OK, I went out a few minutes ago, and here's the scoop:
I have a dozen or so pretty straight chunks, a few "probaly straight enough" chunks and I think it was three "definitly have a major bend in 'em" chunks. It looks like I cut this whopping big vine last summer, and left it there in the middle of the bramble patch. In other words, it was cut at both ends! So I thought it was sure to be fairly dry--but I have the chunks in front of me and at least half a dozen of the ends are sappy. I am honestly not sure if this is grape or honeysuckle. They both grow wild and rampant here. I can tell you that I likely pulled this thing down out of a tree last summer while mowing. (Mowing, in this case, means taking a standerd little yard mower into places a bush hog would have trouble with. I am slowly reclaiming a several acre hay field from wildness, and planting an orchard--5 apples and one cherry tree so far. Lots of wild vines, berries, wild rose, and just plain sticker vines.) It is NOT poisen ivy--we have that stuff too, I know what it looks like, and I am highly allergic, so I avoid it! There are NO arial roots on this piece, It has a fibrous bark, Diameter ranges from slightly bigger than my thumb to maybe a thumb and a half. I was able to cut them with long handle loppers with moderate effort.
Whew! That all being stated! Karl, Grant, Dale and Jay--you are in line if you still want some, after this rather more complete description. All others--let me know. There is more out there, and I'm sure I will be "harvesting" this summer. After things leaf out I can tell you if it is grape or heneysuckle. Meanwhile, anyone who PMs me with a name and address, I'll send these out. Probably two each unless we get a bunch of requests, then it will be first come first grab. The really bent sections I think would still make nice handles for something--letter openers or soemthing, or Wall Street pens, so if you have a need for one, I'll put that in your envelope extra until I run out.
Payment? Because I really don't know what I am offering you, how does this work? When you get yours, if you like it, and have some thing hanging around that you think I might like, a blank or what ever, I don't even have a scrap barrel started here yet! I'd like to work towards making some Christmas ornaments, letter openers, bottle stoppers, that sort of thing. I have a steel city 5 speed, and the bushings for the Classic American from WC. Even drill bits would be nice if you really like this stuff and have an extra! In other words, don't feel obligated to send money, just look around for something you think fair.
Sorry this got so long, but I don't want to promise something I cannot deliver. Now, should I dip the ends of these in wax, or just leave them in the bag I popped them into to carry them inside?