Cutting Open a Burl

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⚙️ SHOW NOTES - EPISODE #159: Is it a bird, is it a blob, is it a petrified wasp nest? It’s actually some kind of old wood burl a friend gave Tom a few years ago. Inside could be a treasure of swirling wood grain beauty, or it could be a dud. I’m betting on the beauty, but there’s only one way to find out. In this episode Tom opens it live on video, with a bandsaw actually, and a live studio audience! Hope you enjoy seeing what we find or what ideas we’ll come up with to make from it.
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LIVE EVENTS are filmed in the shop of Tom McLaughlin, host of TV's Classic Woodworking and Shop Night Live. Tom loves to pass on the craft of woodworking by creating projects to present in live video form backed by his over 30-years of experience making fine custom furniture.
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[@josephcronin2965]

wow that burn is really cool looking. I really want to get into working with either wood or metal.

[@donaldchase6800]

Great bowl blanks for turning

[@user-mg7dg6ju5m]

The pine burl would make a nice bowl

[@kerryschoolfield1537]

Very interesting show and inspires me to try something like this. Thanks Tom and Kris.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks Kerry! 👍

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

Push Stick, PUSH STICK, PUSH STICK!!!! I love the video but having cut 2 fingers to the bone on my band saw and doing six months of rehab after they reattached them, I can't watch you free hand pushing the burl through a saw and reaching around a running blade! Much better to use sled to do this.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Thanks, good advice! Sorry about your fingers too. 👍

[@lawrencedeleurere4427]

box tops. Front of drawers for a small jewelry box.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Nice ideas Larry! 👍😎

[@richardfuhr7165]

Scales for knives would look good with that burl

[@EpicWoodworking]

Nice Idea Richard! 👍

[@alangknowles]

Sound!

[@EpicWoodworking]

Sorry!

[@sethwarner2540]

WOW!!! Keep that away from fire!! It will burn for 3 weeks!!

[@marseneault55]

How about turning a bowl because of the graining ?

[@EpicWoodworking]

A bowl would be nice for sure. I’m thinking it would be nice to stretch the beautiful grain further than making one bowl from it. That’s why I was tracking more toward slicing it into wagers for some purpose. But it sure would make a beautiful bowl! 👍😎

[@dpmeyer4867]

make cool box fronts

[@EpicWoodworking]

Nice idea! 👍

[@douglasbrown3493]

The black birch piece is screaming to be made into a lamp.

[@EpicWoodworking]

I agree, thanks!

[@patappleton6285]

I was expecting a tribute from Burl Ives.

[@EpicWoodworking]

“Silver and gold, silver and gold”…how’s that for a start? 😎

[@patappleton6285]

@@EpicWoodworking No it's too late, a little bitty tear let me down.

[@patappleton6285]

Just thinking what it might’ve been like for Burl Ives growing up. I bet he could fight, being named after a fungus on a tree. I'm at least named after an apple and I copped it bad.

[@SterlinNelson_VTXBuilders]

My guess would be cypress. Down by the river in south east Texas they are plentiful.

[@garygrasso4871]

Your saw handling will cost you a left arm. However, the topic is good.

[@johnmartinez-ou4bs]

Could have turned some nice bowls

[@EpicWoodworking]

A bowl would be nice for sure. I’m thinking it would be nice to stretch the beautiful grain further than making one bowl from it. That’s why I was tracking more toward slicing it into wagers for some purpose. But it sure would make a beautiful bowl! 👍😎

[@johnmartinez-ou4bs]

Yea I knew where you were going with the wafers and I was thinking small boxes of some sort but with turning the curvature of the bowl takes on a whole new look to the grain

[@patappleton6285]

How bout turning the volume up, I can't hear. (OOPS I PANICKED)

[@EpicWoodworking]

Sorry about that Pat! 😎

[@patappleton6285]

@@EpicWoodworking Don't apologise, you're educational and entertaining with or without sound.

[@paulsimmons390]

Could not hear you half the time

[@EpicWoodworking]

Sorry about that Paul, we got new mics soon after that. Thanks for watching and giving us a shot! 👍😎

[@georgetovar8947]

That isn’t a burl.

[@EpicWoodworking]

Okay, you got me, I give up. So what is it then?