Hi friends
I just wanted to let you all know that I was privileged to be selected by Greg and his wife, the owners of Oregon Burls to receive a beautiful and unique slab. This was in response to a contest Greg had on LJ’s. http://lumberjocks.com/OregonBurls/blog/18972
Due to work and weather it’s been a few weeks since Greg notified me that I had won his contest. As a matter of fact it was when David and Rick from LJ’s were visiting. I was really surprised that I was selected, but so happy to get this is a unique and wonderful madrone slab.
Here is the burl it was cut from
The slab will need some time to dry out sufficiently before I can make something from it, but that gives me time to ponder what I’ll make, any suggestions? I was only able to go down to Oregon Burls (about 50 miles south of my home) on a day that Greg had a previous appointment, but Greg was kind enough to have me come down after all. When I drove up, Greg’s home and shop was pretty much as I imagined wonderful burls everywhere. Even though Greg had limited time, he offered me a tour of all his fantastic slabs and burls and let me select the one I wanted.
Wow, does he have a ton of cool slabs and fantastic burls. He gave me a tour of his shop and let me see some of his upcoming projects. Asking how far away he was shipping his great wood and he mentioned he had just shipped 1000 lbs of burl to New York. I was very surprised to hear that even though he was shipping all the way to the east coast and the slabs weighed 1000 lbs, it only cost a little over $200 to ship all that great wood. Along with having very reasonable prices on his one-of-a-kind slabs and burl wood the shipping was far, far less then I would have thought. It was time to go and Greg moved a few slabs and got out the slab I had selected (all the way in the back of the pile) not only did he spend all that time with me and lift and move dozens of slabs to help me select which one I wanted, but then he insisted on carry this giant slab out to my truck by himself even though I offered to help. I hadn’t told him, but I had strained my back the day before, so I was very grateful for this kind act.
All I can say is THANKS SO MUCH GREG! And if you’re thinking about burl or slab think Oregon Burls. Greg has some very special slabs for guitar-making that look like art all by themselves. If he is this generous and help to someone he gives wood to, you can only imagine how well he treats his customers! BTW, Greg sells his great wood on Ebay, as well.
Check out Oregon burls website http://oregonburls.com/
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
41 comments so far
AtomJack
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1279 posts in 1278 days
#1 posted 906 days ago
But…it has a hole in the middle! J/K! Very nice; I’ll have to order some soon for a (small) custom box.
Jamie Speirs
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3680 posts in 1026 days
#2 posted 906 days ago
Great news Jim That is some burl
Now you can sit and dream of what to make. :)
Jamie
-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ryan
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165 posts in 1099 days
#3 posted 906 days ago
Woodworkers in Oregon are really lucky.
The burl looks like born to be a coffee table.
dfdye
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372 posts in 1206 days
#4 posted 906 days ago
[sarcasm] Well, Jim, since you are such a newbie around LJ and all, I have no idea how you were ever selected! [/sarcasm]
Seriously, it will be great to see what you come up with to do with this amazing piece. Good luck!
-- David from Indiana --
sras
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3245 posts in 1298 days
#5 posted 906 days ago
Congrats Jim! That is a wonderful piece of wood. For a little different idea, how about a set of stools or small tables that fit together to form the original piece. Just a thought … I am sure that whatever you create will look great. I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with – you have lots of drying time to figure it out!
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
grizzman
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5386 posts in 1473 days
#6 posted 906 days ago
well jim…you seem to be on the good end of many deals…...all the way from charled neil to greg from oregon burls…..thanks greg for helping our good friend…and helping him not further strain a hurt back…good dreaming jim..i think a table top for your new burl…i dont know how anyone could cut that up ….congrats buddy….
-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']
Art
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70 posts in 1341 days
#7 posted 905 days ago
Congratulations, Jim…couldn’t happen to a better and more inspiring guy. Hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving…looking forward to what you draw out of that wood. Take care.
Art
GaryL
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988 posts in 1000 days
#8 posted 905 days ago
Can’t wait to see the final project completed, whatever it may be. Great score! Congrats!
-- Gary; Marysville, MI...Involve your children in your projects as much as possible, the return is priceless.
grizzman
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5386 posts in 1473 days
#9 posted 905 days ago
oh yea…by the way…we have not heard from wild horse annie..i hope the ghost didnt get her…...maybe the slab fell on her…....well if you happen to see her…tell her she has been delinquent on this site…and her followers are wondering just what happened…....if she got scared away..she aint as tough as i thought…grizz
-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']
Joe Lyddon
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6395 posts in 2222 days
#10 posted 905 days ago
Congratulations!
Beautiful!
Looking forward to seeing what you do with it…
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"
Jordan
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1336 posts in 1294 days
#11 posted 905 days ago
Wow, congrats Jim!!! And what nice guy Greg is! Hey, I’d better keep a better eye on things, I didn’t even know there was a contest! But I’d have come in second to you anyways!
-- http://www.jordanstraker.com
BarbS
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2181 posts in 2255 days
#12 posted 905 days ago
Congratulations, Jim! Oregon Burls is a place I’m going to have to patronize one day. Very generous of Greg to offer up this contest, and I’m sure you are one who can take full advantage of that wood. So many things you could do… the long straight section into a bench or table top, maybe both if you could resaw it in the middle. And the two round sections into platters or bowls (madrone oils up so beautifully) or veneers for smaller projects. There is quite a bit of wood there, so any decision you make can work. Two madrone night stands? A low bookshelf? Some domed boxes? So many choices!
-- http://barbsid.blogspot.com/
Tim29
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307 posts in 1319 days
#13 posted 905 days ago
Congratulations Jim!!
-- Tim, Nevada MO
Marc5
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301 posts in 1511 days
#14 posted 905 days ago
Congrats – Please post whatever that burl becomes.
-- Marc
branch
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900 posts in 1323 days
#15 posted 905 days ago
hi jim you are one lucky fellow to get your hands on such a fantastic burl i am so jealous .
ha ha
looking forward to seeing what you create out of such a beautiful piece of wood
branch
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