Can I get some tips on how to treat this birds eye root I found in my stump pile??

[jockeydeuce]

I figured so many of you guys mill for your own woodworking needs, so this would be the best place to ask.......

I was cutting up and burning stumps that have been sitting in a big heap since I cleared my property four years ago and came across a small birch stump that had all the indications of having some birds eye, so I started whittling away with my 044 to remove most of the bark inclusions and came up with 3 nice sections with some beautiful birds eye and some spalt.....It's quite stunning and I want to try my hand at carving a groovy decorative bowl out of this.

What is the best procedure, in terms of drying and best tools to carve with, etc......It's certainly not what you would consider "green" wood, because as I said, it's been sitting on a stump pile seasoning for four years.

Here's one piece of it.....It's not large by any means, but I can probably get something 10 inches long and 7 inches wide out of this piece........

The figure carries through to the back side........

This one corner is pretty amazing......

I can see this becoming a habit!!!...:msp_w00t:

 

[discounthunter]

nice find! it is habit forming. your hobby wood pile will eventually be bigger than your fire wood pile,lol. if its 4 years old id say no sealing required. id move it into your workshop(garage,basement ,ect) and let it aclimate.as far as what to do with it? well theres no limit. pens ,game calls,small bowl.

 

[mikeb1079]

cool. that has potential for sure. what about turning it on a lathe?

 

[jockeydeuce]

nice find! it is habit forming. your hobby wood pile will eventually be bigger than your fire wood pile,lol. if its 4 years old id say no sealing required. id move it into your workshop(garage,basement ,ect) and let it aclimate.as far as what to do with it? well theres no limit. pens ,game calls,small bowl.

Thanks for the reply!

I haven't done a lot of woodworking before, but I'm really interested and this stuff is truly beautiful!! The only "hard wood" I have here is birch, and I never knew there was potential for this kind of character.

I free hand slabbed another birch stump from the pile today, and it's a keeper too...Not as much birds eye, but lots of figure....I have a wood lathe that I made in metalwork class over 25 years ago and have never set up and used (sad I know), but I'm ready to get turning!!!:msp_w00t:

I can see blanks cluttering up my world...A new habit!!:msp_rolleyes:

I really want to try carving some bowls as opposed to turning as well.....I like all those natural curves!

 

[markvanzee]

if you want to turn a bowl out of that wood, i may be wise to practice with some boring piece of wood first. it's very unlikely that your first turned bowl will turn out good.

or rough turning it (10 % of the total diameter as the thickness of the wall)

 

[jockeydeuce]

if you want to turn a bowl out of that wood, i may be wise to practice with some boring piece of wood first. it's very unlikely that your first turned bowl will turn out good.

or rough turning it (10 % of the total diameter as the thickness of the wall)

Good plan for sure!....Thanks!:msp_thumbup: