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"Hobbit Holes in MyWorld" --by RusticWoodArt

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191K views 574 replies 84 participants last post by  TDog 
#1 ·
An Introduction of Wood Happenings

An Introduction of Wood Happenings

So it's that time again….and if you've spent any amount of time around here at LJ; last spring, summer and fall then you must know by now, some-what as to my occasional excursions into the forests and woods of New England. This year I have decided to re-name and post under a continuation of short story 'series' and so I will be calling these posted blog stories…."Hobbit Holes in MyWorld". J. R. R. Tolkien once started a story; "The Hobbit" with this first sentence line, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." and so finding a fitting name if I may borrow from Tolkien's way of thinking and imagination, is of my journeys around and throughout my landscape here of New England.

As an all time worker of wood, I see into the landscape of my surroundings here….forest, woods, trees, land, mountains, rivers, lakes, gardens, old barns, old homes, wildlife, people and all those other's which are likened as 'rustic wood spirits'. The images that I get, so enliven my imagination into the creation of 'wood art', that I would like to share some of these simulacrum's with you the reader. I would like to welcome all and any to come along with me as you may want and to also feel free to comment and add your own pictures as you may find meaning into your sense of your own world. In reality there is no-separation between your world and my world as we are all workers of wood and therefore the use of wood is the common ground that unites us together. I pass through the terrain that surrounds me here by atv, truck, canoe, kayak and on foot, so this year promises to be a very much traveled walkabout. As you will come to understand, I use the term 'going on a walkabout' much freely as I have come to understand this and, yes I like this word play which also goes along with an-other word I use….'waundering'. Now as one who uses words and loves words, for the most part I try to maintain a correct spelling of those words….and yet, some-times it be-comes me to play with their spellings and meanings in order to get my-self out of the box of common thinking and let my imagination go. So yes, I do play with that word 'waundering' in meaning and spelling….but then just as I am a worker-of-wood, so also am I a worker-of-words….and so I hope that none shall be offended.

What you may expect this spring, summer and fall; is a continuation of life, work and play around here at my place on the farm, the barn, in the woods, in our gardens of flowers, berries and veggies and into the surrounding milieu of New England landscape. There is much to do this year with making furniture, some shows, a cabin renovation still ongoing, cutting trees and milling slabs of wood, landscaping, planting….which was covered in some detail last year. This year I also plan to add hikes and kayaking trips, along with my often well thought out….but, not so 'in the box' thinking out loud….plus, poetry on life in the woods of my-world. Now I understand that some may wonder as to how hiking and kayaking connects to wood and woodworking and so I will be happy to answer those inquiries with this reply. One of my great loves during the winter months is the study of topographical maps and going over notes I have taken during my years of waundering herein and talking to folks who live in out of the way places, as I search the land for 'old growth' trees. This year I have decided to occasionally include some of these treks, along with photos through-out the forests up here. However I might also add that as to exact locations and such, I may often forget, (and that is intentional of course) to mention exact directions, as I do respect the 'old growth' and some of these trees need to remain hidden. So again let me say welcome and if you have a comfortable pair of hiking boots, tape measure, along with pencil and paper for sketching and notes….be sure and bring them along. I might also add that if I have forgotten any-thing in this introduction of sorts….well after a good long hike or kayak trip, I'm sure it will all come out in the wash!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

While out walking some time ago, (and what meaning after all has time in hobbit holes?) I was plodding along at one of the local dams near to me here….



....and in my walking….



....I came upon a hobbit. Taking up his invitation to follow, I hurried along as he disappeared down a hobbit hole and I right behind….



....my baptism of sorts, into his world was only one that started years of ages ago, but felt as if only for a recent near season, as I soon emerged and walked out into the brightness of a new spring day….



What better place to start this years 'walkabout' then where we left off at last fall….and, so bringing up the picture of this apple tree as then,....



....we can now precede to where I was standing on Saturday. This one ancient apple tree, all set against a background of blue sky and satin finish, hand rubbed to a tree hugger's delight of brilliant sheen….



....and so turning my head around,
i found that the ground was drying out with patches of grass still brown,
till the thought kept coming my way of what if i lay my head as down,
to see beyond into the eye's of blue sky where clouds abound….

--walk softly across this your landscape of seemingly desire,
and know for most assuredly that all that entertains the eye of acquire,
often spends their days caught up in the act of feeding fire,
while belly aches are soon mismanaged with the hardness to conspire,

....so having already paid my dues i kept the change,
and cast my cares to wind swept dreams of noble exchange,
since from the eons of beginning i now can give my-self a place of grange,
till comes a next one passing by who calls from past and welcomes me to interchange….



....when my days are done, let me stretch forth my hands as the quaintise of the birches do, likening my self to an awakening of what comes next….



....and so in studying the land, I often am drawn to studying rock walls. These are the beauties of creation that often bring remembrances of next morning sore backs….and yet, works of art they are in all their be-holden strength….



....and so I borrowed a piece of wood that was stuck in the cracks of yonder stone wall and decided to create a piece of 'wood art', where wood and shadow be-come as one….



....so some snow is still hanging on and this tower of wood blesses the eye with what can be….



....looking to the west, I am drawn to remembering the times I have climbed your summit, giving thanks that as a friend, your loftiness is once again in sight Mt. Kearsarge….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
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12
#3 ·
Thanks for the invitation to join you on this journey. I accept of course. Not all who wander are lost so I will trust your guidance and direction on this journey.

I have said it before but it deserves repeating. Your photography is inspiring.

Thanks for sharing.
 
#7 ·
--just a little late getting back to you all here….hmmmm, must be that spring and warm weather is in the air here. Anyways….any-way, thanks for all your warm comments and I'll see what I can come up with for a 'wood-full' batch of good reading and warm picture viewing.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
 
#8 ·
Well it looks as if I am the late one. I just took your journey backwards from #6. I do believe I will start at the beginning now,perhaps my midnight reads. If it were not for people like you that share , people like me would never know what New England looks like or any place else for that matter. How beautiful. It is quite apparent that you are a "true" artist in every respect of the word. Peace to you, Thanks for sharing!
 
#9 ·
Hello Allison;
--well it's just great to hear from you….and, thanks for stopping by.

