What direction should I cut it

[boe]

While turkey hunting last weekend, I come across an oak tree with a burl in it. I cut the burl out, or at least what I am calling a burl. :msp_biggrin:

The center is punky, I had planned on slicing some board thicknesses thru it perpendicular to the length of the tree, but the center would be bad in every piece, I think I am forced to slice it parallel with the length of the tree, and hope for something that looks good from the outer pieces.

If the center was good, which direction would you slice this up?

 

[lmbrman]

no clue myself, but curious what advice follows as i have a black cherry one to play with - good luck !

 

[Burlhunter13]

Thats a very common quality burl. I have milled lots of them with large punky areas. If your going for quality pieces (they would be smaller for turnings) then start taking slices parallel with the direction the tree grows. What are your plans with the burl? Clock slabs, turnings, small boards. If you want the highest quality pieces from that burl then position the nicest side up and slab it out that way. I normally slab small burls between 1 1/2" to 2 1/8" slabs if they are low quality. That way I can cut out the larger pieces from my slabs for turning blanks.....and the sections that didnt make the grade have enough meat on them to make smaller bottle stopper blanks/pen blanks/ knife handles with a little work on the table saw. I keep just about every scrap of burl. The smallest pieces (and I mean small, size of a dime) can be used for Jewelry.

 

[qbilder]

I agree, straight through slab it. It might not be all that punky inside.

 

[john taliaferro]

We only know one way to cut a log lengthwise .

 

[820wards]

If the center was good, which direction would you slice this up?

Boe,
I have a couple of black oak burls that I will be milling and plan to mill them lengthwise. Even if you do have punky wood in the center you can still get some usable wood.

If you want to make a table, clean the center out, make your table stand-frame and put a glass top on it. See through burl table.

Here are the two burls I plan to mill.
jerry-

 

[Burlhunter13]

I have a couple of black oak burls that I will be milling and plan to mill them lengthwise. Even if you do have punky wood in the center you can still get some usable wood.

If you want to make a table, clean the center out, make your table stand-frame and put a glass top on it. See through burl table.

Here are the two burls I plan to mill.
jerry-

[/QUOTE]


ooooooooooo nice