Box Elder root burl @ $4.00 lb.

[Mack C. in Brooklin ON]

Am I missing something here? A 150 lb. burl would cost $600.00.
http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/c...il.php?id=2998

[MAWarner]

Looks like one would make more money just sellin wood then turning it

[Gene45]

I would like to see him turn the wavy bowl pictured.....

[Denis L in Oshawa]

Mack $4/lb is cheap, compared to what you would pay for some pen blanks...

[Mapleview]

Cool , There is lots of that here and some completely underground , can be hard on tool edges thought .

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I guess finding and getting that burled stump/root wood out and home, cleaning it and then trying to make a profit, is quite a job.
I know next time I have a MM, I'm not going to remove the stump like I did last time, not for $4.-- a pound semi dry that is.
Nice wood to have though, Gene that's all carving a very thick rim, it is where turning leaves and carving is the real word for it IMO

[northwood]

Hey, thanks for the feedback guys. I really appreciate the sarcasm. Solid burl with nice colour is hard to come by. This is not some interesting piece from your neighbour’s wood pile. And as Leo pointed out, there is a lot of back breaking work to get this wood to the shop. Please, if you find 100% burl as nice as this stuff in something bigger than a 6x6, for cheaper, I’ll give it away.
Yes the finished vessel in the picture is completely carved and sanded without the use of a “lathe”

[Mapleview]

Northwood Welcome to the forum , yes the turning or carving is the easy part , and the color and grain patterns can be amazing, discovered this removing a stump in the back yard ,the boss said it had to go , was a really lucky find .The top cut was 2 inches below ground level .
PS. would like to see more of your work.

[Grillzy]

I have work alot of burl....

IMO the price is high but only b/c its a private seller. Private sales are one of a kind and repeat purchases are not there, where in retail they will find more and you can buy again. I think private sales should always be in the whole price range and not retail.

Root burl is the biggest PITA. First of all you dig it by hand or pull it with machine (the only way to go). Second its full of sand and dirt which must be cleaned off. Third they have rocks in them! and kill the chain on the chainsaw and worse bandsaw blades and lathe chisles. They often have nice figure but IMO the figure is no different than a burl above ground. Which begs the question- Why pay for root burl (labour in retriving it and processing it) when one above the ground will look the same?

Northwood- it is a nice root burl but....

Grillzy

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I have work alot of burl....

IMO the price is high but only b/c its a private seller. Private sales are one of a kind and repeat purchases are not there, where in retail they will find more and you can buy again. I think private sales should always be in the whole price range and not retail.

Root burl is the biggest PITA. First of all you dig it by hand or pull it with machine (the only way to go). Second its full of sand and dirt which must be cleaned off. Third they have rocks in them! and kill the chain on the chainsaw and worse bandsaw blades and lathe chisles. They often have nice figure but IMO the figure is no different than a burl above ground. Which begs the question- Why pay for root burl (labour in retriving it and processing it) when one above the ground will look the same?

Northwood- it is a nice root burl but....

Grillzy

Grillzy, when was the last time you turned a root ????, you think that a root is the same as aboveground wood ??, well not to me.
One other thing, how many penblanks in a pound ?? 20 ?? times how much, yes there's extra work, but they can be made from small pieces and cutoffs, large burls should be at least the same price IMO, but then, I don't have the burl, I know you would not be able to buy it from me if I did, a nice bowl should fetch $250.-- easy, and you don't need a 50 pound block for that, just a thought .

[Pete in Welland]

I think I've only turned 2 pieces of burl and it really did nothing for me.
I've seen and felt a lot but maybe 1% actually impress me. So I can't comment on the price, but then I don't usually buy turning wood anyway so a piece of burl wouldn't get me to open my wallet at all.

[Steve Kubien]

Northwood,

I think you are probably right in line with your pricing and I hope this thread does not affect you sale. Furthermore, I would suggest, to others, if you do not have anything nice to say, say nothing. Yes Mack, this is directed at you.

Regards,
Steve

[Pete in Welland]

Northwood,

Furthermore, I would suggest, to others, if you do not have anything nice to say, say nothing.
Regards,
Steve

Mmmm
Now it would seem to me you are contradicting your own advice.
These sorts of comments often lead to flame wars and really are unnecessary. Everyone has the right to express an opinion.

[Steve Kubien]

Yes Peter, I suppose I am. I'll be quiet now. Sorry to ruffle.

[Mack C. in Brooklin ON]

Northwood,

I think you are probably right in line with your pricing and I hope this thread does not affect you sale. Furthermore, I would suggest, to others, if you do not have anything nice to say, say nothing. Yes Mack, this is directed at you.

Regards,
Steve

Hi Steve; My friend, no offence taken. I was just asking a question in my own inimitable style. I didn't realize someone would pay $600.00 + shipping (I assume) for a piece of root burl!

So when are you expecting it?

[Steve Kubien]

I wish I could grab it Mack. I could make a bunch of pen blanks, stablize a large number and never have to buy them again. I would also wind up with some amazing peppermill stock. Now that you say it, I should look into it.

[Grillzy]

Grillzy, when was the last time you turned a root ????,.

You mean root burl- I turned white birch and manitoba maple root burl this summer

Northwood, I think you are probably right in line with your pricing and I hope this thread does not affect you sale. Steve

Sorry Steve but I didn't see you rushing out for my free burls. I posted last fall 2 Box elder/ manitoba root burls for free and had no takers Geee I guess $4.00lb plus shipping is a bargan

Grillzy

[Mapleview]

Question , around hear lots of MM has burl looking growth around the base of the tree at ground level ,the piece I have was completely below ground and has several voids and inclusions is there a difference .

[Steve Kubien]

**** Grillzy, I must have missed that. That's not the sort of thing I would say no to.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

You mean root burl- I turned white birch and manitoba maple root burl this summer

Grillzy

No I meant a piece of root wood.
It isn't the same as above ground wood, and neither is the burl.
Besides not all burls are the same, I think you know that already.
Northwood did show a pice that was made from his burl, and you can go by that what it looks like, fair enough IMO