Value of raw burls

Re: Value of raw burls

John K Jordan

Burls can be a toss of the dice, a pig in a poke. Some are beautiful inside; some not so much with rot, bark inclusions, or other problems. They might fetch more from some turners if cut to expose the inside so they can see what they are getting, but then that cut might not be the best for a particular use. How to best cut up a burl is a common question. The answer has a lot of "depends."

One that grows around the tree often has a straight-grained center, great for small things but potentially not as useful for larger turnings. A projection that grows on one side of the tree may not even be a burl but where the tree healed around dead limb. (lots of people are fooled by this) Yours look pretty "burley." You might examine closely and see if there is any sign of decay as sometimes found in cherry burls - if so the value may be small without opening it to see. A large domed burl on the side of a tree is valuable to everyone including large bowl turners, IF it is good insde.

Also, the size makes a difference. I've given relatively small cherry burls away. A guy near here told me he sold a large walnut burl last week for $500. (he said it was over 30" across) I told him I thought he did well - that was far, far more than I would have offered. You may want to measure them before advertising.

The ultimate problem is finding a buyer. Sometimes people find buyers by contacting woodturing clubs. Pricing seems tricky to me. You can ask people to make an offer but you may get more for them if you set a price and wait for the right buyer. How long you are willing to wait might be a factor! You might do an online search and see what others are asking for burls of similar size and shape.

First thing I'd do is get them off the ground. You can trim away some the extra tree section above and below and seal the exposed ends.

JKJ

Re: Value of raw burls

mikeee12345

I turned a number of cherry burls several years ago that were very nice, each piece is different and you never know until you cut into a burl to discover what is inside. Some are works of art and others are full of voids and require stabilization or filling voids with epoxy to salvage the piece. Some burls can be turned with voids and produce interesting pieces if you know how to turn them without coming apart on the lathe.

Re: Value of raw burls

Roger

Go to fredwilliamson.com and see his work with burls/wood with voids.

Re: Value of raw burls

mikeee12345

Voids can really set off a turned piece when done in a artistic style, but for the average wood turner they can add a level of risk that require additional steps in the turning process to prevent the piece from coming apart on the lathe. Voids tend to present a greater potential for a tool catch for the average wood turner which can result in a painful lesson for many. It is only a matter of time before every wood turner realizes their own limitations or skill levels, this is usually after a piece comes off the lathe and knocks some sense into them, if they are lucky.

Re: Value of raw burls

John K Jordan

So that's about turning burls. Do you have any advice for him about the value of burls, how to price?

JKJ

Hard to value with no dimensions

Dick Coers

I've seen anywhere from $.50 to $4.00 per pound. That's the burl without the stem. The $4.00 I saw was an air dried burl.

Re: Value of raw burls

John Jordan

I would probably give a couple hundred bucks for those. The one in the back has lost bark which means the sapwood is likely rotten. Good cherry burl is hard to find with nice clean pieces. I love the burl, but don't want voids/inclusions. Where are you Chuck?

John

Re: Value of raw burls

Barry Irby

I was amazed when I saw that picture, I have what appear to be almost identical burls in my driveway. My cousin gave them to me, she runs a major landscaping business. I will make her a bowl.

I have agonised over the value question. I think John Jordan's offer is excellent. I would take that for mine. I have not examined them closely, but I suspect rot. I agree that the first cut is the hardest, you are really limiting them with that cut. By the pound might be the fairest way.

$4/lb better be at 1% moisture LOL

Steven Antonucci

I know a guy that sells them by the pound too. Keeps a hose close by ;-)

speaking for Chuck

GaryG in MD

He lives in Chestertown, MD and is a member of Chesapeake Woodturners, where you'll be visiting in early May. ...GG

Re: Value of raw burls

George Guadiane

If one is going to pay even $.50 per pound you should expect to cut back a lot of the clean trunk before weighing.

At $4.00 I'd expect to cut the burls to be ready to put on the lathe.

If the loggers are willing to haul them out at $50/100 per piece pictured, let them haul stuff out till you go broke.

Better still, go out and walk the site. Pick out what you want and agree on a price before they move anything else. Most efficient for them - cheapest for you

Cheez, I didn't have a chance after listing prices

Dick Coers

Nobody wanted to list a price, I shared what I had seen, then everyone is a critic about what a $4/pound burl should look like. Kinda like the first liar never has a chance! LOL