robutacion
Member
Hi peoples,
About middle of last year, I manage to get permission to cut a Christmas tree (as they call it here in Australia) that died all of a certain, after 40 years of perfect health. While I, and the owners believe the tree rapid death was not natural, the tree was also in a bad stop as, when it was planted by the presents owners mother (still alive at 86), she eye balled the boundary line (no fence, then) and for some reason, that tree was planted outside of it, just about 50cm or less (seen in the pics).
About 6 years ago, the fence was finally erected and that's when the problem was noticed, putting this tree outside of this person's property, making it Council property and in public access but, in no way, in a way of anything or anyone so, we wonder who would poison (as we believe) the tree.
The tree has been dead for about one year, as was obvious that it was deteriorating quite rapidly also so, and because I never had this type of tree/wood species to work with before, I tried multiples times to contact the "owner" but, every time I went that way to knock at the main gate, no one was ever home so, I kept trying until one day, I caught a young kid going through that gate so, and through him I manage to make contact with those that could tell me what the tree situation was.
Great people, very friendly and social, of Italian background as I found out when I was to meet the old lady that planted that tree and that, made sure I understood how much that tree meant to her, and also to her daughter, as the tree was planted when he only daughter was born.
Very religious people, but very nice to be around...!
They were all upset because the tree has been killed by someone (according to our suspicions/believe), and also said that the tree was breaking apart fast, possibly being attacked by termites and or other wood eating creatures, but that turn out not to be when I processed the wood.
I explained why I was interested in the tree/wood and that, I usually make "something" out of the wood given and offer it as a thank you gift in return so, they were all pleased that I was interested in salvaging as much of the wood as possible, and at the same time, remove the tree myself, voiding something that they were concerned about and that was, the council tree guys have it cut/chipped and possibly send the bill to them as anyone knew that was their tree, planted there by mistake...!
When I asked what they would like turned out from that wood, she asked me if I could make 4 small crucifixes to hang in the wall, one for her Mum, one for her and 2 for each one of their 2 kids...!
Despite the tree being dead and the wood looked dry, the resin inside the wood and knots was a lot worse that any of conifer tree species I worked with as it kept bleeding out.
After a few months of being slice into some boards for the crucifixes and a couple of logs from the branches junctions (similar to the Norfolk Pine knot structure...!) I decide to get those gifts done and also a surprise gift that I wanted to offer her, made from one of those knotted logs.
Even tough the tree was 42 years old (as I find out...!
:biggrin it was quite small, most of the best wood was in fact, the top half so the logs diameter were quite small(ish) but big enough to produce a nice piece where I tried to show the knots as the main feature, as the colours were just out of this world.
Again, the wood showing its "bad" temperament when I rough turn it to close shape and size, coating it with Fungishield and put it a side for a few weeks but within a couple of days, this piece cracked all over beyond believe, the neck had 4 large splits, one was a good 1/4" open...!
I was not sure if I would make it firewood or save it, even tough, it would require some "major" work...!'
I started by tying a wire all around the neck, voiding any further splitting and try to close the ones already there, as much as possible. It took me 3 goes to get it to the point where the neck and foot gaps wouldn't close any further, while all other cracks did what they wanted to do but some how, tying the piece top and bottom has restricted the other cracks considerably...!
When was time for the to finish it, I knew that, unless I would keep that neck restrained, it would open like a bloom flower so, I decided to use some very thin wire to wrap around the neck and foot, and some how do it in such way that would look alright...! The solution for all the cracks on piece body and also on the tighten areas where, gaps were still quite visible, I decided to use the cracks and the wire repairs as a secondary feature of the piece by, carving the cracks deeper and wider and also create a few extra grooves to match or make it look more symmetrical in its appearance.
Using a purple Pearlex powder and some epoxy, I filled the grooves/cracks and also the groves for the wire but on the neck, it was already too thin for grooving so I used the mix to cover and created a ring...!
Got the strips of wood for the crucifixes done, recess them a glued them up but when I dried, I decided to dress it a bit with some bandsaw cuts and a little carving so, when all sanded and clean, I coated the whole thing with the Floorseal.
Some of the pics attached are just a couple of days after they were finished but I decided to put everything a side for a couple of weeks so that the varnish would cure/harden properly then, I could go and surprise these people.
In fact, I was the one that endup with the surprise when, I decided to get them out and prepare myself for a drive, as all crucifixes and knotted piece were spoiled by the resin, still in the wood...!:frown:
From the present pics, you can see what I mean so, I got quite annoyed that I have to do it all again but this time I need to "burn" the wood so that the open flame melts the resin out of the wood and knots. This however, should have been done before the wood was turned or dressed so the chances are that, the whole thing will be spoiled beyond repair once and for all, now that the epoxy is glued to it.
There are other ways to bleed the resin out of these type of woods but, some methods are not applicable the way these pieces are now, or it would cost a lot of money to get the equipment to force the resin out.
Time will do it but I may have to wait another 40 years before the resin solidifies and or transform so, I may have to do another set of 4 crucifixes but I will not be doing another piece out of this wood, not for a while...!:redface:
So much for trying to do a good deed, huh...???
Glad that this doesn't happen too often...!