Now I'm curious and wondering….since your from Northeastern California, have you been to where the giant sequoia's grow in the Sierra Nevada range? Can't help but ask….it's a habit of mine. Two places on earth I would love to lose myself in before heading to Asia are the Sierra Nevada range and the Białowieża Forest in Poland.

I just now returned from reading over at your blog and noticed you were speaking the language of beauty as straight from the heart when you said; "I love the quiet of "my" mountain…..". Hope you enjoy the reading journey and once again,

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
 
#10 ·
"Living Within the Shadow of Crazy Fire"

Living Within the Shadow of Crazy Fire



....tread softly on the mind of a man inspired by imagination,
since who can afford to play the devil's advocate,
when those who are caught between the planes of time,
know no-world to hold them down in audiences of respected places….

....and then i remembered an-other time where….

--i also was seemingly caught out there in a fools paradise,
begging for bread and wages from those other's dictates,
those ones who set the standards while not asking if i would play,
while in my heart the beating rhythm asked how long would i continue….

--years passed by as i plied my trade to highest bidder,
but in my dreams i knew the sacrifice of remembered guilt,
that guilt that stole my innocence from childhood stages,
till hearing those who knew my best said was time to grow on up….

--in those days i gave my coat of many colored pencils up,
and entered the halls of sadened darkness 'think as them',
who was i to question the 'them' of a respected structured world,
these one's who took my dreams away and laughed at imagination's foolish ways….

--i will admit that i tried to play within the rules of their box,
knowing all too well that a rebel artist is a misfits tale,
and so for seconds of time i preached the study of living within a box,
wages were good and yes their is safety within the box of blinded eyes….

--with no-dreams to ferment i was a blinded seer,
while in my heart the burning fire faced a fast of dimming light,
rage on my crazy fire i wanted to say at work-days end,
but the price to pay for walking alone was in-deed a stone around my neck….

--this inspiration i call living within the shadow of crazy fire,
remains hidden till one decides to lay their learning entanglement down,
walking away from the scribes who decide what is 'in' at days hard end,
running forward in the direction that silence gives to stillness….

--it was in that moment of acquired priceless eye-salve,
that a blinded seer's eyes once again saw the beauty before,
not needing to frequent the habitats of broker's money changing lusts,
i soon overturned their tables of box-making think as i do-isms'....

--tis better now since the burning crazy fire rages again,
and my coat of many colored pencils once again fits my mind,
my ears can taste the scent of laughing dancing images,
and all that comes from wood speaks forth the tongue of who i am….

....if it is not in the heart of who i am as 'just is',
then why would i give up my right to create 'wood art' as i see fit,
this glory i now bear has once again learned how to play the stage without a script,
and in this day i now have remembered how to give the thanks for all i am….

-by flp

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#11 ·
Thanks for the post Frank. You are right in that often we let others define the "box" in which we wander. It takes courage and resolve to follow the less traveled paths that constitute our dreams. And this often does not happen without sanctions being applied when we choose to follow a different path that is outside the defined box in which we are expected to remain.

Thanks again for the inspiration.
 
#16 ·
"Echo-Friendly Ways To Work the Wood'

Echo-Friendly Ways To Work the Wood



....your wooden soul,
is but the sole of your sitting,
and as all rustic tools of wood,
your rustic spirit creates an image for imagination….



....hand planning….



....with a vivid imagination….



In this day of high tech, high price tags and higher yet soaring costs of what many think they need, to have a go at woodworking, along with all those needed add-ons….that one must purchase after the initial major purchase, I am all-ways glad to get back to the roots of woodworking.

My time in the evenings as of late, has found me outside in the environment here at home, working the wood by hand. During the day I can be found using framing and finish nailer's along with the occasional re-cycle time of compressors….outside much of this week dropping some trees and doing clean-up with a chainsaw and all that noise….hmmm. So is it any wonder that my evenings are spent using froe and mallet and timber slick, I mean what else does it take to work the wood when you really get to thinking about it? And to tell the truth, although the timber slick has been there, I've not had no need to use it yet in these pictures.

One of my greatest times of connecting with wood is in the process called 'riving' and what can be a faster way of following the 'ripping' path of those wood fibers then with froe and mallet. Riving the wood is faster then ripping with a power saw, can be done out of the boxed in atmosphere of the workshop, no need to have dust systems turned on, therefore no electricity is needed, no need for hearing protection and often produces much stronger wood, since the riving process of the froe follows the wood fibers of the wood. There is no need for great physical strength in riving wood and yes, wood in the natural form of trees after they have been brought down, can still be acquired any-where close to where you live. I often will get folks who after I make that last comment at demonstrations, talks and in writing stories….they will come up to me afterwards and say; "but you don't know where I live". And to those I will reply; "I can go any-where, (on land) and still get wood in it's natural form", and so it is that if one 'wants' enough….they will find a way. Again this type of wood-working//wood-searching means that one will have to start thinking outside the box.

To my way of thinking, when one says they started a wood project in it's natural state of wood and went on to finish the project throughout the all and various stages of workin' wood….that one has my ultimate respect. To learn woodworking this way will not cost any-one a fortune in money….but, it will cost you much in time. Many say to me; "but where and how do you find the time?" and to this I reply; "we all have the same amount of time and you will spend your-self within the time framed box of what you love to do the most. One can learn to rive and build a box or stool in a weekend, but to learn better wood joints for that same box or stool can take years. This leads up to a question of what you want out of woodworking….do you want to make many wood projects of quantity or are you going to make a few as one of a kind or what is your integrity of satisfaction level. I can make many cabinets, (and a cabinet is only a box) and counter tops, (the top of the box) out of wood in kitchen renovations, but to make one box or stool out of rived wood….that is one of a kind and these are few and in-be-tween. Let me add here also, that I am not dis-respecting any woodworker or any form of woodworking….I just have my own way.

So I spent three evenings this week outside in my open air workshop, riving up some wood pieces for an up-coming wood days show and demonstration coming up in June. Time to get some of the wood to start curing now, plus I will also be doing some demonstrations of green woodworking by riving and all else. Opening a piece of wood by the process called riving, is much like opening a fresh tomato, potato or some summer squash….and then one looks and the eye of vision tells the story.

