Thread: Wanted - seasoned logs and weathered timber, please

Welcome to the world of scrounging.

It's very unlikely that rounds of that size will dry intact, they'll all crack in the middle as they dry - a problem we woodturners know all to well.

So we split the heart out of the log as soon as possible, to limit this cracking... but it sounds like you don't want to do this? So that eliminates any offcuts from us turners.

To get rounds such as you describe, you'll probably have to start gathering your own green logs and drying them yourself. Then either putting up with the checking or start using epoxy fillers...

Yeah, I thought it may be tricky. Worth a try.
In the meantime, I'd still like to scrounge around for any weathered posts etc. that might be interesting. Although, I know I'm not the only one looking for the elusive "characteristic piece". Nothing ventured, yada yada .

Plus getting anything to dry with the bark on is going to be tricky. As the trunk dries it shrinks. While the bark will shrink as well it does not shrink as much as the trunk so the bark does not so much as fall off as get forced off a round section of a trunk or branch.

Good advice, noted. I guess I will need to source rounds or slices (sans bark) which are interesting to the eye.
I am looking for pieces that have an interesting edge to them I guess. Not unlike the large burls slabs used for tables etc. but in a smaller diam.
Not asking for much am I? That'll teach me for having creative brainstorms.

Still, I'm open to suggestions that might lead me to a happy medium of interesting wood pieces to create with .
Ya never know unless ya ask, is my motto (well one of them anyway).

Cheers.

I use burl slices for clocks and family trees. See here for some I milled not so long ago, and here for some of the clocks.

I'm sure you could get some burl slices from one of your local timber millers.

Plenty of that sort of stuphph over here. Postage is a bit steep.

Oh my!! Dai Sensei, they are lovely pieces and just what I am looking for.
Do you know of anyone in Victoria that I could contact?

Anyone?....

DJ of this forum is the only miller down your way I know, not sure if he has any burls.

Anyone else know any millers down there with small burls?

The Woodsmith in Lusher Rd, Croydon had burls for sale the last time I was there. Red & Brown Mallee, from memory.

That was a while ago, though...

There is a bit on ebay.

This guy has a lot of stuff.

U might try your local tip for old weathered stuff, it will depend on their policy but here in Rocky they let u pick up from the wood pile...there is all manner of stuff, lot of it is pine pallets and the like but u can find some good stuff
House demolition people might be worth a look as well
Or keep an eye out for someone pulling a fence down...rock on up and say ...err can I have yuor old palings?
Peter

Thanks for all your suggestions guys - much appreciated.

Tried three tips on the weekend - very cagey about letting us out to check the piles of wood. Not alot of selection at the time, I guess its all being burned for fuel.
I'll check out ebay too, thanks TL.
I will definitely visit The Woodsmith, thanks for the lead Skew.

Thanks again.

Our local tip charges a small fortune for recycled wood.

Sign of the times, I guess. So now I head 'em off at the pass and go direct to the source: dumpster diving & kerbside cruising on hard-garbage days.

The things we'll do for our hobbies...

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Our local tip charges a small fortune for recycled wood.

Sign of the times, I guess. So now I head 'em off at the pass and go direct to the source: dumpster diving & kerbside cruising on hard-garbage days.

The things we'll do for our hobbies...

Yes, but think of the gratification one gets when finding a gem in amongst the trash - our treasure! And..it was free