Hi
This is my hollow log story.
Im retired from the construction business, about eight years ago. I moved to Costa Rica about the same time. I bought and remodeled a couple houses and built the one that I live in. It took over two years to build. It’s a little bigger then a house; it has five separate living areas including the one that I live in. I live here with my wife and her fourteen year old daughter. We use the others for family and friends. More about us later.
Now the hollow log story.
I have a Tico friend (Tico is what Costa Rican’s call them selfs) who family owns the two saw mills here in San Ramon where I live. I told him that if he found anything odd I wonted to see it, so he called one day and ask if I wonted to see this hollowed log that he bough about ten years ago. It had been left it the jungle for over fifty years until this truck driver brought it in to make a full load. I was told that it wasn’t brought in before because it was to heavy to load with the equipment that they used. When I bought it it weight over 2500#, the wood is About 1.15 in weigh. After it was cut it’s had been exposed to the weather and insects for around 60 years. The end cuts only had weather damage for one half inch. A tough tough wood. The estimated age of the tree is around 400 years.
It is thirty eight inches round and about ten feet long. About 65% on the center is gone eaten away by insects. What is lift is to tough to be eaten by anything local
So I bought it not having any idea what to do with it. First I thought about cutting it long ways and make boards with it. But I changed my mind and cut it into wheels, I ended up with over thirty wheels. some are 2- 2 1/2 and 3 inches and the end cuts are about 6 inches.
I had to cut it into manageable pieces. The two inch one’s weigh around fifty pounds.
The name of the tree is GUAPINOL (Hymenaea courbaril) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatob%C3%A1 rose wood to some. Before most of it was gone, it was used for hard wood floors, there is some on the market for around $5.00 to $10.00 SF
I’m putting together a wood working shop to do this and other wood things. My Tico friend come up with some great wood. They have more then fifty different kinds at his saw mill in stock.
More later and I will find a way to show the picture.
The picture were taken by a good friend of mine (Ross Kelly) at my request.
-- Occie down in Costa Rica. come down and see us some time. I'll keep the light on for you Occiegilliam@yahoo.com
17 comments so far
a1Jim
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17211 posts in 477 days
posted 195 days ago
interesting story . So it’s a giant log of Rosewood cool.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com
woodworm
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8308 posts in 491 days
posted 195 days ago
I love to see the pictures. Rosewood must must be very very beauriful at the age pver 400 yr.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Splinterman
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4935 posts in 261 days
posted 195 days ago
It will be great to machine in a lathe.
-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.
Scott Bryan
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20828 posts in 722 days
posted 195 days ago
Finding old growth lumber like this is getting to be difficult. It would be nice to see a picture.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Moai
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721 posts in 293 days
posted 194 days ago
Looking fordward for those pics!
-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.
stefang
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1656 posts in 234 days
posted 194 days ago
South American quartersawn rosewood is prized for making acoustic guitar backs and sides. These are sold by lutherie supply companies in about 9” widths and a little longer than the guitar box in thicknesses less than 1/4”. The backs require two of these pieces. The 2 back pieces and 2 side pieces which are about 5” wide and a similar lenth sells for around $500. Want to try your hand a guitar making?
-- Mike, American in Norway
Occie gilliam
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313 posts in 196 days
posted 194 days ago
Hi thanks for reading my post, you can see the pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157618491855926 hope that you enjoy them.
Occie
-- Occie down in Costa Rica. come down and see us some time. I'll keep the light on for you Occiegilliam@yahoo.com
Spoontaneous
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166 posts in 230 days
posted 194 days ago
Cool story… but when I click on the link it takes me to my own Flickr sorting file???? Shouldn’t I get a chunk of this wood for my inconvenience? <big>
Occie gilliam
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313 posts in 196 days
posted 193 days ago
Hi Spoontaneous
if there is a way i would be glad to give you a chunk. maybe you left off some of the url just a though
-- Occie down in Costa Rica. come down and see us some time. I'll keep the light on for you Occiegilliam@yahoo.com
sIKE
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1094 posts in 654 days
posted 193 days ago
Occie,
The link you provided takes me to my Photostream not yours…..
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
Occie gilliam
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313 posts in 196 days
posted 193 days ago
HI sike
i dont know why i dont even know whay your is ???
Sorry ill try to fix it
-- Occie down in Costa Rica. come down and see us some time. I'll keep the light on for you Occiegilliam@yahoo.com
MsDebbieP
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14188 posts in 1061 days
posted 175 days ago
how exciting!!
I bet you are glad that you cut it into circles rather than rectangles :)
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Karson
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25871 posts in 1300 days
posted 175 days ago
A great story. Would love to see your pictures.
When you view a flicker picture do a right clock and get the properties. In properties select the url and copy it. then paste it to your blog and put a ! (exclamation point) before and after the url.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Occie gilliam
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313 posts in 196 days
posted 142 days ago
i’m trying to load a picture here of the log
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3546179791_c723a95a51.jpg?v=0
-- Occie down in Costa Rica. come down and see us some time. I'll keep the light on for you Occiegilliam@yahoo.com
patron
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2466 posts in 241 days
posted 142 days ago
just one pic, half circle .
are there more ?
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
Occie gilliam
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313 posts in 196 days
posted 141 days ago
Yes i have 35 rings
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3546987180_e6d21656c9.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3546179873_c2ebe09c01.jpg?v=0
-- Occie down in Costa Rica. come down and see us some time. I'll keep the light on for you Occiegilliam@yahoo.com
Karson
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25871 posts in 1300 days
posted 140 days ago
Very nice A lot of toliet seats in the making.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †