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Big Honkin Maple Burl

2K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  dustbunny 
#1 ·
Big Honkin Maple Burl

For years, passing by the big maples on the corner near my house, I've been coveting the burls that grew on them. I even fantasized slipping over in the night with a bow saw.

This summer is the power utility's time to cut back on everything that is near the power lines. They asked my neighbor if he wanted the trees cut back severely (which would have likely killed them) or would he like to have them cut them down entirely at the power company's expense. Well these monsters were a hundred feet high if they were an inch, and being Norway Maples, they were greatly at risk anyway. So he jumped at the opportunity to get them taken down free. The job could have cost him ten thousand dollars or more because they had to be taken down by means of a great crane. Any other way would have been dangerous because of the nearness of high voltage power lines.

ANYWAY!
I had a little talk with the neighbor and he had no problem with me harvesting the burls. Yes, burls, plural. I've never seen such a proliferation of burls on trees standing next to one another. Three big maples, all with fine burls.

Today, we went over there and hacked and haggled until we were worn out, and I got about eight nice burls, but the prize was the one in this picture:

Yes, that's a metal yard stick on top!
This thing weighs about a hundred pounds.
I have no idea, at this moment, what to do with the thing, but I couldn't let him burn it in his stove!

d
 
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#5 ·
Nice…I'd say that is a score! They will take a while to dry out…and I would let them cure for a bit.

You will have a good time using them up I believe…..the turner in me is already reaching for a gouge…but a slab sawing would make some nice pieces….

You can tell a real LJ when he/she starts drooling at a tree with burls in it…
 
#9 ·
I don't have a lathe I could turn that burl on, but I'm thinking of what I can do with my Legacy Ornamental Mill!
Yes it will be awhile.
The smaller seven or eight burls I have will be ready sooner.
I understand another neighbor has a bandsaw mill, he could at least get me started with some flats. Right now its pretty ragged.

d
 
#10 ·
By the way, this photo shows why these big ol' Norway maples are dangerous.



That split didn't show on the outside.
I had a much smaller maple I cut down this year and it, too, had a dangerous split in it

d
 
#11 ·
Nice find Don, I'm sure your not the only one who drives by trees with those big burls on them and dreams of cutting them off, well who ever said dreams don't come true!
 
#15 ·
I have to laugh about driving and checking out the trees. I can't tell you how many times I've almost crashed the car looking at the roadside trees and deep into the woods while driving. I am thinking this may become a car insurance risk assessment question in the near future…..Are you a lumberjock, and boom, your rates go up. LOL

This burl is a beauty,

Lisa
 
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