Replies

1. 
   KeithNewton | Jan 02, 2005 02:55pm | #1

   What do you call large? Burls are best used for turnings or veneer. If you try to cut it into lumber, you will likely end up with just a pile of extremely cull warped boards which will be around for a very long time while you try to figure out a way to use it for.
   First you should paint the end-grain to keep it from checking. White primer will work.
   If you leave the bark on for very long bugs will get in and start eating the sapwood.
   If you choose to remove the bark, you can knock it off with glancing blows with a hammer, the sapwood will check within a few days.
   For my turning materials, I leave the bark on, and wet the wood down with a garden hose every few days when it is dry out. That keeps it in a green state until I am ready to use it.
   Most of the cherry burls that I have found did not have the great figure that is often found in other species.
   You should seek out a turner in your area and see if you can trade some wood for turning lessons. It is a great way to use found woods, and when you get good, you can make some decent money with no material cost when you find wood like that.

2. 
   macalex | Jan 02, 2005 11:36pm | #2

   It is possible to convert burls/burrs to boards, but not easily, and the results are unpredictable. I have some elm burr that I cut into half inch (12mm) boards a couple of feet (600mm) long and have been using as trays in jewllery boxes and as inserts in furniture. Also some totara burr (most of which I had sliced into veneer at a then local veneer mill - very sucessfull). And I've just sliced up a piece of burr from a waxy yellow timber species (no idea what it is, but it looks great) as an 'exsert' (sticks up some) in my ultimate office desk project.

   Malcolm

   New Zealand | New Thinking