Well lets move this story along, so after lacing on my working boots and putting my safety glasses on, I started the process of debarking a log….



....as I was saying earlier, no high tech tools here….just one locking knife, (and yes, make sure that blade can lock) which I get at a local army surplus store for around twenty dollars. I also have de-barking slicks and spudders which I pick up at yard//barn sales….but for this evenings work, this is fast….



....this is maple wood whish I originally cut down 3 years ago and so I've been letting this one sit outside in the seasons and giving it plenty of time to catch some age and character….I also noticed there is some spalting going on….



....and yes, the bark is just coming of with almost no effort on my part….



....will let this one sit for a few days uncovered and then I will paint the ends and either cover or bring inside my barn.



Next on the list is this piece of oak that has been aging also for 3 years….and so after de-barking, I'm going to rive this one for some legs….



....once again the tools I'm using….froe, mallet from my wood pile and timber framing slick….



....you will notice that no tape measures are used, no power cords and after a few mallet taps the froe is set in the wood….



....close up of froe set….



....I am now riving and will stop for a picture, (actually it takes me longer to take the pictures then to rive the wood)....



....the oak is split….



....clean split….



....looks great….



....now lets rive again….



....an-other shot….



....4 legs….



....'wood art'....!



Busy hands are the result of a fruit-full imagination, so lets leave here and cross over to an-other on the spot-wood-lot and start some more riving of wood. I been busy this week cleaning and clearing some land down from the main house and so here's a fresh cut maple, ready to be rived for a small table//stool. Now on this piece of maple, I am going to break some of the rules of riving, since you will notice that I am not splitting at the pith, or into quarters….and therefore I am not following the 'ray planes'. Some may wonder why and I can only say that occasionally I will test the rules and see if I can get a piece of wood to follow what I am wanting. In the the past I have had some of these come out very good and stable….but yes, I also have had many rejects and then also, how can one show what will go wrong, if one has not played with the rules of wood….



....once again no tape measures here, just an understanding of the wood, wood fibers and how they run, (also called fiber direction) plus a working knowledge of texture. So what I'm marking is for the top and legs….



....one day from dropping and sawed for length that morning, this one is like slicing butter….



....rived clean….



....and an-other shot….



....froe is set for the final mallet tap…



....and clean rived again….



....now my imagination decides to lead and so I give it freedom to range….



....of what can be. Next I will show how to do some cleaning and planning of the wood and some simple wood joints to get those legs in place as I create….



....'wood art'....!



And then after I finished workin' on this piece, I looked up and once again gave thanks for being able to see and live….



....at what some call work and I call play….



I'm sure I have left out some points of explaining so if any have questions, feel free to ask. I will also try and get a few pictures up soon of much thinner wood riving for pieces such as boxes and small furniture that I also make.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#17 ·
Thanks for posting this Frank. I really enjoyed watching the process. I'm anxious to try my own riving. Looks like I'll have to find a way to make myself a froe since that's another thing that's difficult to find down under. I didn't realise you could rive such straight lines. Since our beech is very similar to the maple, it looks like it should be possible. I like your results, even before any joinery is added.

I've recently made a few tool handles using a silver beech sapling I cleared for a trail and some cherry branches that were released after some pruning. I'll have to take some pics and post as one of my projects. I also 'rived' (sort of with an axe) some silver beech and red beech that I took out for firewood and left dry over the summer. This I let dry some more after splitting and then eventually put them on the lathe and made some shaker pegs out of them. I'm happy to say that in all these cases mostly hand tools were used and I went from tree to object without too much noise or power.

My current project is welding a peavey together from some recycled metal parts, to which I will affix one of my thick cherry branches to make the handle. I'll have to get that on here as well when I am done.

Keep on working the wood!
 
#29 ·
"Coalescing With Wood"

Coalescing With Wood

....my life is lived as a worker of wood,
these stories i tell are the fruits of my dreams,
where it not so i would have told you so,
just as gifted stories tweak my imagination in the all that i am…

--yes i laugh at my-self for the rustic wood spirit i am,
just as when i pause in the woods for silence,
and often out here i can hear the ancient ones laughing also,
these are as much their stories of laughter as mine….

....stories are told among the ancient trees of the forest,
of the laughter of the gods in times gone past,
who knows but that one of these gods shall yet walk out of past and,
laugh again to bring forth the coalescent colors and texture of all that is written in wood….

And so here's one I've been working on in the evenings out back in one of my outside workshops. White oak which was dropped some 4 years ago and then I brought some of it in last fall, where it has been sitting outside aging this past winter to gather some character. I have in the past been a big fan of the maple woods for woodworking, however as of late I also am enjoying white oak.

Since this blog story is going to relate to 'riving', I might also mention that white oak is one of the best woods used for green woodworking. Deciduous trees are better known as hardwoods and, white oak rives very clean due to it's straight grain pattern which is much needed and sought after in woodworking, traditional and green. What one needs to understand about green woodworking and the riving process can be stated by learning something of porous woods and then also non-porous woods. Porous woods will fall into the category of hardwoods and non-porous woods make up the softwoods.

To a woodworker who is wanting to make use of riving and green working of the wood, what ones needs to also understand is that along with understanding porous and non-porous woods, you also need to understand the 'ray plane'. The ray plane crosses the 'growth rings' and therefore makes for a much defined and known way of telling how the wood is going to split. When talking about ray planes one also needs to include an understanding of earlywood and latewood, (springwood and summerwood) in ones thinking mind of vocabulary. Now to further move along here, I will just mention that white oak falls into the category of 'ring porous' and that earlywood (springwood) has larger pores then the latewood (summerwood) smaller pores. Now let me just sum that all up by making this statement….oak has very well established ray planes which can be seen on an end cut log, these ray planes cross the growth rings and it is here that the green woodworker finds a most excellant way and place to rive the wood.

Having said all the above, I will just proceed on to showing some pictures of some white oak that I have rived using a timber framing slick….



....along with the legs, which also have been rived with the timber framing slick….



....and yes, I have used through tenons here for the wood joinery….



....oh, did I forget to mention the size of this oak table. Well as you can see….this is also one I'm doing as a first prototype and then I'm also testing some drying and finishing practices herein. Still I have about 3 hours of work time into this one and some hours yet to go…..hmmmm!



