Willy's latest Burl Hunt

**Willy Nelson** · 11th June 2017, 09:58 AM

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen

Gained access to a new property, 2 hours NE from Perth.

Loaded up two DRZ400s, 2 dogs, a good mate and my daughter into Terry Triton for an early morning drive to the farm of 1500 acres. The farmer manages 6000 in the area, so there will be scope for more hunting in the future.

Met the farmer, had a cup of tea and he gave me a mud map of the property and where he recommended I go.

On the drive to the farm, burls everywhere, chest height and good size, so frustrating.

Anyhoo, unloaded then bikes, unleashed the dogs and away we went burl hunting. Ignored all the burls on the fence lines as I prefer to take burls in the bushy areas so the farmer doesn't see scars on the trees. If the tree is covered in burls, I only take 1 or 2 so as not to ringbark the tree. We entered a bushy paddock and it was obvious, there were burls everywhere. The noses of the burl dogs were twitching, the dogs, who are trained burl hunters were like kids in a candy shop, as was I. We rounded up the first 4 burls and I quickly dispatched them with a mighty swipe of the Stihl 660. Four in the bag (well in the tray), looking good. A quick walk and I found burls on just about every second tree. I could afford to be choosy, so only took ones of a good size, shape and easy access. I even found a dead tree with some burls on it. The trees are York Gums, very hard cutting burls, even harder when the tree is dead. I hate to cut them with anything less than a 660.

Whilst I was smiting burls, my daughter, mate and the burl dogs were off exploring. Great country, dry creek beds, granite boulders, burls everywhere, kangaroos and challenging tracks. A lunch of bacon, cheese and avacado sandwiches between hunts.

Got back late last night, will clean out the ute, seal and mark the burls and take a mass kill shot photo and post it later.

Thanks for reading
Sincerely
Willy
Jarrahland

**Uncle Al** · 11th June 2017, 11:15 AM

Sounds like a fun day. It is great being able to get well into the bush where few people have been apart from the farmers. Certainly not a place to go by yourself when burl hunting, safety in numbers as they say.

Alan...

**Nubsnstubs** · 11th June 2017, 01:50 PM

Willie, that's what I would call a productive day. Looks like my kind of country.. Beautiful. ............. Jerry (in Tucson)

**Willy Nelson** · 11th June 2017, 05:18 PM

All burls are now labelled, sealed and stored for future reference, will leave them dry for at least 3-4 years.
Cheers
Willy
Jarrahland

**artful bodger** · 11th June 2017, 08:57 PM

Nice work!
What sort of timber are they?.
Regards
Seething with jealousy.

**WOODbTURNER** · 11th June 2017, 10:01 PM

Willy would you know what this tree is up at Kings Park in Perth? I was up there two days agoIMG_3420.jpg

**WOODbTURNER** · 11th June 2017, 10:04 PM

Here's the foliageIMG_3421.jpg IMG_3421.jpg IMG_3421.jpg

**Wood Collector** · 11th June 2017, 10:47 PM

Peppercorn Schinus areira they can often be supper hollow with only 8% sound timber and still not fail. only remove burls from dead of trees being removed as the large cuts can introduce decay into the tree

**Willy Nelson** · 11th June 2017, 11:36 PM

Yes, I agree with Peppercorn

Have turned a fair amount of it, light coloured timber and quite a light timber, nice to turn. Can have some rot in the trunk

Artful Dodger
The trees, I believe are York Gum. Very, very hard. The timber will not float it is so dense. Having said that, there are slight variations in the burls, some have pink tinges and different colouring. They be subtly different species, eg Concinna etc I call them all York Gum Burls, OKAY!!!!!
Cheers
Willy

**Willy Nelson** · 11th June 2017, 11:38 PM

There is a giant Camphor Laurel in the centre of the roundabout near Fraser's restaurant I would love to get my chainsaw into, it is massive.
I should write to them and demand they remove as it is a weed, not from WA, and that I am willing to assist
Willy

**dai sensei** · 12th June 2017, 01:39 PM

Got some real variation in colour there Willy. Your first photo looks like the York burl I have, one with 4 burls and chainsaws, but the others look almost like different species. Should turn up once mate, just remember to keep those offcuts in MY wheelie bin

. By the time I get back there they should be dry

**NeilS** · 14th June 2017, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by Willy Nelson

There is a giant Camphor Laurel in the centre of the roundabout near Fraser's restaurant I would love to get my chainsaw into, it is massive.
I should write to them and demand they remove as it is a weed, not from WA, and that I am willing to assist
Willy

Yes, Willy, not only is it not from WA, it is not from Australia, sort of. I understand that it is a hybrid of two closely related introduced 'species' that interbred near my home town of Alstonville on the far Nth Coast of NSW. As a hybrid it is virulent and it literally covered the district before they attempted to control it.

Interesting wood but a curse of a weed tree.

Neil

**Nubsnstubs** · 14th June 2017, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by NeilS

Yes, Willy, not only is it not from WA, it is not from Australia, sort of. I understand that it is a hybrid of two closely related introduced 'species' that interbred near my home town of Alstonville on the far Nth Coast of NSW. As a hybrid it is virulent and it literally covered the district before they attempted to control it.

Interesting wood but a curse of a weed tree.

Neil

Neil, is that like the rabbits we learned about in grade school? There were so many, they would stack up against fences so high that you could walk over it instead of going under? Is it a myth or the real deal? You hear stuff, but since you don't live in the area, how are you gonna know if it's true?? ............... Jerry (in Tucson)

**Willy Nelson** · 14th June 2017, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by NeilS

Yes, Willy, not only is it not from WA, it is not from Australia, sort of. I understand that it is a hybrid of two closely related introduced 'species' that interbred near my home town of Alstonville on the far Nth Coast of NSW. As a hybrid it is virulent and it literally covered the district before they attempted to control it.

Interesting wood but a curse of a weed tree.

Neil

Ahhhhhhhhhh, lots of interbreeding it THAT area

**NeilS** · 15th June 2017, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Willy Nelson

Ahhhhhhhhhh, lots of interbreeding it THAT area

Yeah, we are a hybridized lot!

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