What is it? (And what should I do with it?)

[SteveJ]

When my dad died 18 years ago, I inherited his shop equipment and a whole bunch of oddball pieces of wood. Going through a box this week I ran across these two pieces of what I assume are some type of root. Any idea what they might be (looks like they may have been purchased)? Also, what am I supposed to do with them?

The pen is included just to give an idea of the dimensions.

 

[thewishman]

Looks like root burls. I'd cut it up and make pens, but I only make pens.

 

[Monty]

Looks like manzanita root.

 

[Wood Butcher]

Put it on Craig's list or Facebook and list it as a fossilized dinosaur spleen and use the money for a lathe or Jaguar series F
WB

 

[1080Wayne]

You could cut them up into casting blanks for pens , if you do that , or drill a hole in an appropriate place to make them into pen holders .

 

[Fay Prozora]

They do look like some sort of burls or some such thing. Why not cut them and put them in to a mold and cast them like worthless wood? The one with the pen on it looks large enough to turn a small bowl out of or a tea light or other small project. Good luck what ever you do with them. Fay

 

[CREID]

When my dad died 18 years ago, I inherited his shop equipment and a whole bunch of oddball pieces of wood. Going through a box this week I ran across these two pieces of what I assume are some type of root. Any idea what they might be (looks like they may have been purchased)? Also, what am I supposed to do with them?

The pen is included just to give an idea of the dimensions.

Don't feed them after midnight and whatever you do, never get them wet.
Curt

 

[KBs Pensnmore]

Don't know what it is, but the one with the pen on it doesn't want to be cut or touched. Want to know how I know??? It's giving you The Bird, I think you call it there, we call it the finger here.
Kryn

 

[vakmere]

It's giving the finger. Could be palm root......

 

[KenV]

manzanita root burl (Burr in British terminology - fancy grain but not eyes)

Still being sold. Turns well except for rocks that can be included in the roots. Cut into pen blanks it will be very nice to spectacular. Irregular shape allows lots of "worthless wood" opportunities.

There are YouTube and gallery options with a google search.

Those should be nice and dry with little moisture movement --

 

[robutacion]

It's giving the finger. Could be palm root......

Yeah, I saw the finger but Palm root...?? not in a million years...!

Cheers
George

 

[79spitfire]

I agree, those are manzanita root burls. The one appears to be a great pen stand as is! They make great, and very stunning 'worthless wood' candidates, or they can be left as is. If you do cut them, be aware, they can hide rocks.