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood…."
 
#30 ·
Thanks for the plane of reference at the end, Frank. I was surprised when I saw the last photo and then it all came into perspective. Now, of course, my "view" of the table is forever altered. I went through the photos firmly convinced of what I was viewing and the end photo completely altered my point of view.

Thanks for the post and the surprise. I enjoyed this. And thanks for the instructional post as well. I really appreciate seeing these.

Have fun.
 
#40 ·
"Untrammeled Possibilities and Unexpended Opportunities"

Untrammeled Possibilities and Unexpended Opportunities

....out here is where i was first awakened,
awakened to what-where-when and why,
awakened to all the un-trammeled possibilities that call my name,
awakened to the un-expended opportunities i gather to….

Out here silence starts off as a thing of beauty, but the silence soon passes on to a sound of great talking going on between the different players in this outside play of nature….



....walking the woods out here is a chance to let my imagination go….and so it is not long before I be-come lost in the characters of the woods. I will not waste the time with words on these, as that would only be a bringing of their glory down into the realms of lesser, where we are often found as wanting to fit "what is', inside a box of our own reasoning….



....and….



....and….



....and….



....and so in closing, let me ask one question….how straight is trunk of your being….?



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#41 ·
Thanks for including me on the journey, Frank. I have found that my perspective on sojourns similar to this has changed since reading your posts. There was a time when I would have only noted the "wood art", that you have posted above, only in passing but now there is time to more fully appreciate it for its own sake.

As usual your photography is inspirational.

Thanks again for the post.
 
#52 ·
"Tree Friend...."

Tree Friend….



....drink deeply of the wood that is within,
and know for a certainty of well be-ing,
that all that resides in the soul of a tree,
will yet come to life in the spirit of rustic 'wood art'….

--the gawker's have gone as passing on,
but you my friend are still much watching and talking,
these moments of years we shared cannot be forgotten,
as i still watch and listen to hear what you have to say….

--your slabs of wooden golden maple yet to be,
will once again bid the gaper's to offer their pocket change,
and who knows the final destinations your be-ing will reside at,
till in the newness of this day i pause with silence of tears….

....i have drank deeply from the ambrosia of your sap,
your age of be-ing was from before my coming here,
your soul of wood is the finding of my woodworking space,
and together we are spirits both off the creation of all that is rustic….

-by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I will be posting more on this one, a friend of mine that's time had come, as of yesterday. For today though I will just dwell on what has been….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#53 ·
Frank,

There is both a sense of sadness and joy when this happens. Sadness for the friend whose voice is silenced but joy at the transformations that will occur.

I am sure that whatever projects that this becomes will do justice to the memories that you two have shared.

Thanks for allowing us to participate in this.
 
#57 ·
"Slabbin' at More Wood and Planning Safe "

Slabbin' at More Wood

....and so once again the earth has settled,
the roar of the wind gives place to chance for a change,
and i am freed to continue my working of the wood,
since my tree friend has experienced a resurrection into the what of 'wood art'….

And so having some free time….a few hours on Friday to start cleaning up some wood on this one, I preceded to work. What with the cutting and hauling to a wood pile, the small stuff for this winter's soon coming cold, (yes, I know we're barely into spring here) but to the one who does not plan ahead in New England….that one will fall behind….

....and so I will start by posting some pictures of this golden olden maple tree….that time just ran out on. The stump and base of the trunk here are measuring at 38''-40'' across….



....and….



....the length of the trunk that I plan to slab cut is a good 7' in length….



....here we have a shot taken from the base of the trunk and looking forward….



....and yes, I also plan to get some nice wood from this end also….



Now since I am talking about slabbin' wood here with a chainsaw, let me first remind all who are reading or thinking about using a chainsaw as I do here, that certain loss of limb and death await any who are not 'planning safety'....and thinking through the process before they ever pick up a chainsaw. I do not try to scare no-one or any-one, as I learned long ago that scare stories scare none but the dead….it's just that if one is not 'planning safe', (and notice I do not say; "planning for safety)....and why plan for safety since if you have not 'planned safe', then when your world falls inward there will be no-time to plan 'for' safety. Furthermore you want be talking about it and I or some-one else will be explaining the what went wrong to the ones you left behind. I use a Husqvarna 395XP, 7.2 HP and this one is a tool or lethal weapon….and as I tell folks, forget all that stuff about safety chain brake, since when this one is flat out with a 24'' or 36'' bar and you experience 'kick back'....well….hmmm.

Now having said all that, I love chainsawing and slabbin' the wood, so if you were around last year in the fall and want to refresh yourself on some good safety tips that I work by or if your new and want to read the how to's of how I chain saw in 'freehand style', then I will post these links to last years blog stories as they speak much wisdom on chainsawing.

Work Smart, Work Safe, and Live to Work The Wood

McCulloch Super 33

Slab Wood Tales

More Safety, Chainsaw….Broadax

Homelite 26 LCS

Homelite 26 LCS and more…..

Going from Horizontal to Vertical in Freehand

Wood Ballet Dancing in the FreeHand

I will be posting some blog stories up and coming as I precede to start slabbin' and cutting some more on this piece of maple. Actually I started some slab cutting on Saturday afternoon and will be writing more as the days or weeks continue. I am also in the process of maybe acquiring a chainsaw mill, to chainsaw this one and some others and I am also looking into kiln drying instead of the usual air drying that I do….since I am all-ready getting some feedback from folks asking about some tables and furniture that would be placed out of state….and I may need to speed the drying process up somewhat.

....so stay tuned and I will do my best to not disappoint any who are reading.

Now as many who read me know by now….it would be impossible for me to be working the wood and not have my eyes open and my ears tuned in to what this tree is talking. So I will post 2 photos of what I call up and coming 'wood art' which by the time I get done with this tree….will be all around me….

....and so I looked inside….



....and then I stepped back to gaze again….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#58 ·
Thanks for the post, Frank. That is some serious wood you have to work with. Thanks for the chain saw advice. What you give is sound advice and should be taken to heart.

I enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing.
 
