The story of the mesquite tree........

[Robert McGowen]

The story starts likes this:

There was an ad on Craig's List. It read:

"We had to remove a large, healthy mesquite tree in a recent construction project. The trunk is probably big enough to make a mantle and the tree branches are big enough for other mesquite wood projects. And of course, the smaller branches would make great firewood for a BBQ grill. Someone else might be coming on Monday or Tuesday to make firewood out of the whole tree ... if you're a craftsman and can do anything more interesting with the wood than that, you're welcome to come take the better pieces."

The middle of the story starts just before daylight when the sound of a chain saw awakens everyone in the area.

And the story ends a few hours later on the back of a pickup truck. The 1642 2HP will be here any day!
Just for reference, that is an 18" chainsaw.

[Benjamin Dahl]

Robert, great score. I am envious.
Ben

[Jason Hallowell]

Nice score! I love working with mesquite. Turns well, and like you I live in an area where it's often free.

[Jude Kingery]

Robert, nice take! And like Jason, I love turning Mesquite. Fortunately, we, too, live in an area where it is abundant and always free. Way to go! Jude

[Raymond Overman]

Dear Robert,

Let me know if I can help you with any of that.

Your Friend and Pal,

Raymond

[Dan Forman]

Dang, that's a nice haul! Ought to keep you out of trouble for a while.

Dan

[Alex Elias]

That sure is nice. I can make a few nice pens I never turned any mesquite but saw some great pens made out of it.
Congrats on your great find. Early bird gets the worm

[Mike Vickery]

Nice score. It looks like you stripped it pretty good.

[Pete Jordan]

Robert you old Bandit!

It doesn't get much better than that!

[Tom Sherman]

Way to go Robert, quite a nice haul should keep that Jet occupied for a while.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Robert I must say I am green with envy. I love turning mesquite. Wow a truck load of it no less.

[Brian McInturff]

Wow, Mesquite!! Not something I can get around here. What a load too. If you decide you want some oak, maple, or holly(not pure white) let me know. We could trade pieces. Good luck and happy turning!!!

[Jim Underwood]

There should be some handsome stuff come out of that haul!

You done good!:)

Seal it up soon!

[David Fried]

Yeah, can't remember the last a mesquite tree fell down around here. :rolleyes: Nice haul!

[Robert McGowen]

Fellow Creeker Randy Dear was the official "assistant" for this haul. We work together and I just showed him where the vortex was one day and he disappeared before my very eyes! Tell him he HAS to post some of the 100 pens that he had made in the last month or so! :D He has plenty of wood for a bowl to show up now, also! :eek:

[Ed Scolforo]

Lucky Duck!!

[Tim Gruss]

Your a very lucky person, I too find some good wood from craigs list. Happy turning.

[Jim Becker]

Oh, man...what great haul!! We don't have any of that there Mesquite up here in Pennslytucky! Great stuff to turn and oh-so-stable, even when dripping wet!

[Randy Dear]

and I shall some day.... it was a Great day and I learned alot! p.s.nothing like peer pressure :)

[John Hart]

Wow...nice haul. Your shop sure is gonna smell good!:)

[Ben Gastfriend]

Oh, man...what great haul!! We don't have any of that there Mesquite up here in Pennslytucky!

Tell me about it, Jim (P.S. just realized you lived a county over from me...)

Robert- nice call, you wouldn't want all that nice wood to be burnt!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Congrats, beautiful wood Robert! Looking forward to seeing what you turn out of it on your new lathe!

[Mike A. Smith]

Darn you Texas guys anyway!:mad:

Congrats Robert!;)

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Robert.........I think I'll place a paper bag over my avatar too! So you won't see me green with envy........:rolleyes::D





Congrats!

[Allen Neighbors]

Great haul!! That's the largest Mesquite I've ever seen without pith checks. Truly... a great haul!! What is Craig's List?

[Tom Hamilton]

Congrats, Robert. Don't know if Mesquite is the official wood of Texas but it probably should be.

Also, congrats on what I read as a stealth gloat on a new lathe...1642 2HP! Santa comes early to your part of Texas. I'm guessing you did not get the 3520 we talked about earlier in the year.

Best regards, Tom

[Glenn Hodges]

I love mesquite, and that is as pretty as I have seen.

[Jim Becker]

Tell me about it, Jim (P.S. just realized you lived a county over from me...)

Straight up 232 and turn left on 413 North...about 20 minutes total. Let's just say I'm not far from Peddler's Village. Professor Dr. SWMBO actually lived in HV before we got together...in a house just north of the college in a ground floor apartment that we fondly called "Spider Land"...for good reason. ;) My ex grew up in HV and graduated from Upper Morland.

Back to the topic, I've never found "mesquite on the hoof" around here and it's unlikely I ever will, but there is plenty of Osage Orange along 232 to feed that itch!

[Mitchell Harris]

No mesquite here in VA, but WOW I like the looks of that!!

Mitchell in VA

[Pat Doble]

Jeezo Beezo, I've had some Craigslist wood finds - but nothing like that :eek:

Congratulations on the score.