINK*

Paul Porter in Phoenix, AZ

>no affiliation, but lots of purty pichers.


Gilmer Wood

Re: Itchin' for some burl *LINK*

Fog Tanner

>I have bought quitea bit of burl from Dale The Burl Guy. Prices are resonable and Dale is a good guy. You can pick the piece you want from his web site, or Dale will cut you special sizes if he doens't have them. I had him cut me some burl blanks for boxes.

The burls that he carries are mainly from Australia, but he has a few other woods.


http://www.dale-the-burl-guy.com/home

Re: Itchin' for some burl

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>I can also vouch for Gilmer. I've dealt with them and found them to be a top notch outfit. Very nice stuff.

Keep in mind that they do have a $100 minimum order.

Good luck,

Mike

No affiliation, just helping to keep the Portland economy going from Apex, NC.

Re: Itchin' for some burl

Bill Luinetti

>Lee Tannenbaum at www.leetreewoodworks.com has excellent choices of all manner of burl from Australia.

He is very helpful with the novice burl turner (me).

Re: Itchin' for some burl

Bud Gabaree

>Thanks to everyone for all the helpful links. I'm well on my way to burning through some more (in)disposable income.

Bud

How about free burls ? (Long)

Brad Vietje

>Bud,

Where are you located ? You might find some local resources in an AAW-affiliated club, or by talking to other turners near you. Burl hunting is a lot like fishing -- most people are pretty quiet about their favorite sources, but once you talk to someone who turns a lot of burl wood, you might come away with some good ideas.

I've bought some burls, but most of the burl wood I turn is wood I've found locally. It all depends on where you live, and what tree species live in your area, but there are a lot of burls in some areas of the country. If you learn about desirable woods in your area, and spend a lot of time looking at trees, you can train yourself to see the burls that you would otherwise miss. I've seen some beautiful burls on managed trees along city streets, so this advice doesn't apply only to those of us who live in the sticks -- those trees are occasionally cut down for construction projects, or trimmed when they begin to die. Many mediun-sized towns and smaller cities have "stump dumps" where you might find very nice stuff just sitting there rotting away.

Then what to do ? Well, don't steal wood from other landowners, but look for places where logging is going on or building lots are being cleared, talk to tree service people, and those who trim trees along power lines. When I see an article in the paper that 75 housing units are approved for XYZ Road in Anytown, USA, just guess where I'm taking my next Sunday afternoon drive and hike ? Around here, where there are LOTS of trees, 75 houses or condos means thousands of trees will be cut. Of course, that won't be true for many more arid areas.

Whenever I see a big old tree being taken down, I slow down and look, and sometimes stop and ask... you just might get permission to use the wood in exchange for a bowl or a pretty turned thing. In my experience, even the most crusty old logger has a relative or friend getting married, graduating, or retiring, and could use a well-made gift. I also think approaching a landowner, developer, or logger as a turning club, instead of 20 different individuals bugging them, will work far better.

A last note: There are some woods, like Boxelder, that are considered weed trees. They are basically good for nothing but turning and carving (aside from wildlife habitat, which I also value). They are no good for structural wood, pulp wood, or even firewood -- but they sometimes have beautiful burls. Boxelders, as one local example, are often cut down and just buldozed off to the side, or pushed down over a river bank (hint: this is also a good place to find them, dead or alive, as they often grow there). If you see such trees w/or w/out burls where they will be removed, it certainly can't hurt to ask about aquiring them as a donation to your local turning club...

Good Luck !

Brad Vietje

Thetford, VT