#63 ·
"Doldrums Complaisance and Working the Wood"

Doldrums Complaisance and Working the Wood

....when a man//woman walks the walkabout,
where does the mind of one such as this,
get past the wall of memories that have been taught,
so that one can break free and waunder the horizons of time….

--i am the outcome of what has been sealed up within a box,
till one day i saw that the box was only what other's had dreamed up,
to keep me in my place of doldrums complaisance,
those dreams that often turned into the nightmares of chains….

--which i carried around to produce as after their image,
of what can sell in the world of art and yet was not mine,
my-self was afraid to step out on my own with dreams of imagination,
to speak for my-self and say this is who i am so love me or hate my work….

--one can never be free till one decides to walk after their own vision,
so create what is found within your own head,
keep silence while you are creating that image of a dream,
and let no-one ever take that dream from within your head….
-by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

So while out walking the other week, I started climbing up some ground in this forest of trees….



....till it was not long that through the trees….



....I heard the voice of this one who had been calling my name….



....beauty is this one in-deed, and here awaits one who asks for art….



....so soon I shall re-turn and take this one down….and back to my workshop, where we shall sit together….till our dreams be-come as one….



....why even out hear the widow maker's take on an image of beauty….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#69 ·
"Where Dreams Are Made"

Where Dreams Are Made

....never having a thought to lay down and rest,
i was culled from the era's of past,
into the days of what might be called future quest,
and so from this forum i soon was caught out as blest….
-by flp

How one goes about ending a hard days work, is just as important as how one starts a day of hard work! I all-ways give thanks in the mornings for the opportunity to work….and, then when my day is done, I give thanks for the day.

And did I also mention, the many times during the day, that I also give thanks? Without 'thanks' in one's own heart….what an opportunity is missed to highlight all the 'moments' that comes one's way.

And so after giving my day all the greatness of who I am, I ended up out hear the other evening, (as I do many evenings) with camera in hand. So coming upon a door, with opportunity bidding 'well-come', I also invite any who want to step inside and pause for a while….and see as to where dreams are made….



....not much need to talk, as the images speak loudly for all their worth….so lets go on through the cabin and sit a spell on the back porch…now looking too my left….



....in front of me….



....to my right….



....and yes, these feet were made for dreaming….



....well, hope you enjoyed your own dream….and you can stay if you so choose, but I must be getting home….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#76 ·
"Rived Quercus alba"

Rived Quercus alba

....as wood is rived,
so a tree shows forth one's inner strength,
by his//her own choosing is man cleaved,
by the criticism he//she creates….

--show me a tree that hides from on-coming winds,
and i will show you a man already wrapped in cerecloth,
while i marvel at the hands of the mighty oak held high,
i but stand in awe of that one who's genetic dna creates within a critique of scars….

--the trees i have known are gentle giants of their own forest,
be-coming that way over the span of many seasons,
so also can the man of shorter seasons hope to gather,
his//her own gentleness of soul by patience under cleaving….

....my days are shortened by every new morning i awake,
and where i to dream a thousand more years,
what would that compare to the wood i have rived,
where in the parted asunder there is much to see for beauty as strength…..
-by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rived....to part by cleaving.

White Oak....

Genus: Quercus

Species: alba

And so, continuing on this journey of riving wood, I spent some time the other week….working on this piece for some bench//stool of sorts. I have already posted some earlier blog stories on 'riving wood' and most of that is done with green wood. However there is also a place for riving wood that has been sitting a few seasons and is starting to cure and gather character.

I cut this piece of white oak down last spring, (2007) so as to clear some land for a leech field I was putting in for an ongoing cabin renovation. Having some time last week and needing to spend some energy at the end of the day for a moments relaxation….I decided to start work on this piece of wood. One can work hard all day long, (and so can I) till in the aftermath of all that work, I still need to slow my body down by creating some more work to do….hmmm. The tools I am using here are very basic and simple, one froe and one mallet….oh yes, my hands, my arms, my eyes and my mind, plus all that wealth of information I have gained from working the wood. I often tell folks and remind folks….if you want to learn about wood, put your books down and get outside to where the trees are….and start learning.

As I was saying, I came, I saw and now I rive…..



....so how does one go about riving a piece of wood that is wider then the riving knife or if one understands riving, one will know that you must be able to get to both sides of the froe with the mallet….no-problem. Actually there never is a real problem with any working of the wood, the problem lies within your//my own head, in that I 'think' there is a problem….again close the book, and go work the wood.



I started riving this piece by working the wood on the right side and about the first 1/3 of the width….



....next I proceeded the the left side and the remaining 2/3's of the wood. These piece of white oak has already seasoned some and yes, one will have to work the wood some here….I mean thats why they call it the 'mighty oak'.....



....so here we have the wood all rived clean and, yes I will do some clean up on this piece with a timber framing slick, ( that however will be an-other blog story)....



....no-thing more beauti-full then a piece of white oak that is weathering and developing it's own character….



....until one tries riving wood, one will never understand the clean lines that can be gotten from understanding the wood and where to place that riving froe. Actually nothing matches the satisfaction I get, from working with wood….as to cutting, (chainsawing) the tree down, riving the wood by hand, cleaning the wood by hand, drying and curing my own wood and then working those wood joints by hand….to the actual finishing of the wood in a completed form of furniture that I present as 'wood art'. Log to furniture and all the in-be-tween by hand….



....white oak again for the legs. I cut these also last spring and then rived them while the wood was green or else I would have probably never gotten this one to part so clean….



....well after all that, it is time to give a test fit….



....now it's time to take a time of moment's sitting and reflect back upon my day….in this my outside workshop, as I pause to give thanks for all that 'just is'....



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#77 ·
Frank,

For those of us who have never had the opportunity to use a froe or work with wood in original state I thank you for the tutorial. This was an informative post.

Thanks for sharing the intimacy of this aspect of your woodworking adventure. I appreciate being invited to join you on your journey.
 
#81 ·
"Two Maples....One Pine and, ...."

Two Maples….One Pine, and….

....so i stepped outside to the wonders of an outdoor workshop,
where some trees where culling my name,
having not much time to pass with endless chatter,
i reached down and turned my cell-phone off….

--silence…..

