robutacion
Member
Hi ladies and gents...!
I have processed yesterday and today, a piece (1/4 of an old tree short trunk), that Merissa and I cut, in October 2011. I got some other large pieces from some trimmings done to the sister's trees that are some of the oldest in the area (calculated at about 130 years old), they were too close together and near one of the fences so, I was asked to remove that one tree, trim the other large and old 5 syster trees but, the reason I was called there was to trim/prune near 600 Olive trees that were planted 17 years prior but that for 5 years never were touched therefore, they have grown very bushy and with straight water shoots that reached 6 meters long, some even more...!
Anyway, that wood has been stored, and a few months ago, I brought in from the storage paddock, most of the pieces we collected from that place and brought them home and under cover, in one of the sheds.
A few days ago, I started to have the urge to cut/process some Olive wood, I need to have my "fix" sort of speak and spend a few hours, slicing away, in my bandsaw (relaxing therapy for me...!) So, I grabbed one fair size piece that was one of the 4 quarters I cut that Olive tree trunk at about 3' in length, no more than 40kg but enough to really stir my back since, I didn't walk more than 7 or 8 yards with it, the pain never stopped since, damnit...!
With or without pain, was no stopping me so, after I put the chunk on the bandsaw table (was there that I done my back, I'm sure) I realise that, it was just too big/long for me to handle it safely so, I cut it right in half through its length. I processed all that half that afternoon (yesterday) and only after if done it, I realise that I hadn't taken any pics so, I grabbed the camera and took some pics of the other half that I was going to process today.
Interestingly, this tree has had cut, a very large limb from it, which I guess, was done at the time the Olive grove was planted (about 1994), someone has trimmed it and cut a large low limb that was almost as big as the trunk, the scar was about 1' wide and about 2' in length (in about 45° angle, off-course).
Today, I finish processing it and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the wood, not many cracks, the wood is very solid and full of curl/fiddleback and a very busy grain, so much so that, if I haven't cut it myself, I would have said that the wood has come from a Olive root however, there are parts/areas in the grain that is unmistakable as wood from the Olive tree trunk.
I only cut the very few off-cuts as oversized pen blanks, about 30 or so including half as shorts, I felt a shame to cut it any smaller, I have thousands of cut Olive wood and Olive root pen blanks, I was happy to make it into slices and small square blocks that people can use in one of many ways.
Is the wood dry..??? no is not, its about 50% however, I would not hesitate in grab a piece if I feel like it and turn something out of it, in finished sizes/thickness. I'm obviously not referring to pen blanks, it may be a little early for that but, and because I sliced the trunk in 4 parts, this particular wood has dried more and better, than some I have in the paddock for double the time (6 years or more).
Anyway, I weight, marked and took pics of all the pieces/sets (some are doubles) after I decided to protect the wood main faces with some wax, that did also enhance the colours for the pics, and that was good however, the wax I used today, did show a little more "milky" than normal, it may have been some wax pieces I put it that I purchased recently, I don't think that, they stay as clear after melted as the wax I was using before so, I will buy no more of it...!
There is no doubt that, most of the "regular" IAP members to my threads/material, will not see this for a few days, they will entertained with family and friends festivities but, I never forget those that are alone and that spend this time of the year in solitude in their homes, like any other day so, I hope that, my story and pics can entertain them, just a little and, if my old saying is correct, it would be most appropriate here, and it goes like this, "A little bit of something, is a lot better than plenty of nothing...!":wink::biggrin:
These will endup listed on my new private web-store, the list of things to list is getting bigger by the day, despite the fact that, I literally hate creating new listings, I seemed to keep getting myself more stuff to list, everyday, I just can't win, huh...???:biggrin:
Enjoy,
Cheers
George
I have processed yesterday and today, a piece (1/4 of an old tree short trunk), that Merissa and I cut, in October 2011. I got some other large pieces from some trimmings done to the sister's trees that are some of the oldest in the area (calculated at about 130 years old), they were too close together and near one of the fences so, I was asked to remove that one tree, trim the other large and old 5 syster trees but, the reason I was called there was to trim/prune near 600 Olive trees that were planted 17 years prior but that for 5 years never were touched therefore, they have grown very bushy and with straight water shoots that reached 6 meters long, some even more...!
Anyway, that wood has been stored, and a few months ago, I brought in from the storage paddock, most of the pieces we collected from that place and brought them home and under cover, in one of the sheds.
A few days ago, I started to have the urge to cut/process some Olive wood, I need to have my "fix" sort of speak and spend a few hours, slicing away, in my bandsaw (relaxing therapy for me...!) So, I grabbed one fair size piece that was one of the 4 quarters I cut that Olive tree trunk at about 3' in length, no more than 40kg but enough to really stir my back since, I didn't walk more than 7 or 8 yards with it, the pain never stopped since, damnit...!
With or without pain, was no stopping me so, after I put the chunk on the bandsaw table (was there that I done my back, I'm sure) I realise that, it was just too big/long for me to handle it safely so, I cut it right in half through its length. I processed all that half that afternoon (yesterday) and only after if done it, I realise that I hadn't taken any pics so, I grabbed the camera and took some pics of the other half that I was going to process today.
Interestingly, this tree has had cut, a very large limb from it, which I guess, was done at the time the Olive grove was planted (about 1994), someone has trimmed it and cut a large low limb that was almost as big as the trunk, the scar was about 1' wide and about 2' in length (in about 45° angle, off-course).
Today, I finish processing it and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the wood, not many cracks, the wood is very solid and full of curl/fiddleback and a very busy grain, so much so that, if I haven't cut it myself, I would have said that the wood has come from a Olive root however, there are parts/areas in the grain that is unmistakable as wood from the Olive tree trunk.
I only cut the very few off-cuts as oversized pen blanks, about 30 or so including half as shorts, I felt a shame to cut it any smaller, I have thousands of cut Olive wood and Olive root pen blanks, I was happy to make it into slices and small square blocks that people can use in one of many ways.
Is the wood dry..??? no is not, its about 50% however, I would not hesitate in grab a piece if I feel like it and turn something out of it, in finished sizes/thickness. I'm obviously not referring to pen blanks, it may be a little early for that but, and because I sliced the trunk in 4 parts, this particular wood has dried more and better, than some I have in the paddock for double the time (6 years or more).
Anyway, I weight, marked and took pics of all the pieces/sets (some are doubles) after I decided to protect the wood main faces with some wax, that did also enhance the colours for the pics, and that was good however, the wax I used today, did show a little more "milky" than normal, it may have been some wax pieces I put it that I purchased recently, I don't think that, they stay as clear after melted as the wax I was using before so, I will buy no more of it...!
There is no doubt that, most of the "regular" IAP members to my threads/material, will not see this for a few days, they will entertained with family and friends festivities but, I never forget those that are alone and that spend this time of the year in solitude in their homes, like any other day so, I hope that, my story and pics can entertain them, just a little and, if my old saying is correct, it would be most appropriate here, and it goes like this, "A little bit of something, is a lot better than plenty of nothing...!":wink::biggrin:
These will endup listed on my new private web-store, the list of things to list is getting bigger by the day, despite the fact that, I literally hate creating new listings, I seemed to keep getting myself more stuff to list, everyday, I just can't win, huh...???:biggrin:
Enjoy,
Cheers
George