Workingman Posted December 24, 2012 Report Share Posted December 24, 2012 My wife has a jewlry box with a box elder top. I got it for her about 15 years ago and the top color has not faded. It had a decent amount of exposure to light for much of that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2012 This was interesting.It is a "small" branch from the American Elm that is dying slowly in my yard.The wood is extremely dense and tough to get a chainsaw through.But it seems to be very promising for guitar bodies.It looks nice IMO I am glad it looks like it will work,because I have a huge tree that needs to come down.This piece is 4 1/4" thick and once a straight edge is put on one side it will barely be large enough for a two piece body...most likely it will become wings for a neck through. I am going to need a larger chainsaw for the trunk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2012 So the weather is turning against me for a few days,so it looks like I'll have to resume this when it warms back up My pile I made(does not include the bigger chinaberry blanks I made in the first two posts) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted December 25, 2012 Report Share Posted December 25, 2012 You can get a chain specifically made for ripping. Also, for a cheap stopgap solution to the chainsaw mill, you could try something like the Haddon Lumbermaker. Several companies make something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Nice collection so far. I'm jealous- I wanted to do a body from a stump via chainsaw, but it won't be anytime soon. If you notice any pitfalls involved, give a yell. I just got 4+ acres and some of it has nice standing timber on it. I'll get to it one day, but definitely no time soon. Good luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Severe case of heart rot in this hackberry tree...luckily I wasn't expecting anything from this one.I did find a red wasp nest inside...good thing it's cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetzerHarah Posted December 28, 2012 Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Cut it into 2' sections, slap a piece of glass on top, & sell 'em as coffee tables! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2012 Actually that does give me ideas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightninMike Posted December 29, 2012 Report Share Posted December 29, 2012 Or find someone who wants some drums made and give them some seriously beautiful shells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Wowww that looks awesome! I love that red! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted December 31, 2012 Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 WOW... I can't believe the price of that Lumbersmith. Over here in oz that type if hobby machine starts around 5k! I wonder how much postage is to Australia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Most of them are that expensive here too...that one is the cheapest i found by far..notice it just rolls on home made rails that you make yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2012 Hmmm a lot of work tomorrow to start the new year right! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 So I got most of the small stuff cleared out of the way.It is going to take some time to get the big stuff squared away into lumber.. A pic of the trunk with my hand for scale.The rotted core I will have to work around because it is too soft in most spots to use as a feature of the wood Then I realized nobody knows the size of my hand...so I am using a medium foam brush for scale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 The stump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Looks like you some some more seriously nice timber coming your way. Another thought for the hollow logs - you could cut them up and use/sell them as decorative pots, for plants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Another thought for the hollow logs - you could cut them up and use/sell them as decorative pots, for plants? I really like that idea...A plant in a plant...cool... Some of the smaller limbs(about 6" wide) I think I will be cutting up and selling as carving logs.I saw some for sale on Ebay and I think it's a cool idea...better than burning it The hollow stuff I would definitely like to find a use for..decorative pots sounds awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 By the way,I discovered that some of the smaller blanks are still big enough for half a V body...so I have plans for bookmatched Vs cut at an angle so that the grain of the wood follows the angle of the grain For example Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Today I got a fairly impressive chunk all planed up.It's 12 1/2" at the widest point,32" long,and 3 1/2" thick.This elm is so heavy...this chunk weighs about 50 pounds I think...It should lose some water weight...it is very wet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 There is some fascinating grain in that piece. I hope the colors hold up as it dries.....they often fade unfortunately. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 That is just the heartwood.It should hold up I think because Elm heartwood is always that color Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 This one is large enough for a one piece,so I cut it 2" thick.It won't fit through my planer so I will let it dry and hopefully by the time all of this stuff is ready to use I'll have a larger thicknessing machine of some type.16" at the widest point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 17" wide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I like this one.A lot of spalting in it...I need to stabilize this piece if my damn CA I ordered will ever get here...18" wide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 This one was spalted Elm : It's similar to maple in hardness, and workability from what I've seen with it. I have 3 other tops from the same set, all 1" thick. I like it but you don't hear of it being used often for some reason. I have a giant white birch that I found on the property. It's hurt anyway, so I might test it out. How long do you think it'll take those boards to air-dry ? I may make a wood-powered drying rack/room and use the scrap woods around here for fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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