....and so i went up last week and payed my respects to an old friend,
one much wiser then me in all the ways of wood,
who welcomed me back since our meeting of last fall,
while even now this one is busy in the giving of thanks….
-by flp



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting to be the time of year here when after putting those machines of winter to sleep….I start or have all-ready started the wake up of the machines for summer. Now having said all that, let me jump on ahead here to some trees, (3) that have come my way. I am in the midst of preparing to chainsaw mill these 3 trees into some slabs and maybe also some dimensional lumber. I will be writing and posting some stories and images of the process, once the work gets more under way….that is just as soon as I can get through some serious kayak days around here. I will start out here with a little background information and prep work on these trees and then also proceed too, in future blog stories, to give some information on the chainsaws I am using plus information on the chainsaw mill I will also be slabbing these with….

....this pine had reached the time when the the owner needed the tree to come down, so here's one I'm looking forward to slabbing up….



....nice base trunk here….and 36''-38'' from side to side….



....i am looking to get about 8'-9' feet of length here of pine slabs….



....I will also be looking at chainsawing some dimensional lumber out of the end here….



....now here is a good part of a branch that tapered off and out….



....and of which I am also looking at for sculpture and lumber….



....next I will also be chainsaw milling this maple out for some slabs….and if I remember right the length is around 6' here….



....and 34''-36'' from side to side at the base…..



....also I'm including some more photos of this sugar maple, which I have already started some work on, in order to prepare the trunk for milling of slabs. This maple should yield some great slabs in the length of 7' at 38''-40'' wide….



....I am also thinking about and how to cut this section here, so as to get some wood with nice form and character….



....well that wraps it up here for today. However I will leave you with one photo of some 'freehand' chainsaw slabbing that I have already started on with these smaller pieces….and yes, more to come….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt":http://frank.wordpress.com/

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood...."
 
#91 ·
Glamdring and Hard-Rock Sugar Maple

Glamdring and Hard-Rock Sugar Maple

So shall we begin….as in a continuation of Hobbit stories for those who waunder much of their life in the woods and glens of the Dark Forest…..Mirkwood.

Here is a picture of a froe-saw-sword-hammer that will from hence-forth be known by the name of 'Glamdring'.

Glamdring was a Noldorian sword, that was first used by Turgon; king of Gondolin in the Battle of the Unnumbered Tears, (Nirnaeth Arnoediad)....during the Years of the Sun, in the First Age….haha; and who says Hobbit's can-not say a mouth-full. I will be writing more on this in the coming days….and then some-time days be-come weeks, so if my story seems to hang….well just remember this one's writing, is one busy hobbit….



....the chain bar pictured here is 60'' wide and by the time the powerhead is connected on the one end and the idler arm on the other end….the cutting swath of Glamdring is 48''. The chain bar is a GB bar of hi-tech titanium alloy steel….not laminated steel and the chainsaw mill is a GB Lumber Mill, while the powerhead is a Husqvarna 395XP rated at 7.2 HP. The main feature which I believe sets the GB Lumber Mill above other chainsaw mills, is the fact that the powerhead connects directly to the mill head itself and not by the chain bar….which means lots less stress and wear and tear….but then more on this latter….



....all loaded up, so lets go and make some saw-chips….



....the saw chain being used here is a ripping chain which I order in rolls of 25' and 100'....guage is .063 and pitch .404. This log was given to me, while the species is; Sugar Maple....also known by the name of Hard Rock Maple....'Acer saccharum'. The log is between 7'-8' in length and by middle of the log, will reach to about 38''-42'' wide in slab. The slabs you see pictured here are milled at 3-1/4'' - 3-1/2'' in thickness….



....truly a table in the wilderness of rustic 'wood art'....



I am thinking of maybe kiln drying some of these slabs also….and this is only the first log. There awaits an-other one of maple to yet be milled and that one has a width of roughly 36''-38''. So yes, I am offering some of what you now see as slabs and will be also possibly doing some in a thickness of around 2'' in the future for sale….and I can deliver for a charge….and if there are any serious interested parties, you can give me a 'private email' at:

rusticwoodman@gmail.com

....more to come….

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"….work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood….''
 
#92 ·
Ahhhhhhh… the Glamdring… I remember the stories from so long ago… and it looks like they were true… it certainly does cut an honest swath… my hat is off to you, fine sir, for being chosen as the keeper of this tool of legend… there is none worthier… I await further tidings…
 
#98 ·
The Beauty of a Soul in Wood

The Beauty of a Soul in Wood



….into the fire of your eye,
ran the character of the wood,
and who was there to welcome my goings,
but the burnished steel of i….

--my going was but a sweetness of golden syrup,
and from the tap ran gallons of sap,
so what was i a doing collecting,
when the springs of spring sprung ambrosia….

....that was then till in my now of days,
i milled your sapwood looking for slabs,
and in the soul of your heartwood you still held more,
one last piece of steel that shines a taste of beauty….

-by flp

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

....things you might meet when out walking in the soul of wood….



....just playing with imagination here, looking at inspiration and, all-ways feeling free to express my-self….



....one can say this story started here….third slab from the left, but I know the story started before I was ever on the scene….back before beginning….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''….work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood….''
 
#102 ·
Wood From An-Other's Wood Bin

Wood From An-Other's Wood Bin

....and, the beauty that comes from knowing there is a place that I fit in….



....my days are filled with the ever increasing knowledge that this thing I call wood and working, is my place of having found peace within the cosmic center of my universe….



....spalted maple; 38'' wide x 3-1/2'' thick and 7'-8' in length and, this is one that I am working on in the evenings here in my outside 360 degree work-space, while pausing to pass some words with an old friend who is coming to watch….



....watcher's and keeper's of the wood abound out here….



....beauty is many feelings to the mind and soul, but out here I am as 'just is'....



....there is often more wood that surrounds me here, ( what woods do you see….?) then at first meets the eye, so once again I gather from the past and, last years cuttings and start looking at what will be-come of these, for this years wood art….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
"....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#105 ·
Jubilant Glory-Be

Jubilant Glory-Be



....detritus wood fiber,
as i shift through these un-sorted images,
that have a way of re-minding me of my topographic with beauty,
where out here i am caught between two worlds….
-by flp

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think I will start this blog story off with a quote from an-other famous hobbit; Bilbo speaking to Frodo, as repeated by Frodo in reply to a question posed to him by one other hobbit so named Pippin.

