Cutting up burls for trade/sale-balnks or slabs?

[jjjaworski]

I am going through my wood stash and reducing it some.

I am cutting up some burls and figured woods for sale and/or trade and was wondering if I sound cut blanks or slabs. Especially on the burls.

I am also avoiding cutting to a specific blank length to give folks more options.
That is probably a bit of a toss up I suppose.

I understand it would be a personal preference and influence shipping as to the size of the piece of timber.

 

[BSea]

Personally, I like slabs. At least 1.75 X .75 X 5.5 I like to be able to cut them into pen blanks. I hate seeing a slab that's 1.25. There's not really a way to get 2 blanks out of it (except for slimlines). Plus, I won't buy anything that's not at least 5.25". I like making closed ended pens and cap finials. Anything less makes it rather difficult, and anything larger lets you choose where to cut to get the best grain or burl pattern.

 

[jjjaworski]

Bob,

I was thinking the same thing since a slab allows someone to make the best use of grain patterns and how they want to use it.

I suppose the only problem is how to value a slab since it isn't in a "standard" size pen blank.

For now I'm leaving what I cut up as slabs. I can always cut square blanks if I need to. I'm in no rush and have a lot to cut up anyway.

 

[jjjaworski]

This is what I am faced with...

 

[PenMan1]

James:
From looking at the photos, you don't have any choice, other than making pen blanks from the burls. They are not thick enough for much else.

It has been my experience that pen blanks are the lowest priority, because they aren't as valuable as thicker burls.

In this case, it looks like they are so thin that one would be hard pressed to make a "full sized" pen from them.

Respectfully submitted.

 

[jjjaworski]

I'm cutting them at 7/8 square to 15/16 square. The photo is a bit deceptive.

I understand what you are saying though.

 

[Rifleman1776]

There is considerable waste when milling burls. Pen blanks make a lot of sense. However, I stabilized a bunch of Redbud burl and they didn't generate much interest here. Dunno why, they make knock out pens.