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Ash root burl....how to resaw

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Forum topic by Bob Babcock posted 556 days ago 596 views 0 times favorited 14 replies Add to Favorites
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Bob Babcock

1807 posts in 623 days


556 days ago

Topic tags/keywords: ash burl resaw

My daughters boyfriend just brought me a present. This is an ash root with a burl. Very interesting grains and visible spalting in the root. The burl has strange green areas on it. The problem is how best to get at the wood. You can see stones embedded in the wood of the root. The burl looks stone free (looks like it pushed stones away as it grew) but who knows.

Any ideas on how best to proceed. I was thinking of cutting away carefully with a handsaw removing as much rock as possible and then proceeding slowly with my bandsaw. I haven’t installed the riser block kit yet so the 93 1/2” blade can be considered disposable since I’ll be getting 105” blades soon.

I’m thinking of using what I can get out of it to build a jewelry box for my daughter.

Look at the green stuf (copper in ground?)
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Spalting
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More green stuff Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Rocks Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Overall size Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

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Dick, & Barb Cain

5384 posts in 836 days


556 days ago

That’s a beauty, you have to cut it, & hope you don’t run into anything.

I was wondering if your whole image is showing. I found out that 480 wide is about the maximum width that works on LJ uploads.
Good luck with your sawing!!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

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Sawhorse

273 posts in 976 days


556 days ago

That will make one beautiful jewelry box….good luck!

-- Sawhorse - Sulphur Springs, TX - www.sawhorseworkshop.com

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Karson

13525 posts in 937 days


555 days ago

You might try power washing to force any small rocks out. The only roots that I’ve cut were clear roots with no embedded folds.

Good luck. What are the dimensions?

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

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MsDebbieP

12282 posts in 697 days


555 days ago

I’d love to just see it sanded and polished. This is wonderful – I love the stone treasures.

Good luck with the cutting. I’ll cross my fingers for you – that’s about all the help I can give. Sorry

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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Bob Babcock

1807 posts in 623 days


555 days ago

The root portion is about 18-24” long…6-8” wide, 4” thick….the burl is about 3” thick and 6” dia.

I’m thinking about removing the burl and carving it to reveal the grain…maybe using it as the top of the box? I’ll saw the root…I’m going to cut 1/2” and hopefully get 3/8” finished. Not sure how much I’ll get out of it but we’ll see….I have two 93” blades I can sacrifice if necessary. I’m going to work at it very slowly. Keep those fingers crossed Deb…I’m gonna need it.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

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MsDebbieP

12282 posts in 697 days


555 days ago

they are crossed!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View frank's profile

frank

1420 posts in 742 days


555 days ago

Hi Bob;
—-nice looking burl you have there!!!

I also would second what Karson has mentioned above about the power washing. A lot of my old salvaged wood and timbers, plus burls and (‘whenever in doubt, I power wash’) all the others I get, I have made it a point to always power wash, since this removes the bark, dirt and whatever’s of accumulated ground clutter.

Ha!!!,....now you’ve got me on the one about asking how to ‘proceed’ with the burl…., since I all-ways just go and ask the wood….LOLLLLLLLLLLL Fast, I think I need a smiley around here.

Great burl Bob, and you should get some nice figures in the wood, what with some spalting to go along with it. I re-saw a lot of small wood burls and buttons on my bandsaw and then also do testing on these pieces for different finishes and also for butterflies for wood joinery. Always interesting working with burls since you never know what you have till you go inside the wood.

One note I might add is you can also get small metal detectors from places like Woodcraft and Rocklers…...price range is $20.00 – $100.00 and then on up. For small burls, the $20.00 – $25.00 ones work good, just be sure to always ‘look’ and ‘listen’....

GODSPEED,
Frank

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

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oscorner

4573 posts in 847 days


555 days ago

Great looking burl!

-- Jesus is Lord!

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Bob Babcock

1807 posts in 623 days


554 days ago

I hand cut the burl free from the root…some interesting swirls and spalting. I’m heading out to do the rest on the bandsaw right now. I’ll post pictures tomorrow.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

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Bob Babcock

1807 posts in 623 days


554 days ago

HHHmmmm…That didn’t go very well. I should have listened to the wood. I think you were right Deb…it was telling me to carve and polish… I tried to use the bandsaw to slice of a slab and flatten one side of the burl and almost immediately hit rock. I managed to hack my way around the outside and eventually got a flat surface but no slab…. it is filled with rocks. One blade down…..

The majority of this is going to need to be carved. I’m going to try again tomorrow on what looks to be a clear spot. If I’m lucky I’ll get enough for a 5” x 5” x 3” box. I’ll be able to cut the underside of the burl to fit over it as the top.

Actually it probably won’t be tomorrow. i’m puting a new blade on and need to do some cutting of the pieces for the Morris chair….I’ll get all that cut before risking the blade again.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

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mot

4858 posts in 573 days


554 days ago

Sorry to hear that Bob…I’d have whacked into it with the bandsaw too.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

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jockmike2

4494 posts in 783 days


553 days ago

Me too, I would’nt be able to stand not knowing what that grain looked like. jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

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Dick, & Barb Cain

5384 posts in 836 days


553 days ago

You may have to rent a diamond saw, like they use on concrete,or tile. That way you can leave the rocks, and work them into whatever you make.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View Bob Babcock's profile

Bob Babcock

1807 posts in 623 days


553 days ago

Doh!....(smacks himself in the head).....why didn’t I think of that Dick?.....I actually have a concrete blade I can put in my skilsaw…. I’ll try it later this week.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

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