When Woodbowl finished milling my cypress and sycamore and drove off into the noon sun, one of the things he left behind was a small pile of slabs from both types of logs. I got rid of most of the cypress slabs. I started picking up the sycamore and kept seeing the nice spalting that was present in many of the slabs. I couldn't bring myself to just throw out all that beauty without trying to salvage a bit of it from the dumpster...
So I saved the slabs that weren't completely falling apart and stacked them up off the ground and with a bit of space for air flow around them. In the last week I've played around a bit seeing what I can get out of these chunks and irregular "board"...
One of the things I've done is rip a little bit of it into pen blanks. I've made them 3/4" square by 6" long.
Now I've got a question for all you pen turners: Should I "dry" these blanks before they can be used? Some are very dry and some are in the 15 - 20 Percent moisture range.
Here's photos of a couple of batches of these blanks:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14314/1166/PenBlanks-01-05-10-DSCN9338.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14314/1166/PenBlanks-02-05-10-DSCN9339.jpg)
Now here's the proposal. If you'd like a few of these blanks, I'll send you a baker's dozen (13) at no monetary charge. You can have the twelve if you'll make me a pen from the 13th.
If you're interested, send me a PM with a mailing address.
Herb
ps I want one pen to use as a gift for someone. If I get more than one then the second one will be donated to the Forum as an auction item.
I am looking forward to bidding on a pen ;D.
You do not have to dry the blanks any further, the turning process will generate enough heat to finish drying.
Radar,
Good, that's what I hoped.
Thanks.
Herb
Plus, by the time you packege those up and they are recieved then turned, the would have dried pretty good. Those are beautiful pen blanks and a nice offer you are making. You will make someone very happy. :)
Metalspinner,
That's what I hoped.
Thanks, all I did was cut them. The real artist shows His hand in the beauty He creates and it's there for us to find if we will just look.
I've already got one volunteer, still looking for more.
Herb
I would say that they definitely need to be dried. Some of the pen kits will only leave about 1/16" of wood around a brass tube. If the wood is wet, it will crack when they shrink around the tube. They'll dry really fast in the attic, or microwave a few if you are in a hurry. One minute shots in the microwave, let the blanks cool, then repeat till the blanks stop loosing weight. Heck, I've dried some by leaving them on the dash of the van when I'm at work. It makes a great solar kiln. I used to laugh about having a school bus loaded with wood and leave it out in the parking lot at the mall all day in the summer. If I would park it at work, I could move it at noon for better solar gain!!!! Sorry, I've got way too many blanks in the shop now.
Those are some good looking blanks Herb. Makes a person groan to think of all the useful wood that is thrown away into a burn pile. :'( You did good on that salvage job.
Don
Thanks Don. Of couirse not every slab off every log couild be used this way, but much could. They wont make any good sized boards or the sawyer would have already cut them. And it can be labor intensive and might not pay off if you were trying to sell them. But I've still got a lot of slabs and after that there'll be scrap cutoff from the other lumber as I use it to build things, so I think there'll be pen blanks available for quite a while.
Herb
PC,
The coolest thing about what you are doing is that every bit of potential is being used for the beautiful stock. Not only that, but if you decide to sell some of it, you can recoup some of the sawing costs. ;)
Don't pigeon hole yourself to just pen blanks, though. If you have a few thicker pieces in the 1 1/4" - 1 1/2" range, those are useful to turners and knife makers, too. :)
PEG 'em...
Quote from: zopi on May 12, 2010, 07:34:40 PM
PEG 'em...
Zopi,
I'll leave that decision up to the turners...
Herb
I'd love to have some, but I won't have time to turn them in the foreseeable future...besides, I've got a couple dozen bdft of spalted holly to play with..
Quote from: zopi on May 12, 2010, 08:57:29 PM
I'd love to have some, but I won't have time to turn them in the foreseeable future...besides, I've got a couple dozen bdft of spalted holly to play with..
Zopi,
Send me your mail address in a PM. I'm in no rush to get a pen from you but would be glad to send you the blanks and when it gets done will be soon enough.
After all, us members of the Chief's community got to stick together...
Herb
Nice looking blanks, looks like some of the maple we have up here. Be interesting to see how these turn out.
I make a lot of pens out of jade and deer antlers, even made a few out of animal hoofs.
Been making a few out of a wood called Zebra wood, a guy in Africa sends it to me.
I woud be interested in your offer if it doesn't break the bank to ship them across the line.
Quote from: D Hagens on May 13, 2010, 11:22:48 AM
Nice looking blanks, looks like some of the maple we have up here. Be interesting to see how these turn out.
