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I got given a tree

 
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Falstaff



Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 15 8:42 pm    Post subject: I got given a tree Reply with quote
    

Yesterday I got a phonecall from the Sister in Law - "Do you want a tree?"
"I'll come and have a look !"
She says it's a Maple - about 40foot high and 18" or more thick !
"Ok I'll have it"
"I'm getting it cut down tomorrow" (Today) "you can borrow one of our wagons to take it home on, but I'm not paying a couple of blokes to chop it up - you'll have to cut it up yourself!"
(Seems fair enough !)

So we now have the first stock for the new woodshed, but I've no idea how much wood there is in "a tree" Scary stuff !
`
Then I get to thinking about my green woodwork aspirations and to thinking - SHAVE HORSE !

So I dig out the books and find I need about 4'6 in one piece to cleft the body of the horse

So I've got myself all anticipatory and the phone rings "It's down ! I've had them cut it into lengths about 18 inches and pile it behind my five bar gate "

"Bye Bye Shave horse !" - Nice thought while it lasted !

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45384
Location: yes
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 15 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

maple will turn on a lathe so the good quality 18in lengths can be useful for bowls etc ,fire wood should be ok by next winter

a the useful sized bits of 40 ft tree will give a decent medium sized fire for a month or two

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 15 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

When people say 40ft it's probably less than 25ft.
Your average person is rubbish at tree height estimation.
Still a nice pile for nowt but a bit of sweat.

Falstaff



Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 15 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've got a wood lathe so that will be handy dpack. Unfortunately it doesn't have a faceplate, although I think I bought one off ebay so I'll have to have a root.

It would be really nice to give SiL a bowl or plate made from "your tree" What can I make without a faceplate (or much skill) which looks nice ?

Maple / Sycamore very similar to the point of being interchangeable ?

The fire is of a very modest size (4kw?) but quite efficient in that it is "Approved" for smokeless zones. So it seems we're saying that should cope with about "half a winter's burning" ?

Still sad about me shave horse though !

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45384
Location: yes
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 15 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Maple / Sycamore very similar to the point of being interchangeable ?

close enough to not worry about it

Falstaff



Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 1014

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 15 10:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The 40 foot is my estimate Tavascarow. It may be over as you say but I was thinking that gutter level on a house is about 16 foot and visualising houses piled up ! Anyway it's down and cut now so we won't know but it was definitely large by "Sycamore standards" and as you say a nice lump of a start for next winter

I have a nice little chain saw (Stihl 024 Wood Boss with 16 inch blade) for cross cutting and a big logging axe for splitting the logs so a bit of graft is very welcome in keeping fitness in place.

What really makes it all worth while is the sulky message I got from British gas when I replaced their "Estimated usage reading" with an accurate meter reading today !

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 15 11:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Falstaff wrote:
It would be really nice to give SiL a bowl or plate made from "your tree" What can I make without a faceplate (or much skill) which looks nice ?

Candlestick?

Quote:
Maple / Sycamore very similar to the point of being interchangeable ?

Maple is the genus, sycamore is a species in that genus.

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 15 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Falstaff wrote:
The 40 foot is my estimate Tavascarow. It may be over as you say but I was thinking that gutter level on a house is about 16 foot and visualising houses piled up ! Anyway it's down and cut now so we won't know but it was definitely large by "Sycamore standards".

I would not call 40' a large sycamore.

Bodrighy



Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2157
Location: Near Devizes
PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 15 12:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Maple (whatever species) is a pretty stable wood and without a face plate you can make loads of things, candle sticks, crafting tools galore, priests, mallets, dibbers, handles for tools, hair sticks, pins, the list goes on. With a bit of ingenuity you can also make bowls, platters etc. Check out how pole lathe turners do it. Only problem that you might have is that the wood will be green for a good while (dries roughly 1" per year) unless you cut it down in size.

Pete

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15542

PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 15 7:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If it is sycamore you will need to store any parts you want to turn end up and use it quickly as it stains. We turn green on the pole lathe and sycamore turns well. Also very good for making spoons, spatulas and other food contact items. It was traditionally used in the laundry, the dairy and the kitchen as it is non tainting and non staining. I have also worked with field maple, which is nice too. Ours has lots of burrs, which is tricky when working green, but gives a nice effect.

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 15 8:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hairyloon wrote:
Falstaff wrote:
It would be really nice to give SiL a bowl or plate made from "your tree" What can I make without a faceplate (or much skill) which looks nice ?

Candlestick?

Quote:
Maple / Sycamore very similar to the point of being interchangeable ?

Maple is the genus, sycamore is a species in that genus.
To be a pedant Acer is the Genus.
Falstaff that's how I estimate tree size as well.

Lorrainelovesplants



Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne
PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 15 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If it is sycamore, it will turn lovely. My first pieces were all sycamore. I loved turning it.
Good for you to have a go!

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Thu Feb 19, 15 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

https://forum.downsizer.net/about82248.html&highlight=pole+lathe

Make a party of it!

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