Mesquite Burls *** Score

[Alan Gan]

Another score, neighbor had his Mesquite tree cut down. It was hurt pretty bad with Mistletoe. Tree guy dropped it on my drive way. So I have enough Mesquite to last awhile.

The biggest surprise was the Burls that I found in the pile,the largest one is about 12" across and it is all the way around the limb, 4 other Burls ranging from 4" to 8" across but the big one looks perfect.. Got a lot of wood for bowls etc..

This will be my 1st true Burl, how do I cut it from the limb? Do I split it directly down the center cutting in the direction of the limb, not across the limb?

You just have to be in the right place at the right time.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/WoodWorking/Mesquite%20Burls%20and%20Turning%20Log%20Blanks/DSCN2992_zpsa2a3yrd7.jpg

A nice slab and a 4 way Fork

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/WoodWorking/Mesquite%20Burls%20and%20Turning%20Log%20Blanks/DSCN2973_zpssjoeqqfa.jpg

Some smaller stuff, see the one small Burl they cut in half.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/WoodWorking/Mesquite%20Burls%20and%20Turning%20Log%20Blanks/DSCN2991_zpsgkbsfb33.jpg

Some nice bug free Mesquite, Bowls, Vases

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/WoodWorking/Mesquite%20Burls%20and%20Turning%20Log%20Blanks/DSCN2974_zpsly3ntmcy.jpg

[mark kosse]

I've killed mesquite by the tens of thousands. Saplings though. I used t o carry clicker and count them and log it. Of the many mature trees I've seen, not many have burl. Nice find.

[Thomas Canfield]

Looks like some interesting sections of wood there for the out of normal turning. Burls, crotches, .......... Great score.

[mark kosse]

By the way, where are you located? Here in central tx a big tree is 15" diameter.

[Bruce Pratt]

If that burl is as symmetrical as it looks in the picture, I would go for a hollow form/calabash/narrow neck-wide waisted vase, with the bottom and top of the form on the long axis of the limb.

[Alan Gan]

By the way, where are you located? Here in central tx a big tree is 15" diameter.

Hi Mark, I am in Tucson, the older trees here I have seen up to 36+" diameter. This tree is probable 40 years old.


If that burl is as symmetrical as it looks in the picture, I would go for a hollow form/calabash/narrow neck-wide waisted vase, with the bottom and top of the form on the long axis of the limb.

Thanks Bruce, I am a little new to Turning, do you have a picture of what you are suggesting?

[Robert Engel]

Isn't that a pretty hard wood?

[Alan Gan]

Isn't that a pretty hard wood?

Hi Robert, yes Mesquite is a hard wood, This tree was just cut yesterday so it is really wet, makes Turning very easy, when dry it can be dusty and a little hard. I always try to find wet, dry is not much fun to turn.

It is very popular for Furniture building and Turning. Turns well and not to hard on the tools, best thing is there is very little distortion to the shape when a bowl blank dries out.

You can find dead and down Mesquite out in the Desert that will be very weathered from the intense sun and Monsoon rains, but when you cut into it, it still has its distinctive colors as it did when it went down.

[mark kosse]

To put the hardness into perspective, hard maple is about 1400 on the Janna scale and mesquite is around 2400.

Alan, I understand now. We hardly ever see a tree those sizes here in Centex. A neighbor had one about 24" and it was l
the largest I had seen. When he passed it got dozed and burned. It was full of lead anyway as he used it for a target backstop.