I make a lot of pens out of jade and deer antlers, even made a few out of animal hoofs.
Been making a few out of a wood called Zebra wood, a guy in Africa sends it to me.
I woud be interested in your offer if it doesn't break the bank to ship them across the line.
D Hagen,
Send me your mail address in a PM and I'll check out the maililng costs and if it's not too bad will send you a batch.
Herb
Mail is on your way :)
Herb, received the pen blanks in good shape today. You sure did a fine job wrapping them. Now, I'll pick out the best looking blank and make a pen for you. 8) That is some pretty spalted Sycamore.
Charlie,
Glad to hear you got them ok. I think it's pretty good looking stuff myself.
Any of them will do, you don't have send me back the "pick of the litter" so to speak. More like "mill run" will suffice. I look forward to seeing what you do with them.
Herb
My high school woodshop kids just started making pens and I have them give me completed pens (they make 2, give me 1) instead of paying for the pen kits. I haven't sold any yet, but I have a decent and growing collection which I will need to advertise soon.
ANywho, I could have the kids make you up some pens if you want to send some up here, I think the kids would get a kick out of someone random sending in wood. I won't let on that I know and you would get some interesting pens
Mascoma High School Woodshop
27 Royal Road
Canaan NH 03741
Shinnslinger,
How many kids in your classes?
I think that's a neat idea.
Herb
That sycamore sure did turn out nice. Looks like your going to make every scrap piece count. ;)
Hi,
it varies semester to smeaster, but right now I have 36 students. Thanks for your interest.
Dave
Dave,
I've just mailed a package to the class. Details to you in a PM momentarily.
Hope your students enjoy.
Perhaps they might want to donate some of the pens to the Freedom Pen Project (http://www.freedompens.org/ (http://www.freedompens.org/)).
Herb
THat is just awesome. THe kids will go bananas!!!!
Checked the mail this morning Herb, still no mail. Guess the dogsleds are running a bit behind or they can't find my igloo. :D :D
Maybe with the tariffs they might be hold em at the boarder trying to figure a way of jacking the price of the stamps up! :D :D
Quote from: D Hagens on May 18, 2010, 01:21:15 PM
Checked the mail this morning Herb, still no mail. Guess the dogsleds are running a bit behind or they can't find my igloo. :D :D
Maybe with the tariffs they might be hold em at the boarder trying to figure a way of jacking the price of the stamps up! :D :D
D Hagens,
Maybe the Canadian Customs Agent thinks they're small skis and is waiting for snowfall to test them before forwarding them to you.
On the other hand, they were just mailed last Friday and between the US Post Office, Canadian Customs and Canada Post, you'll be lucky to see them by Victoria Day...
Don't wear out the pathway to and from the mailbox looking for them.
As they say in Newfoundland (my wife's a Newfie) "Stay where you're too til they comes to where you're at!"
Herb
SWEET! They got here today...those are gorgeous! I have stashed them with my pen stuff...I picked the one out for your pen too...THANKS!
I hauled what I thought was a rotten mimosa stump out of a friends yard...tossed it out in the millyard..until it got in the way...didn't want to fool with moving it, so I rolled it up on the mill to slice up...turned out to be the prettiest spalted holly you have ever seen...it is stashed with my special stuff...curly maple and whatnot...waiting for the right project..
Zopi,
Glad you got them and like how they look.
Take your time. I know how hectic things can be when you're doing workups coming out of upkeep in the yards.
Be careful.
Herb
I received mine as well Herb, thank you! The pieces are just beautiful! Time to get to work 8)
Patty,
You're welcome.
I look forward to seeing how you bring out the beauty that is inherit in the wood.
Herb
THe blanks arrived today. The woodshop claases had already gone, but my building construction classes are jealous. They called in the Resource officer to open "the suspicious package of powder from Panama"before it got to me though.
PRetty funny.
Thanks Again, we will get some pens turning tomorrow.
Dave
Dave,
Glad they got there OK...
Hope the students enjoy using them. I look forward to seeing their pens.
Herb
I'm starting to think that someone opened the package at the border and whittled some toothpicks for themselves. :D
Quote from: D Hagens on May 26, 2010, 12:05:56 AM
I'm starting to think that someone opened the package at the border and whittled some toothpicks for themselves. :D
D Hagens,
Well, since they didn't make it there by Victoria Day, maybe they'll get there by Canada Day :D
Perhaps they sensed that my wife's a Newfie and sent them by way of Gander...
Worst comes to worst, I'll send you another set.