Cheers
George
About middle of last year, I manage to get permission to cut a Christmas tree (as they call it here in Australia) that died all of a certain, after 40 years of perfect health. While I, and the owners believe the tree rapid death was not natural, the tree was also in a bad stop as, when it was planted by the presents owners mother (still alive at 86), she eye balled the boundary line (no fence, then) and for some reason, that tree was planted outside of it, just about 50cm or less (seen in the pics).
About 6 years ago, the fence was finally erected and that's when the problem was noticed, putting this tree outside of this person's property, making it Council property and in public access but, in no way, in a way of anything or anyone so, we wonder who would poison (as we believe) the tree.
The tree has been dead for about one year, as was obvious that it was deteriorating quite rapidly also so, and because I never had this type of tree/wood species to work with before, I tried multiples times to contact the "owner" but, every time I went that way to knock at the main gate, no one was ever home so, I kept trying until one day, I caught a young kid going through that gate so, and through him I manage to make contact with those that could tell me what the tree situation was.
Great people, very friendly and social, of Italian background as I found out when I was to meet the old lady that planted that tree and that, made sure I understood how much that tree meant to her, and also to her daughter, as the tree was planted when he only daughter was born.
Very religious people, but very nice to be around...!
They were all upset because the tree has been killed by someone (according to our suspicions/believe), and also said that the tree was breaking apart fast, possibly being attacked by termites and or other wood eating creatures, but that turn out not to be when I processed the wood.
I explained why I was interested in the tree/wood and that, I usually make "something" out of the wood given and offer it as a thank you gift in return so, they were all pleased that I was interested in salvaging as much of the wood as possible, and at the same time, remove the tree myself, voiding something that they were concerned about and that was, the council tree guys have it cut/chipped and possibly send the bill to them as anyone knew that was their tree, planted there by mistake...!
When I asked what they would like turned out from that wood, she asked me if I could make 4 small crucifixes to hang in the wall, one for her Mum, one for her and 2 for each one of their 2 kids...!
Despite the tree being dead and the wood looked dry, the resin inside the wood and knots was a lot worse that any of conifer tree species I worked with as it kept bleeding out.
After a few months of being slice into some boards for the crucifixes and a couple of logs from the branches junctions (similar to the Norfolk Pine knot structure...!) I decide to get those gifts done and also a surprise gift that I wanted to offer her, made from one of those knotted logs.
Even tough the tree was 42 years old (as I find out...!
:biggrin it was quite small, most of the best wood was in fact, the top half so the logs diameter were quite small(ish) but big enough to produce a nice piece where I tried to show the knots as the main feature, as the colours were just out of this world.Again, the wood showing its "bad" temperament when I rough turn it to close shape and size, coating it with Fungishield and put it a side for a few weeks but within a couple of days, this piece cracked all over beyond believe, the neck had 4 large splits, one was a good 1/4" open...!
I was not sure if I would make it firewood or save it, even tough, it would require some "major" work...!'
I started by tying a wire all around the neck, voiding any further splitting and try to close the ones already there, as much as possible. It took me 3 goes to get it to the point where the neck and foot gaps wouldn't close any further, while all other cracks did what they wanted to do but some how, tying the piece top and bottom has restricted the other cracks considerably...!
When was time for the to finish it, I knew that, unless I would keep that neck restrained, it would open like a bloom flower so, I decided to use some very thin wire to wrap around the neck and foot, and some how do it in such way that would look alright...! The solution for all the cracks on piece body and also on the tighten areas where, gaps were still quite visible, I decided to use the cracks and the wire repairs as a secondary feature of the piece by, carving the cracks deeper and wider and also create a few extra grooves to match or make it look more symmetrical in its appearance.
Using a purple Pearlex powder and some epoxy, I filled the grooves/cracks and also the groves for the wire but on the neck, it was already too thin for grooving so I used the mix to cover and created a ring...!
Got the strips of wood for the crucifixes done, recess them a glued them up but when I dried, I decided to dress it a bit with some bandsaw cuts and a little carving so, when all sanded and clean, I coated the whole thing with the Floorseal.
Some of the pics attached are just a couple of days after they were finished but I decided to put everything a side for a couple of weeks so that the varnish would cure/harden properly then, I could go and surprise these people.
In fact, I was the one that endup with the surprise when, I decided to get them out and prepare myself for a drive, as all crucifixes and knotted piece were spoiled by the resin, still in the wood...!
:frown:From the present pics, you can see what I mean so, I got quite annoyed that I have to do it all again but this time I need to "burn" the wood so that the open flame melts the resin out of the wood and knots. This however, should have been done before the wood was turned or dressed so the chances are that, the whole thing will be spoiled beyond repair once and for all, now that the epoxy is glued to it.
There are other ways to bleed the resin out of these type of woods but, some methods are not applicable the way these pieces are now, or it would cost a lot of money to get the equipment to force the resin out.
Time will do it but I may have to wait another 40 years before the resin solidifies and or transform so, I may have to do another set of 4 crucifixes but I will not be doing another piece out of this wood, not for a while...!:redface:
So much for trying to do a good deed, huh...???
Glad that this doesn't happen too often...!
Cheers
George
