Mesquite

[marlin adams]

As a kid my family lived out in the country mostly here in rural Texas. We lived on a 25 acre farm that mainly had mesquite trees and I also learned real quick how to repair my own bike tires :). My dad did alot with mesquite from turning bowels and pens and a few other things on his lathe to building furniture and such, and this was his hobby to relieve the stress he had from being a rural lawman at the time.


I do know it is kinda hard to find a mesquite tree long and striaght enough to get some decent lumber out of but in the few wood working forums including this one no mention of mesquite except for grilling and smoking :).


Being a native Texan I thought of trying my hand in working with mesquite since I have friends and family that live out in the country that have land where this tree grows and wonder if any others like on this forum works with it?

[Mick Simon]

I work with mesquite a lot. It's beautiful wood. Nothing like the aroma of freshly milled mesquite. There are several places in TX to source lumber. Berdol Sawmil (https://berdollsawmill.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgZTRBRDmARIsAJvVWAvDYlPlrtl6v4tm2B5 6eFwa06GUoby13CCVbp-LYjwa7qr5MtZ7PYkaAj7NEALw_wcB)l near Austin is a great source for both lumber and slabs. Faifer & Sons (https://www.mesquitefloors.com/) near San Antonio (Floresville) is where I get most of mine.

It combines really well with both cherry and walnut.

This is a Morris chair I made recently in mesquite. Finished with Osmo PolyX oil, turquoise inlays.

399668

[John K Jordan]

...I thought of trying my hand in working with mesquite since I have friends and family that live out in the country that have land where this tree grows and wonder if any others like on this forum works with it?

I like mesquite for woodturning. I have quite a bit but since it doesn't grow here all I have was given to me over the years, mostly as tree sections, some at least 10" in diameter. I slice it up on the bandsaw, usually into fairly small turning blanks. Cuts and finishes nicely.

JKJ

[marlin adams]

I work with mesquite a lot. It's beautiful wood. Nothing like the aroma of freshly milled mesquite. There are several places in TX to source lumber. Berdol Sawmil (https://berdollsawmill.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgZTRBRDmARIsAJvVWAvDYlPlrtl6v4tm2B5 6eFwa06GUoby13CCVbp-LYjwa7qr5MtZ7PYkaAj7NEALw_wcB)l near Austin is a great source for both lumber and slabs. Faifer & Sons (https://www.mesquitefloors.com/) near San Antonio (Floresville) is where I get most of mine.

It combines really well with both cherry and walnut.

This is a Morris chair I made recently in mesquite. Finished with Osmo PolyX oil, turquoise inlays.

399668

WOW love the chair Mike :) My dad made alot of furniture for our house including the bunkbed I had in my room and my sisters bunkbeds in their rooms for when friends or family visit they had a place to sleep and a chair similiar in the one you made except if I remember his had straight arm rests. :)

[Jim Barkelew]

It is very stable. About 30 years ago I got a mesquite log off a wood pile and turned it round . Without any drying procedure I put it on the shelf for later use. 30 years later I grabbed it for a project and there were no cracks except in the pith center. The bugs love to eat it so don't leave the cut wood laying around. They will chase you into the shop trying to get a bite of your fresh wood.

[marlin adams]

I like mesquite for woodturning. I have quite a bit but since it doesn't grow here all I have was given to me over the years, mostly as tree sections, some at least 10" in diameter. I slice it up on the bandsaw, usually into fairly small turning blanks. Cuts and finishes nicely.

JKJ

I am leaning toward doing something similiar in upgrading from my 9 inch bandsaw to a 14 inch and getting a benchtop lathe too.

[Charlie Hinton]

I like mesquite, it works better than expected with the crazy grain.

399682

399683

[marlin adams]

I like mesquite, it works better than expected with the crazy grain.

399682

399683

That is what I remember from when my dad work with it :) Heck there was plenty of times my friends come over from school and thought I had the coolest bed LOL.

[Joe Calhoon]

I like Mesquite and have built a couple door units with it. Tough to get the right pieces for a door though. Lot of waste needs to be factored in.
399739

[Joe Adams]

Definitely check out Berdoll Sawmill near Bastrop. The owner, Brandon Berdoll, is a stand up guy and very knowledgeable. They are experts at milling and drying Mesquite. They also spray it with a borate solution when it comes out of the kiln to prevent re-infestation of wood boring insects. Here's my latest project featuring their wood.

399865

[Thomas Canfield]

Definitely check out Berdoll Sawmill near Bastrop. The owner, Brandon Berdoll, is a stand up guy and very knowledgeable. They are experts at milling and drying Mesquite. They also spray it with a borate solution when it comes out of the kiln to prevent re-infestation of wood boring insects. Here's my latest project featuring their wood.

399865
Joe did not mention the ribbon on the "hat". It made quite a hit at the 19th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show in Kerrville, TX in November receiving the Judges Special Award. There is a Mesquite show here in Fredericksburg, TX in October each year with all different uses of Mesquite shown from pens to major furniture. Good weekend viewing both.

[Joe Adams]

Thank you for the kinds words, Thomas.

Yes, both the Texas Furniture Makers Show and the Mesquite Festival are well worth the trip. Lots of great craftsmen (and women).

[lowell holmes]

I built a Brazos Rocker at Homestead Heritage near Waco Texas.
It sits in my living room and is made of mesquite.

I have also made maple chairs.

Once you make one, they tend to grow like rabbits. I have made eight chairs for relatives and friends.

Google "Brazos Rocker".

[Ron Lindner]

One of my favorite woods, but I only manage firewood lengths. 399940

[Michael Costa]

399942

I live in Arizona so mesquite is often my go to especially when it comes to turning. I would normally go into my back yard and cut off a chunk as I needed it.

However, a few years back we had a microburst (Google this, they are fascinating) and it literally pulled a full grown tree out of the ground and the it thru the bloch wall into my neighbors pool, patio, etc. I now have enough mesquite to last a lifetime.

[Scott T Smith]

+3 for Brandon Berdoll outside of Austin. I've known him for years and he is a great guy.

[John Goodin]

Reading this post has been just the motivation I need to give Berdoll a visit since I am on the NW side of Austin. On my long list of wants is to build a Nakashima style coffee table out of walnut but Mesquite maybe a nice alternative.

[William Krull]

Hi Mick, I work with mesquite a lot and I love your chair. Where did you get the turquoise and how did you inlay it.

[William Krull]

I use Woodworkers Source in Arizona a lot They generally have a good supply of mesquite at a decent price. https://www.woodworkerssource.com/
As a kid my family lived out in the country mostly here in rural Texas. We lived on a 25 acre farm that mainly had mesquite trees and I also learned real quick how to repair my own bike tires :). My dad did alot with mesquite from turning bowels and pens and a few other things on his lathe to building furniture and such, and this was his hobby to relieve the stress he had from being a rural lawman at the time.


I do know it is kinda hard to find a mesquite tree long and striaght enough to get some decent lumber out of but in the few wood working forums including this one no mention of mesquite except for grilling and smoking :).


Being a native Texan I thought of trying my hand in working with mesquite since I have friends and family that live out in the country that have land where this tree grows and wonder if any others like on this forum works with it?