Replies

1. 
   jonsherryl | Apr 25, 2003 06:56am | #1

   Dennis, the willows are diffuse-porous and fine to moderately fine textured woods. They have excellent shaping characteristics. The Dutch used/use their native species belonging to the willow family for making wooden shoes...and until the advent of plastics, black willow was the preferred wood for making artificial limbs, because of its excellent strength to weight ratio and resistance to splitting. Weeping willow is one of the softer and weaker of the willow woods, but it still turns very well. It accepts clear finishes nicely and can be polished to a smooth surface without filling. Staining, though, can be problematic (blotches), if the stock contains any reaction wood...and it often does.

   ...Unfortunately, into every life some rain must fall. The willows are notoriously unstable...So, don't use it to turn anything that you really want to stay round.

   
   

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   Edited 4/25/2003 12:06:11 AM ET by Jon Arno

1. 
   DennisS | Apr 29, 2003 07:48am | #2

   Jon -

   Thank you very much for your reply. For some reason, I'm not getting notified of posts (via email) and I frequently miss replies to questions I've offered to the group. Thus my apologies for not thanking you sooner.

   I'm stil waiting for my neighbor to be out in his yard when I drive by so I can ask for a hunk or three of the branch wood he (still) has lying on the ground. Now with the warm weather coming on here in the NW, I hope I can rescue some of that wood before it ends up all checked beyond reasonable use.

   Thanks again.

   BTW - now that spring is here and the trees are leafing out, I'm hoping I can find a relative of a street tree that was taken down here in downtown Bellevue so I can post a picture of the foliage and bark for identification. I'd be greatful if, should I get the opportunity, to have you (and the group) help to identify what it is.

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]