A. Burls are wart-like, irregular growths that can form along the trunks,
limbs and even the root systems of trees. Inside the burl you'll find tight
clusters of buds. Each bud has a dark pith (a branch that never developed
because of stunted growth). The resulting wood tissue within the burl is
extremely disoriented and results in a very attractive figure. Single pieces can
show multi-figure such as tiger, spiral, peacock tail (eye's like a peacock's
tail) and mottled figures.
Q. What is Spalted Wood?
A. Spalted wood is the result of a
fungus that infects a tree while it is still alive. The fungus if left to its
natural course kills the tree. If the tree is cut down sometime before this
happens the fungus leaves a black spider web pattern throughout the wood. The
fungus also stains the wood in curious ways. Sometimes trees are cut down that
have a light fungus attack resulting in minor figuring while occasionlly we get
luck and recieve wood from a tree that has been infected for a while resulting
in a very rich pattern of black lines throught the wood. The fungus dies when
exposed to sunlight or air. Once a tree is cut into boards no additional
spalting occurs. The fungus can infect almost any wood. The strongest patterns
are produced by light colored woods such as maple, poplar, buckeye, and holly.
Heavily spalted boards are highly prized by woodworkers. The more dramatic the
spalting the more expensive the wood will usually be. Another nice aspect of
spalted woods is that no two boards of wood are ever alike.
Q. What is Wood Stabilization?
A. Some woods actually need processing in order to be turned and
finished properly (punky spalts, soft buckeye burl, etc.). Processing will
transform these soft woods and make them harder than woodpecker lips. There are
other woods that don’t need to be stabilized but the process brings out (or
‘pops’) the color and/or figure of the wood. Either case, stabilized blanks
will finish much easier and to a higher luster, the wood is impervious to
moisture, and the wood will retain its beauty much longer
Q. What is Figured Wood?
A. Some wood has particularly
lively pattern or figure , due mainly to deviations in wood grain. These
distortions in wood grain give rise to the decorative figure found in burls and
well-known wood varieties such as curly birch, bird’s eye maple, and quilted
maple, among many others.
Q. What is a Board
Foot?
A. Lumber is usually sold by volume according to it's nominal size.
Nominal size is the dimension when rough sawn. The unit of volume is the board
foot (BFT.). It is equivalent to a piece of lumber one foot long, one foot wide
and one inch thick, or 144 cubic inches.
For 4/4 lumber (1" thick), board foot and square foot are the same. Multiply
the width and length and divide the result by 144.
For 5/4 lumber (1-1/4" thick), use the same formula and multiply by 1.25.
For 8/4 (2" thick) again, use the same formula and multiply by 2.
Remember....When figuring board feet, always use the rough thickness and not
a finished size.
Q. Why
would I want to turn green lumber?
A. Green wood turns easier for you and your tools, and less dust is
produced than with dry wood.
Q. What is the
difference between Hardwoods and Softwoods?
A. Hardwoods are the botanical group of trees that have broad leaves,
produce a fruit or generally go dormant in the winter. This botanical group is
referred to as angiosperms. Examples: Red Oak, Hard Maple, Cocobolo,
Mahogany and Cherry.
Softwoods or conifers (from the latin word meaning "cone-bearing") have needles.
This botanical group is referred to as gymnosperms. Also called
evergreens, Examples: Pine, Fir, Redwood, Hemlock and Spruce.
The terms Hardwoods and Softwoods do not necessarily refer to the actual
hardness of the wood. Example - Balsa is the softest, lightest and least dense
of all commerically imported timbers. It is also a hardwood (angiosperm).
Q. Should I
take any precautions when working with woods that are new to me?
A. YES. Some woods can bring on reactions to sensitive people. When
working with woods, Curious Woods strongly recommends the use of
personal protective equipment. We suggest wearing a dusk-mask, goggles or a
full-face respirator. Sap from some woods can cause irritation to the skin. Wood
and wood dust can cause hypersensitivitiy, allergic reactions, skin irritation
and even respiratory problems. Inhaling the dust of some hardwoods can cause
nasal (sinus) cancer. This form of cancer has a latency period of 40-45 years.
This means you could work with wood for a long time with no apparent problems
and then suddenly develop cancer. Over half of all known cases of this type of
cancer are found in woodworkers.
WORK SMART AND USE PROPER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT!
Q. What is
Specific Gravity?
A. In our wood descriptions you will find each wood's specific gravity to
give our customers an idea of it's density. Specific gravity is the ratio of the
density of a standard substance (water). Most of the time the specific gravity
of wood is based on it's oven-dry weight.
The specific gravity of water is 1.0
Hard Maple .72
Cocobolo 1.10
Hard Maple will float in water, Cocobolo will sink because it is denser.