Herb
I have had items I've sent to Paul_H take over a month to get to B.C. when an identical package sent to Ianab in New Zealand took less then a week. I don't know why but most anything I send to Canada takes forever.
Quote from: Jeff on May 26, 2010, 12:57:09 PM
I have had items I've sent to Paul_H take over a month to get to B.C. when an identical package sent to Ianab in New Zealand took less then a week. I don't know why but most anything I send to Canada takes forever.
When you sent these items Jeff did you have tracking numbers for them?
Herb did you send them through UPS or ground mail?
It always seems that the bigger the item that I ship or that's shipped to me seems to be on either end with in a week.
The smaller stuff seems to get caught up in the shuffle.
D Hagens,
I sent them via US Postal Service. They were mailed International Priority Mail (only thing available any more). Delivery confirmation is not available for this service and I did not insure the shipment because of the low value...
If you don't get them soon I'll try sending another set and insuring them...
Herb
Hey Herb
Well the mail came today and there was a notice from the post office that I have a parcel to pick up so I'm thinking the blanks are in. 8)
Here's a Canadian stupid post office thing! I can walk to the end of the street and there's a small post office there. As we just moved here I'm thinking that's the place.
Get there and they tell me I have to go to the other post office which is all the way across town! They said that I'm not in their mail area! :D :D
So on my to to the bank in the morning I will stop in and pick them up. 8)
D Hagens,
Glad to hear that they have probably arrived. Hope they came though the ordeal undamaged.
I look forward to seeing what you do with them.
Herb
Hey Herb those were the blanks that showed up. 8)
So far there's about 6 of them that can't be turned as their too punkie, 4 of them are a bit iffy as they will have a burred look to them when turned. Two of them should turn out well I hope, gonna find out at some point during the week when I get back to my shop.
I have this funny feeling that when the blanks were shipped there was still a trace of moisture in them and being wrapped up in an air tight envelope it really dried them out and the moisture that was there created them to create dry rot if that makes sense?
I'm not sure about this or if it can actually happen. I would like to know what others think.
Also has anyone else started turning the blanks?
It's really nice looking wood, my dad took one look at it and knew what it was right away.
My dad also wanted me to ask you guys if any of you have turned zebra wood. He wanted to know as he seems to have major breathing problems while handling this stuff.
D Hagens,
Sorry to hear that some of the blanks are too punky.
You probably know all about this but one turner has mentioned that applying a coat of CA glue sometimes stabalizes the softer spalted blanks...
Well, good luck with them. Don't worry about sending me a pen but I'd love to see a photo or two if things work out.
Herb
Another way to stabilize the blanks is to soak them in polyurethane, even better if you can use a vacuum on them with poly. It will make all usable.
Didn't someone make themselves a pressure canister to do this, Radar? I remember that from somewhere...
Yes Metalspinner, I have an article here somewhere that shows how to use a mason jar with a vacuum lid to make the poly penetrate the wood. A Foodsaver with the mason jar lid kit works too. ;)
Here's a discussion about the topic using plexi glass and acetone.
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,32396.0.html
Radar,
I remember something about a mason jar. I'll keep searching...
Here is the article Metalspinner,
http://content.penturners.org/articles/2004/polyurethane1.pdf
It was listed in the link you provided, relpy 4 from Beenthere. I saved the article when I read it long ago.
Radar & MS,
Thanks guys, you show one of the reasons why the Forestry Forum community is so great. Helping dig out useful posts from the past that may provide answers to current issues is a priceless capability that is almost impossble to build into the software but is so abundant amoung the friends here at FF...
Herb
Thanks, Radar!
Remember the time I mentioned looking for my tape measure for 20 minutes and it was on my workbench the whole time... ::)
I'll need to try that vacuum trick. Now I'm wondering just how far I can take it. ::) :D
Read this link and you'll be able to take it further than you think.
http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/welcome.htm
I have the start of this vacuum press and have a lot of ideas for how it could be used to help drying small quantities of wood and such.
Very interesting read guys, I've heard about these ways of dealing with wood but I've never had to use them. Most of the wood that I use for smaller jobs like this is all ready for turning.
The main concern that I have is putting the blanks in the lathe, as there's not a great deal of solid wood there my concern is that the blank will just spin and fly off.
I'm going to take pictures of my progress as I go and post them.
Herb, your pen is on the way! I hope you like it! 8)
Charlie,
Great, perfect timing. I mentioned that I wanted one pen to give to someone. That someone is my brother-in-law Sam who lives in Newfoundland, Canada. They're coming for a visit the end of this month so your pen will arrive in plenty of time to become a gift for him.
