Strange request

[sb47]

Over the years I have received many strange request.
Here is a short list,
Someone wanting a large cut round for a knife and hatchet target for a Boy Scout troop.
A lady wanted 12" rounds cut to different heights for a shue display in a mall.
Another wanted 2" slices with bark attached for center pieces at a wedding reception.
A few people wand slabs cut for craft projects.
One guy wanted tree bark for some religious ceremony.
Today I get a call wanting 1/2 cord un split oak rounds.
I had to ask why, and the guy told me his boss had just bought splitting mall and he wanted to try it out.
I can understand someone wanting to split there own wood.
But he wanted 24" lengths of 12" or bigger.

I laughed knowing how hard thats going to be.
Nice gift, something he can curse repeatedly. lol
I have tried splitting oak by hand. I'd rather be dragged by a truck.
Dry soft woods with strait grains, no problem.
Green oak, nightmare.

I told him to look for some pine , poplar or even ceder.
I told him I would be happy to sell him the wood. But I also told him, your boss will curse you for it.

I could be mean and sell him some live oak. But I'm afraid the guy will get fired. lol

 

[unclemoustache]

Was at a wedding a couple weeks ago. Here are the center pieces you were talking about. Notice also the little chips with the initials burned into them. I wonder what they spent for this? I nearly offered to take the centerpieces off their hands when they were done with them....

 

[sb47]

Was at a wedding a couple weeks ago. Here are the center pieces you were talking about. Notice also the little chips with the initials burned into them. I wonder what they spent for this? I nearly offered to take the centerpieces off their hands when they were done with them....

View attachment 499810

Yeah, thats very similar to what i made for a client.

 

[DFK]

About two years back I found a C-List ad: Someone wanted 12 - 14" to 16" Oak Cookies.
Was willing to pay $100.00.

He picked thim up at my office and paid Ca$h.

For a Wedding.

David

 

[mu2bdriver]

A few years ago that was a trendy thing at weddings. I can't tell you how many perfect 1" thick oak, pine, and beech I cut for friends and neighbors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brenndatomu]

Today I get a call wanting 1/2 cord un split oak rounds.
I had to ask why, and the guy told me his boss had just bought splitting mall and he wanted to try it out.
I can understand someone wanting to split there own wood.
But he wanted 24" lengths of 12" or bigger.

I laughed knowing how hard thats going to be.
Nice gift, something he can curse repeatedly. lol
I have tried splitting oak by hand. I'd rather be dragged by a truck.

Boy, y'all must have completely different Oak than around here...our Red Oak practically splits itself if you even threaten it with a Fiskars ax

 

[sb47]

Boy, y'all must have completely different Oak than around here...our Red Oak practically splits itself if you even threaten it with a Fiskars ax

Most red oak we have around here tends to be knotty and lots of forks.
I get lucky sometimes and get some strait grained trunks.
Good strait grained red oak is not that hard to split. (some of the time)
Post oak is even more forked and knotty.
Most big oaks down here grow out in the open so they tend to be short with very little strait grain wood.
I'm know stranger to a sledge hammer or ax or maul.
Been swinging one ever since I can remember.
But the thought of splitting hard wood with a maul. Well you know my preferences.
But your right, some strait grained red oak seems to jump apart pretty easy. ( but only good strait grain)

However Live Oak is a whole other story. Even the straightest grained live oak will challenge the most seasoned wood spliter.
Live oak, Hickory, Pecan and Live oak, and cotton wood, are tough to split.

He acted like he still wanted it, so a sale is a sale.

 

[damato333]

Last year a women wanted thin slices for center pieces for her wedding. I didn't mind doing it. It was the easiest money that I've ever made.

 

[moondoggie]

Last year a women wanted thin slices for center pieces for her wedding. I didn't mind doing it. It was the easiest money that I've ever made.

+1

 

[Jere39]

It was a big wedding

 

[abbott295]

I have a son getting married this November and he says they like this idea. Thanks for bringing it up.

UncleMoustache, in the picture you posted, is there any bark on that or is it just weathered gray? Just cut cookies off a log or are they prepared at all? Planed smooth on one side, both or neither?

Anyone have suggestions on how and when to make some of these? Like I said we have until November. Saving money is a good thing. I don't know how many they will be wanting, or what is a good size.

Thanks for this idea and any further suggestions.

 

[Jere39]

I've supplied cookies to several wedding planners in the past couple years. All requested bark on, and all asked for a more rustic look. So, I have not planed any, nor applied any kind of oil or preservative. I suppose if they were intended to last for years or something that would be necessary. I cut from a green tree, and I usually pick a poplar. I've usually been asked to come up with about 12" diameter. Last year I had a bride's mother ask me if I would take them back after the wedding. I did, and was lucky enough to sell them again. They came back again, and now they sit and will likely be used on my deck in my raised fire pit. They burn cleanly, with little smoke, and since half the fun of a fire pit is feeding the fire, they make a great, and easy firewood for my young nephews to take charge of feeding the fire.

 

[abbott295]

Thanks for the information, Jere. It is quite helpful. Cut them green, tree to wedding the next day? I end up doing a lot of things at the last minute. But there would be little concern about them splitting that way.

 

[lone wolf]

Was at a wedding a couple weeks ago. Here are the center pieces you were talking about. Notice also the little chips with the initials burned into them. I wonder what they spent for this? I nearly offered to take the centerpieces off their hands when they were done with them....

View attachment 499810

 

[67L36Driver]

Next door neighbor lady wanted some cookies off my pile. I cautioned her that they would crack apart within a few days.

People in my neighborhood know they can get fire pit fodder anytime.

Family two blocks over show up with their little red wagon.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

It was a big wedding


View attachment 501811

That's my style supper plate!


OP, what's a "shue" display?

 

[rarefish383]

Boy, y'all must have completely different Oak than around here...our Red Oak practically splits itself if you even threaten it with a Fiskars ax

I was going to say the same thing. White, Red and Chestnut Oak around here are the sweetest splitting stuff there is. I used to use a 3 pound ax for most of my Oak splitting, never a 6 or 8 pound maul. Then I saw where you said your trees tend to grow short and squat, with lots of limbs, that makes a big difference. Our Oaks are mostly forest grown with the first limb 40-60 feet and straight as a poker. Pin and Willow Oak can be a bit tougher to split, they are usually yard trees with lots of limbs and crotches, Joe.

 

[sb47]

I was going to say the same thing. White, Red and Chestnut Oak around here are the sweetest splitting stuff there is. I used to use a 3 pound ax for most of my Oak splitting, never a 6 or 8 pound maul. Then I saw where you said your trees tend to grow short and squat, with lots of limbs, that makes a big difference. Our Oaks are mostly forest grown with the first limb 40-60 feet and straight as a poker. Pin and Willow Oak can be a bit tougher to split, they are usually yard trees with lots of limbs and crotches, Joe.

Lucky you! lol
I only mess with selling wood, no junk wood allowed.
Red oak, Splits good when strait grained, but forks and knots are much more difficult.
Post oak, splits the same as same as the red oak. Maybe a little easier then the red oak.
Mesquite, splits pretty easy, but the saw bugs will reduce a pile of splits into a pile of saw dust pretty quick.
Pecan, is much more difficult to split. The grain may be strait, but the fibers are arranged so that it wants to tear apart rather then split. Dry pecan splits much better.
Hickory, is about the same as the pecan.
Live oak, now that stuff is hard to split. Makes awesome fire wood though.