Do I need to seal a Burl?

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MRDucks2

MRDucks2

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Jul 17, 2017
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Bristow, IN
I will be picking up a larger Cherry Burl on my way home from Chicago tomorrow afternoon. I am used to sealing end grain on blanks with wax and end grain of logs with glue or paint.

Not yet had a Burl that has been cut off the side of a tree. Do I need to seal the cut face or not?
 
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I can't answer your question, but if you're near LaPorte after 2:30 or so central time, I can toss a few green cherry or maple logs in your vehicle…and a bottle of water!
Earl
 
Thanks, Earl, but not this trip. I actually had a 53" Cherry go down in my yard last year and picked up about 300lbs of spalted maple from one of my guys yard a few weeks ago.

I will be in Burns Harbor on July 21st if you want to meet up then, I can run over that afternoon.
 
No problem. I'm taking a turning class in Michigan that week in July--family will be home, but i'll be staying with my son & grandkids (class is 1.2 miles from their house--no hotel bill!!)
earl
 
turnit2020 said:
It certainly can't hurt to seal the blank.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your input. It isn't a blank. It is an entire 15" x 15" burl cut off the side of a log. As such, it will likely have some inclusions and such in it (have yet to see it in person).

As such, if sealing is needed for a Burl off the side of a tree, to ensure proper drying and minimize damage, that is fine.

However, by not having a true "grain" and no real end grain, it could create some loss of wood by sealing unnecessarily if the seal gets into any inclusions or open areas.

Also, if not needed, sealing would prolong drying more than required as the entire rest of the burl is encapsulated in the bark.
 
i would remove the bark and clean that surface. Lots of places for bugs to hide. If you don't need it to be whole, for a bowl blank etc. Then cut it into slices, sticker it, put a heavy object on top of the stack and wait the recommended time based on thickness.
 
Thanks for all of the feedback, gang. Consensus seems to be I need to at least partially process it, as Patrick pointed out, and go from there. Will be interesting to see what I have ended up with as I cut it up.
 
In the end the burl determined it's outcome. While still green, it wasn't what I would call fresh. The bark removed easily but there were some stress crack forming. This guided how to cut it. No big pieces but a couple of 7x7's one about 3" thick and the other 4" thick. 3 or 4 more about 5x5x3 and one 6"x2.5" or so. One potential 11"x2.5x2.5 peppermill blank and several pen and handle blanks. All cut a bit oversized and sealed on all sides.
 
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