Two spalted oak burl Seirras were done on the spur of the moment this morning. Long story behind the burl.
Burl history:
Next door neighbor had a 5 ft thick huge oak tree (over 200 years old) fall next to their house last August. Most of it was cut up and hauled off professionally. A couple of limbs and pieces were left behind. One piece was an oak burl about 8 inches in diameter and 6 inchs thick. Two weeks ago we had a heavy rain and all ditches in our little town were flooded up to the roads. In our front ditch was the burl floating next to the road. I got it as I was leaving and threw it way up into the yard.
Late that afternoon it was back in the ditch and the water had drained. (Wife threw it back). I got it and put it in my pen shed.
We had 4 guests from the N.O. area of Louisiana come for a visit this weekend and I made them a slimline pen each. One expressed interest in watching me make a pen as he has been looking at a couple of pen turning catalogs. I took the oak burl, cut it on my TS, microwaved the blanks for 30 seconds, 4 times over a 20 minute period.
Drilled the holes and made the pens. Turned out well. The two men who watched - do not want to carry them in their pockets but keep them in a pouch. I think I have hooked a Louisiana State Policeman into pen turning.
I showed him how to turn and let him do some of the turning on his. He is proud of it!
Burl history:
Next door neighbor had a 5 ft thick huge oak tree (over 200 years old) fall next to their house last August. Most of it was cut up and hauled off professionally. A couple of limbs and pieces were left behind. One piece was an oak burl about 8 inches in diameter and 6 inchs thick. Two weeks ago we had a heavy rain and all ditches in our little town were flooded up to the roads. In our front ditch was the burl floating next to the road. I got it as I was leaving and threw it way up into the yard.
Late that afternoon it was back in the ditch and the water had drained. (Wife threw it back). I got it and put it in my pen shed.
We had 4 guests from the N.O. area of Louisiana come for a visit this weekend and I made them a slimline pen each. One expressed interest in watching me make a pen as he has been looking at a couple of pen turning catalogs. I took the oak burl, cut it on my TS, microwaved the blanks for 30 seconds, 4 times over a 20 minute period.
Drilled the holes and made the pens. Turned out well. The two men who watched - do not want to carry them in their pockets but keep them in a pouch. I think I have hooked a Louisiana State Policeman into pen turning.
I showed him how to turn and let him do some of the turning on his. He is proud of it!
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