sarvis wood...

[Russell Eaton]

It is a new variety for me. It was a gift from a fellow wood turner. I think it came from North Georgia. This is a core from one of the two larger bowls. It turns VERY nice, kind of like wet cherry. I finished turned this one and another smaller one, the larger cored bowls are soaking in the DNA bath. This wood has a very nice contrast from the heart/sap wood. Comments a are welcome.

[Steve Vaughan]

Never heard of that, or at least by that name. But it's a beautiful wood, and that's a nice looking bowl...love the contrast!

[Mel Fulks]

The old pronunciation of service berry was sarvis berry.Might be that.Never heard of the wood being used for anything as the trees are small. Look up amelanchior,( spelling)?

[Thomas Heck]

I really like that. I have heard the dad talk about sarvis winter in the spring. I guess that is when they bloom. I'd like to know exactly what it is to see if I could find any down.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Never heard of it but it sure is pretty stuff.

[Kathy Marshall]

Great looking bowl Russell! Never heard of that wood, but it sure is pretty!

[Russell Eaton]

Well I got up this morning and both bowls had warped some, slightly oval. I knew they would move some, but it was a little more than I counted on. If you would like to know more about this wood, do a quick Google search for "sarvis tree".

[John Keeton]

With the dogwood blight, many folks in this area are planting sarvis (service berry) as a substitute ornamental. Very nice landscaping tree, but I have not seen any turned as the height of the tree rarely exceeds 25'. Looks like it was worth the effort and you were lucky to have such a nice piece. Good work!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Love the grain and coloring! First I have heard or seen this kind of wood. Hope you can find more!

[Roger Rayburn]

I see references from time to time about a DNA bath but don't see it in the Acronym sticky. Can you tell me what that is?

[Mel Fulks]

Denatured alcohol

[Bob Rotche]

I have one in my front yard. Hard to believe it would ever be big enough to get turning wood. Somewhat reminiscent of dogwood. Has small white flowers that bloom, I believe, in February (sometime in winter anyway) and was used for winter funeral services, hence "service berry" which some in the area pronounced "sarvis berry" which seems to have stuck.

[Mel Fulks]

Bob,I've never heard that funeral use before ,interesting .Im going to look that up. But sarvis is definitely the old pronouciation ,just as clerk used to be pronounced 'Clark' . People used to make pies from the berries and they are good,but unfortunately the birds like them and don't need a ladder to get them. I once saw a flock of cedar wax wings in a couple of trees in the local botanical garden. When people got close to them they would retreat to a taller tree and complain until they could safely gorge.

[Russell Eaton]

I think this needs to soak for several days, it is so dense it may take longer to soak up. This was a large tree, the two bigger bowls are probably 10-12" across. The small bowls are still moving, guess they are going for the oval look. I may post update photos tomorrow. Thanks for the comments.

[Fred Belknap]

Sarvis is one of the first things to bloom in the spring. Tradition is that it was used to decorate the churches for spring or Easter service or (sarvis)