Travelled 400km and was presented with an abandoned Olive Groge slashed years before at half height and because of our recently finished huge drought just left. The trees were in excess of 60yrs old. Colour inside is fleeting with no indication just where inside the stems it lies. The timber green is really heavy, slow growing and this stuff choc full of splits ants and creepy things. Brought it home and after a year or so cut it down to foot lengths still green, now I cut it thickish for pens and dry it in my roof space, given away a lot as well.
The fun stuff commences some yrs now after cutting and rare glimpses appear that make it so worth while. Reminds me of a mate of mine went into Desert Country, came to a group of Conkerberry trees these are covered in thorns and mass together, low growing, lying on his stomach he cut a path hollowed out low down with his chain saw cut some off at the ground. Using his four wheel drive pulled a bit out on the winch, cut it up brought it that long way home. In the wood club one day a guy said give me the best piece you got out west. Well....... Having said that we all find these guys and you just have to smile.
Cutting to acheive colour in Olive is very educational you remember words seldom used and when you finally end up with a blank like this give thanks. This pen is made from two blanks I mostly do this and mix and match cutting on the cross.
Regards Peter.NSWales Aust Olive 3-5-2011 9-34-50 AM 421x643.jpgOlive 2 3-5-2011 9-35-31.jpgOlive 3 3-5-2011 9-37-50 AM 396x645.jpg
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