Beautiful Central Arkansas day here! And I didn't let it go to waste!
The timber was starting to pile up some out by the mill, so no sense in letting the January thaw get past me without reducing the stack. There was three species that needed to be slabbed up. And I was able to get them all done. Plus, the 'looks' I've been getting every time I carry something out back after work...well, let's just say....she's happier since I had some time to cut some stuff:smile-big:
The first was a small, stubby little log that goes by the name "Persain Silk Tree{Albizia julibrissin}...which is often mis-named by locals as 'mimosa'(one of those things that'll drive a fella nutz!!), then there was the remaining chunk of American Sweetgum{Liquidambar styraciflua}, and finally one of the four big Persimmon{Diospyros virginiana} logs I just went to get yesterday.
I'll be making mostly 2"sq x ?? out of the Persimmon, as I hear it is an excellent timber for call makers, but don't worry....I'll also be making some 4"sq x 1-1/8"T turkey call blanks, as well as some pen blank sized pieces. This timber had a LOT going on inside of it!!!! I know, this is "worthless without photo's"!!
-Laying out, sun-bathing, or waiting in line....doesn't matter, they'll be on there soon! As you can see from the end-grain cut...there is something 'special inside'!
-Made a few passes and then swept the dust off for a photo. Yes, those are 1-1/4"and 2" thicknesses.... The timber was not wet from being washed off, this is it's color! It will fade some while sitting in the shed for awhile(but it 'pops' right back out for you to see when turned)!
-The first pass yielded some of the best coloring I've seen in a piece of American Persimmon...almost 'ebonized', and if I hadn't known where it had come from...I'd almost think this stuff was from Texas! Beautiful stuff!
The Persian Silk Tree? Not as many 2"sq x ?? will be available, as the piece just wasn't as big as the other things I cut today. But there will also be some 4"sq x 1-1/8"T sizes and some pen blanks....
-Not as awesome after you've seen the stuff above, but it has a bunch going on in it! The tones are rich and will not fade as it dries(I've got some stashed away-I look at it from time-to-time).
The American Sweetgum will be mostly pens and pot call sized blanks.
-Spalted, differing color tones, and worm trails....where does a fella get started ?
Thanks for looking as always! Hope you enjoy these few photo's out of the 50-ish I took today! If y'all are getting 'tired of seeing this stuff' let me know and I'll let this topic slide down the list and get archived(or whatever happens to old topics).
I'll be slicing some stuff on the miter saw tomorrow(honey-do's permitting), and getting the stacks ready for the website. Mostly be call blanks this time, pen blanks will need a bit longer to dry.
Scott (no breeze = a lot of sneeze) B
