Every so often my friend and turning Guru, Bob, calls. He doesn’t have to say anything. When I see its him, it means WOOD. This load took three of us to manhandled and haul away from it Cumming, GA. location.
I am currently turning my share and some amazing stuff is coming out of it. Actually I have the first two bowls in the sanding stage at this time.
Sometimes you just get lucky, or perhaps your living right and doing well towards your fellow man. Whatever the case I had a good friend from the market recently buy a farm and needed to remove a few trees. She thought they were all Bradford Pear but it turned out there was also Maple and what you see in this picture Box Elder. This wood is well, just wonderful and you will see it show up in bowls being turned in early 2012. I have probably already turned 5 and they are asleep in yard bags nestled in their own sawdust slowly drying. Thank you Melissa!
What more could Jeff the Wood Guy ever ask for! Trees flying almost right into his yard! His neighbor, Nancy, decided to remove one of the last Bradford Pears in her yard. The problem was that it was located near the back between her house and her neighbors. The only way out for the tree was to fly. The Tree Service brought in a crane and removed the tree in two parts, with the trunks arriving shortly thereafter in my yard. Its Thanksgiving and Jeff the Wood Guy has lots to be thankful for. Thank you Nancy.
So last week during a storm we had a micro cell come roaring through the neighbor hood. As the mini tonardo tracked through, it chose Mark’s house to squeeze by and in so doing took out their favorite maple tree, well at least it took out 1/2 leaving the other half for Mark and I to take down and clean up.
Mark was generous enough to let me have whatever wood I wanted for the assist. I took the trunk, first, second and third growths. Some will become bowls, some legs for benches and the balance part of next years firewood. For Mark the balance was mulched and will be used in their wonderful garden.
Its very sad to loose a tree, but good to know it will be upcycled 100% .
About the photo: This picture is mostly the leg and firewood pile. Much more larger wood was not photographed. One of my most cherished tools is in the picture. Its neither the chainsaw or the gloves but rather the first edition of the Stanley WorkMate. It was a gift from my Father-in-Law, Irv, back in 1978. That and a tool box I still have. I cannot tell you all the things the WorkMate has helped me accomplish over the years from house renovations to building just about everything to currently a stand for logs that I chainsaw. The tool box now holds only my instrument making tools.
Thank you Irv!
This photo is of a double trunked Red Maple that is located in the neighborhood. It was at the point where the tree was rotting at the split and the tree was going to fall in the near future either on a house or the street or a car in the street.
I happened to be there when the final cut came. You can see the tree is just starting it’s controlled fall.
The crew providing the expertise is Northside Tree Professionals. They do really great work and always have fair pricing.
As of this writing I have just begun to turn the wood and the bowls will be wonderfully white with red speckles…stay tuned!
I was extremely lucky today!
I have found the Tree of Knowledge, and in all places – Broxton, GA.
You will find it at the S.W. corner of Old Fitzgerald Rd. and Alabama St.
Given how old the tree is and the hand crafted benches all around it, I figured this was a spiritual place. A place where important men have gathered over time and pondered life’s questions.
I ask the Tree of Knowledge a couple of questions, however, It gave no answer….Given it was a holiday, I assumed it must not have been working today.
The next time I pass by I will surely stop and try again!
Today I went over to a neighbors house where a White Oak was cut down this summer due to illness. It has spend a nice amount of time on the ground and in the leaves, so I assume it will have some wonderful “Spalting” when I cut it open. When you first cut open such wood it is either a wonderful or very frustrating experience, depending on nature and the combinations of weather and climate. You will find either artistry or rot and very little in the middle.
Two weeks ago Allison’s uncle Joe called from Knoxville to let me know he had come across a fresh walnut tree that had just been cut. Even better was the fact that I was travelling to Knoxville on business. I took the big car.
I now have some very nice Walnut logs that will yield 12-13 inch Diameter bowls. Pictures to follow.
Today I had a friend of a friend contact me to let me know that their community had to take down a large Red Maple to do some sewer repairs.
Large was not exactly what I would have said….the main trunk was over 3 feet thick!!! I did haul off a couple of sections of smaller stuff but did call in reinforcements for tomorrow…..Chainsaw and Truck, here we go!