''It's a dangerous business, ...., going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.''

-by J. R. R. Tolkien; The Fellowship Of The Ring and Chapter 3....Three Is Company

....and so once again I offer a short walk-about, in the woods that surround me here as I waunder a landscape of terra firma, in search of images that give birth to imagination. And yes, you are invited to come along if you should like….only remember, that out here in these woods one might come back and find that his//her head no-longer fits inside the box that those other's of society have said must be. All you need is an open mind, (....hmmm, that might take some getting used to….) some walking boots, and a canteen of water, camera is optional….but a must is pencil and paper.

''It is a dangerous business, ...., going out of your door''.....! As a young child I read this passage and now some years later, I still hear those words resonating through-out the regions of my head-space….hmmm, come to think of it, is not head-space just an-other name for box-space? Yes, I am one who is all-ways working at freeing my-self from what those other's first told me and indoctrinated me into when I was young and, now so many years and ages latter I'm finding, that out of the box, only means until that next box. So many box's and so many lid's, kind of like all those many clubs I once belonged too….where if one said the right words and laughed on cue, not to mess up the status quo, all was fine.

''Do you realize that this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood, and that if you let it, it might take you to the lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places?'' So here's my door for today….now; into those realms of the yet un-fore-seen but ever felt. Have you as I have, ever felt that pull to go out beyond and, yet one holds back because the way at first appears to be un-focused? And what if….'what if' one should fail or loose their way, well at least that one now knows the other side of the story and that is….one can never fail, except that one should fail at getting//stepping outside the box. Now having said all that, let me add one more thought….there are no-teachers outside the box and no-books to guide one on the Road….out here one finds that the reason for my asking that all bring pencil and paper is because that one who follows the Road will be writing their own story-book….and so, turn the page....



....ah yes, Mirkwood my be-loved. So one wants to study design and furniture building, then come and study how trees create their wood joinery. Take your pencil as we pause here and sit awhile so that one may sketch some designer images on paper….and who knows what will be birthed inside your head….



....one of the first lessons I learned out here, is that time means no-thing in Mirkwood and that the seasons will pass on great character out here on the Road….



....now here's an image to light the fire of imagination. I found this one crossing my path as I was moving along the un-tracked foliage of wood-land inspiration….



....all-ways remember to add some color to your dreams and one will ever flower in the milieu that one creates….



....now I can recede back into time for a moment, as I take these images and start processing them within my head-space that I call 'wood art'. And the days pass by….days become weeks, till a time comes when inspiration suddenly un-folds before my eyes and a voice is heard to speak….''now it's time….let's create''.

What I'm saying is this is how it works for me, been carrying a lot of images inside my head from walking out here in these woods….and if one actually thinks about it, many-many and ever so many images that go off in many directions….but the one thing I know for sure is that they're all 'hot' within my head. Like there's a word play of 'hot within my head', not to be confused with the 'who'-'what'-'where'-'when' of hot. But then if you think about it….why would any-one want to be a hot item? Here today and gone tomorrow, that's what happens to hot items….and once your on top, the games you'll be asked to play just so you can maintain some sort of an image….hmmm. We talk about many things that are 'hot'....but how about 'hot wood'....just got an idea here, so before this is over, I'll show you some of my perspective's on 'hot wood'.

Well last night I'm sitting inside the house at close of day, when suddenly I hear that voice of inspiration with quested vision, coming to release my imagination. Wow, is all I can say and having learned long ago when the voice comes….don't put off or hold back, so out the door I go to start some prep work on a piece of wood I've been saving now for close to 7 years….



....as you can see, this ones all-ready starting to awaken in the light of a new day's dawn. One apple wood, Malus pumila….and so it's time to turn the water on and start with a washing for some 'see what is' within the wood fibers of one detritus such as i….



....slivered and weathered grey,
shimmering goodness from the gods of silver wood,
i am cast ashore upon this plane of my horizon,
where i await the hand of one to come and bring forth life….



....yours is the coursing rhythm of pressing on,
speak no-words of what can-not be,
and i will show thee of what can yet be,
my moment of crowning glory was told before beginning….



....i am one who paddles the white-water of rivers strewn with boulders,
out here my mind works with passion that goes some moves ahead,
lakes of green are but the grass flakes that absorb me some of the time,
and wood is the anchor that causes me to re-turn to shore….



....and so just as i am found within,
my flesh bears the nature of who i am,
stare deep inside this stump of wood,
and know a soul-of-wood who longs for you….



And so for now, lets continue with a thought I had above about 'hot wood' and more of 'wood art' tales.

....who lights the fire that glows from yonder tree,
did you think it was thee of may-be me,
and what should one do to explain the mystic powers of one who is free,
except to give thanks in honor of a jubilant glory-be….

--now having said all-that i now speak the words of what can be….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood….''
 
#112 ·
Wooden Throne's of Power

Wooden Throne's of Power



--it takes two, to make as one....

....his and hers to sit side be-side,
hers and his to share their moments of bliss,
hers to confide the years they've shared,
his to remember her beauty of now,

--and as the years roll on--their shared forest thrones of to-getherness....

-by flp

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#115 ·
Glamdring and The Chainsaw Milling of Pine

Glamdring and The Chainsaw Milling of Pine



....and so twas on one of my visits into the deep woods,
that i heard the tales of this sword beater called glamdring,
for in the presence of trees and all that speaks of wood,
i first was made aware of the weaponsmith's of gondolin….

--these were//are they who first learned the lineage of steel,
and how to work the metals needed to hold an edge in wood,
were as the times of woodworking continue in the landscape here,
i sought for teeth that would cut true in the use of wood….

....from within the soul of trees i came to be known as 'one with wood',
and so what came next was an introduction with those other's,
who worked for wood in the skills that they were taught of old,
and so glamdring was passed on to this maker of 'wood art'….

-by flp

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In writing this blog story of a 'piece' of pine wood which I have slab cut, with the help of Glamdring and one other this past Friday, I am showing maybe more then usual….you be the judge, since if one will look around, they will see various other tools and jigs laying around. Some of these I will describe and, then some I will just let be….unless one wants to pick some tool up and ask a question.

