Pomegranate

[Bill in Buena Park]

This is not a project yet... but I spent a good part of today removing massive pomegranate limbs that wer overhanging my mother's fence into her neighbor's yard. This is an old, well established tree, that was reaching about 25' high, with a growth radius of about 10-15' from the main trunk.

Some of the limbs I took off were close to 6" in diameter. My question is - how is pomegranate wood for woodworking? Would any of these limbs be worth seasoning for resawing - for say, small box projects?

[leehljp]

I don't know about pomegranate, but wood like this in a small box or something of the size you are mentioning makes for a great keep-sake and memories. I have done this with wood from our farm when I was a kid.

My nieces and nephews and my daughters appreciate something with direct links to their grandparents.

[Uncle Cracker]

Pomegranate wood has a very understated creamy color, so it is often stained or dyed, and takes the true color of the stain without mixing in its own. Grain is fairly straight, although textural changes, rather than color variations, give the wood its graining character. It works fairly easy. Also, the chips are mild, and can be used for delicate smoking of meats and cheeses.

[phrog]

Don't know anything about pomegranate wood but can tell you that pomegranates sell for about $3 each around here. Wish I had a large tree in my yard - I love those things but for $3 each, I don't buy many.

[Bill in Buena Park]

Thanks for the input, Hank & UC. I'll let it set on the woodpile a spell - this may be a project for next summer.

Phrog, there were over two 5-gal buckets of pomegranates (apple sized and still green) on the limbs I took off. A shame, since they all had to be tossed. This variety doesn't usually ripen until they hit orange size or better.

One thing I don't miss is having to harvest the arils out of those, like we did when we were kids. We'd fill a 5-gal bucket with those, so Mom could cook them down and make jelly (and I love that jelly). Pretty much kept the neighbors stocked with pomegranate jelly for the year from one batch. Not to mention the apricot and peach jams she made as well.