Black Gum ?

[David Wilhelm]

I've got the opportunity for free black gum. It cam down in a storm last week. it's been limbed but has to be taken soon. It's a fair size tree. I don't really have the time to fool with all of the tree but if this wood is something I shouldn't pass up I need to know. I'm planning on taking a crotch or two and bagging them up for a couple months. If any of you have knowledge of this wood let me know if I should make time to work up more. Thanks ...........Will

[William Bachtel]

Why don't you go and take a small piece of it home, and turn it, and see how you like it.

[mike fuson]

There is nothing special about the wood until it spalts, then it really looks good. Here is some of the black gum that I have turned.
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/MikeFuson/bgvase.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/MikeFuson/blackgumtop.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/MikeFuson/blackgumthintop.jpg

It definetly worth getting, but I would definetly let it spalt.

[David Wilhelm]

Thanks Mike. I figured it to be that way.

[Jim Underwood]

Ach! Leave t' black gum on the sidewalk mate!;)

Seriously, if it's got any kind of color in it at all, you might want to consider making a hollow forms out of it.

I know it's not the same tree, but I had heard that Sweet Gum was not all that special - and then I had a couple of them cut down and had more than I wanted or can turn in a year.

The fellow that took some away, pointed out that the dark hearted stuff made gallery quality stuff because you turn it down to where the dark heart and white sapwood contrast and you get nice streaks down the side that rival Ambrosia Maple. I hear that Sweet Gum is what one of the Moulthrops turns almost exclusively.

Now I'm just trying to get to it before the bark beetles, ants, and termites eat it all up.

[David Wilhelm]

I did find some very nice quilting in one crothc that i worked up. Bad side is most of that ended up on the floor. I roughed out 2 bowls and dosed them with a mixture. sawed out one 12" blank and coated it as well. The rest i cover the end of a 10" log with and bagged every thing up to see what happens. The larger cotch I bagged with oak leaves, beer and some liq. fertilize. We shall see in a few months.