Let me also state that I am 'safety' 365//24//7 and that is why what I offer is for the better-ment of any who might be interested in the way that I work wood. For what I do, the factor of safety is first and foremost, and once I'm in the 'action of wood' mode, it's work--work--work….too many factors going on to think about other things such as video cameras and photos of my-self in the picture. Safety is a 'planed existence' of continuing to work with wood and when the camera is on my-self as an individual for this type of woodworking….that is a distraction that I do not need. The art to pre-form for wood with an audience is not my way. I might go on and add that if one wants to see this in action of setting, then one could all-ways email and come visit where I work. Just remember that we will not be sitting in some shop talking of wood, but we will be out there, where the wood speaks as 'action in happening'. And then I also wonder and so I will add, that while working with a camera and my-self in action is not my way, this is to in no-way imply that this cannot be other's ways.

Now to continue with safety and chainsaw milling. Hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, ear muffs, chaps and clearness or focus of mind, are some of the few starters of safety one will be wearing and using. And did you notice I said….'will be wearing and using', well thats just being safety conscious right? The point I'm trying to get across here is that any-thing less then this, is 'planning to have an accident ' and then there's all-ways that mess to clean up afterwards….ugh. The one who is not planning for safety….is planning to have an accident….and then comes ambulatory or death, (might I also add that 'accidents' don't just happen and that this is just a word used for what amounts to not planing to be safe) just as safety does not just happen….but is an planned event 24/7!

This one was dropped earlier in the spring//summer and so has been patiently waiting for an opportune time. First cut is all-ways the most important to set up, since all other cuts will ride the wood according to what has been sawed on that first cut. What this means is that any imperfections along the cut from an improperly laid jig, will transfer to all other cuts. My jig that I'm using here is an old ladder, all-ready previous cut pine scrape wedges and then all screwed down with the use of 3-1/2'' deck screws. Fancy….no, made by some known tool company….no, expensive….no, does it work and is this simple….yes! And so let us continue….



....now remember I did say simple….yes, and…..so I will add this is beaut-i-full. Now how about that crotch area and those swirls in the pine….



....well, 3 slabs in the wind and so lets take a breather. I will mention that Glamdring needs some fresh fuel between each cut….since this one is a Husqvarna 395 xp and is over 80 cc, the fuel mixture is 1:33, which also means a fill up of the extra oil unit out there on the end. Some wonder about that extra oil unit out there on the end of the saw and so I will give an explanation here. These saws of this size have adjustments where one can open the oiler up or down and, since this one usually runs with a 36'' bar, I open up all the way. However when one goes past 36'' and into chainsaw mills, it's not going to happen that one can expect to get oil out to the end of a 60'' bar, therefore an extra oiler working with gravity feed is used. The time I spend doing these fill ups and adjustments also gives the engine a moment or moments to just breathe and rest between cuts, while I also move the slab around to it's next place of cure. Although this is only pine and not as heavy as maple or oak, at a slab cut depth of 4''....there's still some weight here….did I hear some-one say that they wanted to come and learn how to work some wood with me….so be pre-pared to sweat….safety again, no shorts….but just look at the beauty of those pine slabs….



....pausing to reflect on the beauty of my outside office space, never could handle that 7:00-4:00 grind, my day starts around 5:00 am and continues throughout the day till around 7:00 pm at night. The rewards though are many….clean air, healthy attitude of mind, the vigor of being physical, landscapes of woodscapes galore, plus if I need fellowship, it's down the hill I ride on the atv to a friends house or the ones who come around from time to time and, then there's all-ways the fellowship of trees. Did I mention the reward of getting to work with wood from start to finish….like dropping the tree, chainsaw milling into slabs, stickering and curing, design, planning the wood, joinery, assembly, and finishing the wood….no-short cuts, so some projects take years to complete plus all those other factors….



....three slab cuts now and all gassed up….



....guess I had better add some oil….Glamdring is ready, I'm ready and my other is ready so lets go and cut again….



....a couple of pictures here of the log these slabs are coming off of….



....and….



....it's really not so much needed to seal the ends of pine this thick, (4'') since the pine sap will actually seal those ends up quite tight. However habits are hard to break and so yes, lets add some red 100% acrylic exterior paint to the ends here. The slabs are now at a reference point of around 36'' wide….



....one last photo as this worker of wood climbs aboard his steel horse and rides for home. And in passing I might add with not a minute to spare, I'm in the garage when the heavens opened up and what a thunderstorm we had….



My next chainsaw mill cut will be on an-other piece of maple, after I finish up with this one. I think I will drop down to around 2'' in thickness and see about getting some two to three more cuts on this one.

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
#120 ·
Reflections on Beavers and Trees

Reflections on Beavers and Trees

Out here in the woods, I am part of a whole picture where what happens with wood….also happens to all involved with wood, plus those un-in-volved with wood….hmmm, are any who are really non-existent from wood? Can a worker of wood be selfish and think that it's all about wood and that all else will just have to take care of them-selves. Well the answer is yes and no, one can be selfish and think only of their needs when going for wood, but in the end we all pay for un-healthy attitudes of working with wood and the habitat of a forest environment.

Beavers and trees and water and how the landscape can be changed by beavers or humans who are busy 'beavering away'. Just some thoughts here from one who works with both and would not want to see this scene before mine eyes all clear cut for an-other sub-division of asphalt roads and concrete slab homes. But then as much as I welcome the creatures of the woods, I am some-times at a loss when it comes to what a beaver and his clan can do. This beaver has been working here for some years now….started above the pond, has worked the pond and dam and now has moved on to below the dam, where he is busy daming up on downstream. And so yes, up in my neck of the woods beavers and bulldoziers are known for changing the landscape of New England. Now what about stone walls….?

And so here we are….



....not a care in the world….


....and this one's used to humans watching….



....so he//she decides to put on a show….



....this is the entry way into Beaver's World….



....and down there and under is beavers home….



....what a beaver can do with those gouging tools is what happens when a beech tree gets in the way….



....next area to be put under water….



....still seems to me that….and so I'll just pause and get my bearings with reflections of trees in water….



Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank
RusticWoodArt

rusticwoodman@gmail.com
http://frank.wordpress.com/

-
''....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood....''
 
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