Just messing around and gloat

[Jerry Marcantel]

Ever since I broke my neck, I've been somewhat taking it easy..... But, today, I turned a piece of Cholla to see if it would stay together, and I was surprised that it did. It's 2 1/2" od, and 7" long. It's naturally hollow, so it's my first hf..... The pic also shows 3 other cholla pieces I turned just before the accident. Someday, I'll set them in resin and see if I can turn some pens......
A gloat------- Last week I was given an Olive stump, about 4 feet diameter, and at least 500 pounds..... I'm washing the dirt and rocks out of it in the pic... How long should it be before I start cutting pieces off it?
The guy who gave it to me is allergic to Olive trees, and he has another he's going to remove soon.... It's twice the size as this one..... He's also trying to get his neighbors to remove their trees with his labor and transplanting another more friendly species at his expence....... So far he's removed 5 trees in the neighborhood......

[Richard Madden]

That Olive stump is way too big and heavy. You probably should cut it up and send me some.:D Clean it up good and cut and enjoy. I'm jealous.

[alex carey]

Never seen cholla, cool looking wood.

That olive stump is a gold mine, get the other one if you can. The stumps I had also had tons of rocks and dirt, took me foreverrrr to get it clean.

I'd start cutting it up and sealing it as soon as you can.

[Karl Card]

that is neat. I havent ever heard of it and I like learning about things I dont know about.....so i have alot to learn..lol

[mickey cassiba]

Jerry. the cholla is cool! I remember finding dead ones as a kid. The live ones now, they were not so much fun:eek:. Never thought of it as art, though. Shows what I know, huh?
Did you collect the cholla trunks?
Mick

[Rich Stewart]

Broke your neck? Olive is one of my favorite woods to turn.

[John Hart]

Never turned olive...or cholla for that matter. Looks like you have a pile of joy on your hands.

Yeah...what Rich said.....Broke your neck?:eek::confused:

[Jerry Marcantel]

Yeah...what Rich said.....Broke your neck?:eek::confused:[/QUOTE]
yup, about 7 weeks ago I got my first olive stump in the desert where people dump trash. It's as big as the bed of my truck, had been out there for at least 15 years, and as I was getting set to pull it out of the truck, slipped and fell out and "broke muh neck".
Mickie, I am collecting cholla trunks. That's the only thing that has any volumm. I think it's the "Teddy Bear"variety that get's that big...... They grow up to 8 feet... You have to get them while they're fresh dead and still standing, otherwise, by the time they fall, they're too rotten to do anything with..... There are forests of this stuff less than a mile from my house.
If anyone want's any, let me know, and I'll send some samples out for postage only.
If any one want's to see the stump that broke my neck, look up the thread, "Almost a gloat". There's a pic of the stump, plus a scan of my broken neck.............. Jerry (in Tucson)

[Thom Sturgill]

Jerry glad you're better, that sounded like a nasty fall. As to the olive, let me be the first to say - YOU SUCK!

I love turning olive. You can polish it and not put a finish on it.

[John Keeton]

Yeah...what Rich said.....Broke your neck?:eek::confused:Jerry is one lucky boy!!
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=1419035
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=1419411

[Allen Neighbors]

Glad to see you back and in good shape, Jerry! That Cholla is awesome... sort of reminds me of Banksia Pod... is it as hard as BP?
PM sent.

[David E Keller]

Great looking stuff. I've made a few pens from cholla and would love to get my hands on some more. I've never seen any big enough to do a HF, but I like the one you did.

As for the olive, well.... You suck!:D

Glad the neck fracture is healing uneventfully.

PM sent.

[John Hart]

Jerry is one lucky boy!!
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=1419035
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=1419411


Wow! Yeah Jerry...you are one lucky boy!!! Being paralyzed is one of my worst nightmares.

Thanks for the links John.

[Matt Ranum]

Jerry is one lucky boy!!
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=1419035
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=1419411


Holy crap I guess your lucky Jerry!

Someone has definitely been watching over you.

Congrats on the stumps too!

[Michael James]

Jerry, glad you're here to gloat! Not everyone in that situation is so lucky.
We have tons, ok lots, of dead cactus around my areae and looks very similar but more the diamater of an inch to maybe 2. We are still north of the sonoran desert here, so the "souther" you go the more you find the good desert stuff.... but, you also find the scorpions (not the rock band), gila monsters, and all sorts of creatures that own that world.
Never thought of using it for anything other than firewood at a desert cookout. Something to think about for sure.
It's good that you're getting back in your groove. Good luck and thanks for the post.
mj

[charlie knighton]

very nice find.....get well soon, Jerry :D

[Allen Neighbors]

I'm sending for some of that Cholla! I think it'll be fun to see what I can turn out of it... maybe some pens... ort bowls, etc. I know nothing about casting in resin, but I'll think of something... :D