Selling Burls... As in from trees...

simi-steading · #1 04/08/14, 02:18 PM

I couldn't find a good place to put this, so it's a question..

Anyway, I've found a few real nice burls on my property.. one of them is massive. I don't think I can put my arms around it...

I also don't know what kind of tree it is since I'm not great at being able to tell from just the bark.. but once the leaves come out I'll probably know.. I think it may be oak or walnut, or could be ...???

I know it depends on what kind of wood it is.. but, the question....

How do you figure what a burl is worth, and how do you find buyers? Just list on CL or ebay or something? But I'd hate to think about shipping this one especially..

Yeah.. I've thought about doing something with it myself, but I got too many projects as it is, and it would be nice to fund one or two with a few burls..

Dixie Bee Acres · #2 04/08/14, 02:24 PM

Look around online, a website, Iirc, called woodbarter.com or something to that effect. If you could get a pic of it, post it there and you could get a lot of really good info.

simi-steading · #3 04/08/14, 02:27 PM

Ah.. good idea bout a picture.. DOH.. I'll try and get one next weekend if I have time..

TnAndy · #4 04/08/14, 03:09 PM

Usually has to be cut open to see what is actually there. Guy here uses a 60" bar on an Alaskan mill ( chainsaw mill ) to cut them. He sells them all over the east coast.

simi-steading · #5 04/08/14, 03:12 PM

This one isn't a 60" bar big, but I know my 24" won't get through it.. Never thought about them having to be cut open first.. but man would that ruin using it for a giant bowl or similar.. but I guess if you just took the top or bottom off?

Ramblin Wreck · #6 04/08/14, 03:50 PM

A guy in Christchurch NZ made the bread bowl on my dining table from a burl. It would probably hold the equivalent of 1.5 pecks. If memory serves, I paid $175NZ for it, about the equivalent of $100 US at the time. Of course, that's for the finished product, not the raw material. I'd guess a larger burl, especially if it turned out to be black walnut, would be worth a nice sum to the right craftsman.

simi-steading · #7 04/08/14, 03:52 PM

My wife found a cherry burl bowl that had green flecks in it that I have a feeling was from an old copper wire... . We both wanted to buy it to go with some cherry furniture we have, but it was an $800 bowl... I think I'll stick with Tupperware.. LOL..

TedH71 · #8 04/08/14, 04:58 PM

Be careful about it. The park rangers are having problems with people cutting out burls from valuable old trees in California.

dizzy · #9 04/08/14, 07:37 PM

Any chance it could be black knot fungus on a wild cherry?

simi-steading · #10 04/08/14, 07:41 PM

Nope.. we don't have any cherry... wish I did though... at least if we do, I've not found them..

Harry Chickpea · #11 04/08/14, 08:52 PM

IIRC (Someone please chime in if I am not) once removed, a burl is best coated in paraffin or paint to allow it to dry out slowly with a minimum of checks and flaws. Jim? Did I get that right?

simi-steading · #12 04/09/14, 05:16 AM

I've always heard you cut a lot of tree on each side of it so the act like a straw and it dries it out slowly...

Dixie Bee Acres · #13 04/09/14, 06:07 AM

Yes, coat the end s of any logs you are wanting to dry slowly

Sawmill Jim · #14 04/09/14, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

IIRC (Someone please chime in if I am not) once removed, a burl is best coated in paraffin or paint to allow it to dry out slowly with a minimum of checks and flaws. Jim? Did I get that right?

Yep correct Harry

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