Last year when our small town had a public sewer line ran, our neighbors maple tree came down. Sad day to see it go, it was cherished by them. After said tree was cut, while splitting it I noticed curly figure. While burning this season, we set all the pieces aside. I just couldn't bring myself to burn such beautiful wood. Bought a nice bandsaw so I could cut the pieces into something usable. Here are my first results, before and after.
That is some beautiful grain, Jason!!! And the excellent workmanship really brings that grain to life Awesome, sir.
Just beautiful. I can relate. My property here was once surrounded by maple my grandfather planted in 1956, six of them to be exact. Power line trimming/hacks, one uprooted when I was a child, etc. I have but one healthy one left, directly in front of my house. People say all the time, "that will rot off your shingles"...shingles can be replaced-I call it the most beautiful maple in all the land, but I'm biased...LOL-It never been touched but does have some limbs dying...
Wow did those turn out nice! I love curly maple.. There almost too nice for the ash shovel handle.. Looks a bit like a pool stick. Can you post pics when it's done?
Beautiful. Those are the pieces that I pick out of the stack. I've seen French rolling pins made out of stock like that. I'd build a Shaker style ladder back rocker if I had enough material. It would make a beautiful gunstock for a blackpowder rifle too. I carved a small rabbit out of some curly maple years ago.
I don't play Croquet, fellas..... It just came to mind that they appeared as "Wickets." Oh nevah mind!
Oh no, you started this...I thought "wickets" were the hoop things you mallet your ball through? I'd like a full report by Monday please sir. Is the season about to begin Eric VW ? Do you wear a costume or uniform? Is it a team sport and what are your colors? Team name? We need to know? I thought pool cue too btw...no harkening back to lawn sports in my mind, not that there's anything wrong with it...really
Come to think of it, I don't know what the stick at the end of the run is called?! Thought wicket was the stick... Guess I'll be googling.....
Just so we stopped you from pounding a beautiful piece of curly maple in the ground and banging a mini-bowling ball off of it...Just yanking the chain a bit bud...I trust you and yours are well...
Doing the best we can Ashwatcher Now- back to Croquet..... You are correct Sir! (like Ed McMahon used to say on Johnny Carson Tonight Show) Have a look- Give the Watcher of Ash a prize!