Thread: Burl blanks - where, when, how, who....

Russell, there are a few good suppliers in States, maybe some of the others can fill in some details, apart from CSUSA and Arizona Silhuoette(who unfortunately does not post overseas) . Also the IAP site has turners who sell good blanks. Amos

Thanks Amos.

Several concerns with the US however

1. Can we get raw wood through customs?
2. The exchange rate at the moment - we're paying $US x 1.6 time - bleh

Russell.

Go to your local WWW show or a timber supplier that sells burl in larger lumps, then cut it up yourself.

The problem with cutting your own burl blanks is the drying process and the wastage from the cutting.

Most burls (if not all) are sold wet/green. So when you purchase and cut yourself, you have to wait 6 - 12 months for it to dry. During that time, it will warp, crack, bow etc. You can cut over size and allow for the movement. Its an art to get a good burl blank.

I have been learning from an experienced dealer with 30 years experience, and he says even he is still learning how to dry burl.

Regards to cost, expect to pay about $3 - $5 a pen blank. Several weeks ago there was discussion of price, and why it should be so high.

Remember at the end of the day, you get what you pay for.

Timberbits.

Originally Posted by timberbits

Regards to cost, expect to pay about $3 - $5 a pen blank. Several weeks ago there was discussion of price, and why it should be so high.

There was? How did I miss that one?

*goes to the search page*

Russell.

I picked up a few burls a while ago which I sliced into about 22mm boards then left them to dry (it will happen a lot faster in boards than solid burl). Some millers will sell sliced burls which are usually a pretty good thickness for pen blanks too. If you are looking at going down this avenue a bandsaw will be a good investment.

Russell, you always by the burl turning blocks. Either the square or rectangular and mill 25mm boards from and then have a bit of room to play with.

I do have a bandsaw, although I'm down to 1 small blade. I'd prefer to mill my own because of this, but it's hard to tell the value of a full burl, as it's virtually impossible to tell how many blanks you'd actually get from a burl just from the dimensions and a couple of pictures. Still, some people want what seem exorbitant prices even for small burls.

I take the point about them being green, which is a slight problem if I want to actually start making something soon. My problem with local availability, is there's not really many decent wood places around that I can find. Once upon a time I used to be able to go to Lazarides and have a browse around, but that's not really possible anymore, and Carbatec are in an awful spot to get to.

Anyone know any decent or even not so decent suppliers on Brisbane's south side?

Russell.

Russell, I can only tell you of my own experience. I buy many burls already dried and stabilized and cut to size. I also have purchased many whole burls. Some have come quite dry and I've had little to no problems. Only one has proved to be a total loss. Very wet and full of voids. In all fairness, the voids were impossible to see until the burl had been cut so no hard feelings to the vendor. Burls are tricky and the potential for waste and loss only increases the cost of the good ones. If they didn't make for such fine turning, I wouldn't mess with them at all.

where is Maryvale anyway?
Qld, NSW.Vic or elsewhere

Originally Posted by BoomerangInfo

There was? How did I miss that one?

*goes to the search page*

Russell.

Russell - the quick discussion was here http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=82415

Also, you might want to check eBay. There are a few sellers of burl pen blanks on eBay.

Timberbits.

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

where is Maryvale anyway?
Qld, NSW.Vic or elsewhere

It's near Conningham's gap, on the way to Warwick in Qld, but I'm staying in Brisbane during the week while I work.

Timberbits, I'll go checkout the thread, thanks. Returning to work has meant I have to speed read the forums in the short time I have each night for internet stuff, so I'm missing lots of stuff.

I've noticed the sellers on Ebay There's some nice blanks at 16mm, but as my drilling is still rather manually done, and I'm doing mostly Sierra's, I need to some allowance for drill wander, so I have to be careful on size.

Russell.

we have a tone of burl at www.043turning.com.au if it's not on the web page just call

Mark
043TURNING
043 887 6464