Replies

1. 
   Jimma | Oct 06, 2004 01:01am | #1

   Unless you're a masochist, throw 'em out. Even with the best drying conditions, the resulting lumber isn't worth having. I've tried and, except for an occasional small piece that could be turned or made into bookcases, the wood is full of splits and wind shake and all manner of unexpected trouble. The laurel oak (water oak) is the worst. Live oak is kinda interesting due to its twisty, squirrely grain. I doubt if you've got the equipment, space or experience to do a credible job with that stuff (or you wouldn't have asked), so give it up -- unless you just want to play with a piece. I have one chunk of live oak from Frances drying now, but all I'm going to use it for is a slab to mount a commemorative sign on for the neighbor whose tree it came from. Jim (in Orlando)

1. 
   outlaw | Oct 06, 2004 04:55pm | #2

   I agree read my answer in Florida trees!

1. 
   Jimma | Oct 06, 2004 06:48pm | #3

   In my experience, even when the tree hasn't been stressed, it's a problem. Several years ago a neighbor had a wild/black cherry tree, about 12-14 inches dia at the three-foot level, cut down and let me have the trunk portion. I hired a guy with a portable Wood Mizer to come to my shop and slice it into 6/4 slabs, which I sealed with wax and stickered. The pile was about four feet high and I weighted it to dry in my shop, which is air conditioned. When the MC got down to about 10 percent, I started to use it for an original design of a dictionary-world-atlas stand. I barely got enough usable wood to finish it, although the completed project looks OK and gets good marks from people. All in all, it was a useful, if experimental project, but not worth the hassle. For one thing, the Florida cherry is very dark with almost no distinguishable grain, especially alongside a cherry table I made a few years earlier from northern wood. So, I'm done with the local found wood bit except for an occasional piece -- like some nice oak burl -- that can be used creatively, but not lumber! On the other hand, if your South Florida friend has some exotics he'd like to offer, I'd like to klnow about it.

1. 
   outlaw | Oct 06, 2004 08:24pm | #4

   He is very picky about who he sells to and does not like for the stuff to be used in the conventional way!  He is a student of Nakashima and wants that type of work. Send me your info and I will get it to him [email protected].

1. 
   Jimma | Oct 06, 2004 11:05pm | #5

   Tell him George Nakashima signed his book, "Soul of a Tree", to me.

   I'm not a full-time furniture maker, though I do work on commission from time to time. I'm actually a retired book publisher who grew up in Coral Gables and know some of the exotic species from the keys area. Until I know what he might have, I'm just curious as the project depends on the character of the material, cost, location, etc. Jim (Maitland, actually).

2. 
   KeithNewton | Oct 08, 2004 03:09am | #6

   I think you guys are being a little too pessimistic here. I have harvested some storm downed trees which were as clean as if they had been sawn.

   There are lots of variables that can cause a tree to be harder or easier to be toppled by strong winds. If the soil is wet, the soil can fail even with a good healthy root system, and if there is a bad root on the tension or compression side this can make them go down even easier.

   The ones that have the best grip on the earth are the ones which get torn apart, and should be avoided. If I were not so far away, I would be out helping with the cleanup.

   I have a large sculpture job coming up that I would like to saw a single plank about 6' wide and 6" thick to start with, so If anyone knows of a giant live oak, please let me know.