Epic spalted Betula Nigra (River birch)

[edstreet]

Story behind this wood:

Was a tornado in Macon GA (about 100 miles from me). It threw the tree into a swamp where it sat for about 2+ years. Some cleanup work removed the tree and it was cut up, waxed and I bought about 5-6 blocks of it.

:bulgy-eyes: :worship: :bulgy-eyes: :worship: :bulgy-eyes: :worship:

So I took one and turned it into a bowl to really show off the beauty.

Problem is, super super soft, very brittle, wet and grainy. The foot gave me the most problems.

The stuff you see on the foot is thin CA, that's the whole bottle to. Oh and this is the super clean cut mind you. I felt it was to much of a safety risk to turn this wet so I pulled it to come up with a plan of attack.



Enter DNA (Denatured Alcohol) couple of gallons and a 5 gallon bucket did the trick. Few weeks soak then air dry did the trick. Note the sand at the bottom of the bucket. The 5160 steel bar is to keep the block submerged as they tend to float.

:good:

Now some cleanup outside, base sanding, hollowed to shape and sanded with 80 grit.

:bananen_smilies039::RockOn::bananen_smilies047:
This is with one coat of oil. Some more sanding and another coat or 3 of oil should do the trick. Since it's so soft the only way would be stabilizing and am seriously considering double dye.

Question now is: should I make up some pen blanks from this? :biggrin:

 

[Alzey]

Gorgeous piece of wood. Dye? Why bother. Too beautiful to cover up.

Pens? Absolutely. The grain and color are tight enough you shouldn't loose any on the pens.

 

[Justturnin]

Great looking piece. I have read that folks soak their punky bowls and such in white glue and water mix. This would prevent any stain from working but oiling would be ok.

Pen blanks? Heck yea. Cross cut and stabilized. I have some of this GA Spalted RB. Kind of hoarding it.

 

[CHARLES STOPCZYNSKI]

My neighbors river birches

Great save of some outstanding wood.

You have me keeping a closer eye on my neighbors river birches. Just looked at them yesterday after returning from a little trip. Thought to myself, man they drop leaves all year long, but here it is mid August and look at that lawn. It was heavily covered with leaves. River Birches shed like crazy.
Knowing this guy is such a stickler about how his yard looks, it wouldn't surprise me if that stand is cut down one day soon.

Hmmm, have some rounds from a flowering cherry tree I rescued one time. Need to check up on them.

Charlie

 

[stonepecker]

Very Very Nice Looking Job.

I also don't understand why you would want to dye this. The color and grain just are so great. I do understand why you would use Catus Juice. Would love to see some pen blanks. I would even like to get a couple of them.

 

[edstreet]

Many are saying they do not understand why I am pondering dye for this.

Here is why ....

This is stabilized spalted dyed birch burl. This was processed by WSSI and red dye used. The blocks that I have can look like this to, or any other dye color.

 

[SteveJ]

That is one awesome dyed blank. Love the deep red - Definitely something to dye for.

 

[Alzey]

Many are saying they do not understand why I am pondering dye for this.

I stand corrected. I had it in my head a dye of unnatural color like neon green. That red you used really brings out the grain without it looking fake or cheesy.

I learn something new everyday on this site.

 

[BSea]

WOW, I agree with Alzey. That red is outstanding. Love the knife. To bad the blade has all those funny squiggles.:biggrin:

JK, I know is't damascus.:wink:

 

[PaulDoug]

Be nice if you had a coring system. Then you could have the best of both worlds. Make bowls and cut up the cores for pen blanks. Beautiful wood.

 

[1080Wayne]

Love that red dyed piece , and also your bowl . Made a small bowl with paper birch several years ago with almost identical spalt and softness .

 

[Fishinbo]

What a great find! The wood has insanely gorgeous grains and figures. Like the shape and the dye technique. Great work!