Hackberry?

I have seen some beautiful pieces made out of hackberry! I have just about resolved that all wood is "turnable", some just a bit less troublesome than others.

Lewis

Don't use it in your fireplace. I made that mistake *once*. It stinks unbelievably.

-- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

William,

I have posted 3 photos on alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking of 2 pieces that I turned from hackberry. I let the logs sit for about 6 months behind my shop until they spalted. They looked pretty bad, a lot of slimy mold all over them, but they really look good when you start cutting. Hackberry will move a bit as it dries but very manageable. The large piece was end grain turned so not any problem with movement.

Kirk

Hi William,

My initial reaction (being the impatient, reactionary soul that I am) was that this so and so was making fun of us and being rather tongue in cheek. Then I stopped to think that you might actually be honestly wondering what to do with it.... If this wood has any of the blues that hackberry tends to have, use it for turning. If you're not interested in turning it, let me know what you want (after I see some photos, of course >;o) and I may well take them off your hands. I've seen some turning done from hackberry and the results were stupendous; just gotta know what to do with it. Please, please don't use it in the fireplace. I'll give you three times the weight in firewood in exchange (again, assuming it's relatively turnable wood).

Sincerely,

Ali T. Borahan AliSails - Fine Wood Artistry & Custom Woodcrafts Web URL:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks everyone...call me chicken but I'm not going to intensionally let the wood become spalted.

Unfortunately I only took a couple 12 inch wide logs that were say 16 inches long and one thinner about 8 inches wide. The crew took the rest to who knows where but I gave one of the workmen my business card in case they come across something good.

Right now I'm look> Not being one to turn down a free chunk of wood I accepted several

I've turned Hackberry both green and dry. It is "Junk" wood around here, but I really like it. When finished, it shimmers and gives off a crosshatching that looks like fabric.

"Try it ------ You'll Like IT!" (Stolen quote - can't remember from where.)

"Just one OLD man's opinion."

The Other Bruce

ps: when turning wet, stand to the side - or you'll get a shower!

burn it!

You'll be sorrrrrry! It stinks.

OTOH, the wood is beautiful, especially if it gets a bit spalted. Look at the pictures that were posted in abpw a day or two ago.

-- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

OK dont burn it - toss it - there is not enough time in a day of turning to be turning bad wood or bad species of wood - Hackberry is one of the untouchables in my studio!

Ray

Suit yourself -- but did you look at the pictures on abpw? It's nice-looking wood...

-- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

Hackberry is one of the most under utilized woods around IMO. I usually make several pieces a year from it. If you have ever seen Alain Mailland's "flowers" etc, they are made from French hackberry-his favorite wood, and he likes the hackberry we have here as well. I like to dye it black, or sometimes use the sometimes colored wood in the heart. Ray Allen used to come visit and we would go to the local dump and load him down with spalted hackberry that he cut and dried for use in his laminated work.

Come on over, Ray, and I'll give you some. :-)

John