Now for the remaining pen turners, who's going to be the second one to finish a spalted sycamore pen? That pen will be donated to the Forum to be auctioned off...
I look forward to seeing what you've done...
Herb
Quote from: PC-Urban-Sawyer link=topic=43933.msg639535#msg639535
That pen will be donated to the Forum to be auctioned off...
/quote]
That is a great idea.
Herb will mail your pens tomorrow, enjoy and thanks for the blanks.
Sawwood
Sawwood,
Thanks. Glad to hear that at least some of the blanks worked out.
Look forward to seeing how it turned out (pun intended :D )
Herb
I received the first pens made from the spalted sycamore blanks by Forum members last Thursday. Circumstances kept me too busy with other matters to update this thread until today.
The first pen I received was turned by Forum member CHARLIE. Here's a couple of photos of this pen:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14314/1166/CP-01-DSCN9452.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14314/1166/CP-02-DSCN9451.jpg)
The photos do not do justice to this pen. CHARLIE did a great job.
The spalted sycamore was challenging to work because it was almost too far gone for turning. CHARLIE says he soaked the wood with "ultra-thin CA glue. As I turn wood away I would periodiacally take the wood off the lathe and resoak it with the CA glue. My next process was to sant it smooth down to 600 grit. I then applied a thin coat of medium viscosity CA glue. This coat gives the pen a very durable finish which it needs because they are handled so much. I sand that smooth with 600 grit and apply a coat of shellac, which I polish smooth on the lathe. And finally I buff on a coat of carnuba wax."
This pen will be a present for my B-I-L Sam when he visits next month.
Herb
The second pen I received was turned by Forum member Sawwood. Here's a couple of photos of this pen:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14314/1166/SP-02-DSCN9454.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14314/1166/SP-01-DSCN9453.jpg)
Again, my photos don't do justice to the beauty of this pen. Lester (Sawwood) did a great job of turning this pen.
Since this is the second pen I recieved from this offer, I have contacted Jeff and offered to donate it to the Forum for auction. Look for the announcement from Jeff and be prepared because I will be bidding on this pen myself... 8)
Herb
Forum member Sawwood suprised me by sending me an additional item he had turned from the spalted sycamore blanks. Here a photo of the pencil he made:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14314/1166/SPCL-0-DSCN9457.jpg)
This is a beautiful pencil and I'm keeping it ;D
Thanks again Lester.
Herb
Fantastic! Those are some beautiful pens, and my hat is off to Charlie and Lester for some great work. Kudos to you Herb, for coming up with a great idea. Everybody comes out a winner on this, even those of us who merely sit on the sidelines and watch. :) 8) 8) 8)
Looks like that I may become the owner of a new pen! I can add that to my collection of Forestry Forum pens, one from Radar and one from DonK !!!!!!!
Quote from: WDH on June 14, 2010, 07:55:22 PM
Looks like that I may become the owner of a new pen! I can add that to my collection of Forestry Forum pens, one from Radar and one from DonK !!!!!!!
WDH,
You'd better make sure you have enough cash. You can't get by on words alone...
Herb
If the cutting board is any example, I will be left standing in the dust :-\.
I have yet to turn a pen. I have many things going on at one time and I feel like a dirt dobber. Dob a little here, dob a little there. ::) I am still playing with a design for these pens. Give me time, I will get it done.
Those are some beautiful pens to follow behind. I am thinking about a pen and pencil set to send to Herb. He can keep them or put them up for auction. Danny, start saving your pennies. :D :D ;D
Don
Don K,
Take your time. I don't want anyone to feel like they've got to get rushed to finish a pen for me. Besides, building a shop is more important than turning a pen...
I'm sure I'll like any design you come up with Don.
Thanks,
Herb
Hey Herb, those pens are some kind of purdy! I think I remember the board they were in. The grain pattern looks like the edging strip that was removed between the 14th and 15 lizard. ;D
Quote from: woodbowl on July 18, 2010, 09:32:22 PM
Hey Herb, those pens are some kind of purdy! I think I remember the board they were in. The grain pattern looks like the edging strip that was removed between the 14th and 15 lizard. ;D
Yes, I'm very pleased with the pens. Each is uniquely beautiful and it is interesting to see each turner's creation.
My brother-in-law really liked the pen that Charlie made. I'm still waiting on Jeff regarding auctioning the second pen (I know he's very busy...)
I've also received a beatiful pen from Patty. I had problems taking a good picture of it but will post one soon.
These blanks all came from just a few of the slabs off the sycamore. I think most of them were from stuff you cut after the 20th lizard-cide... But the reptiles have outdone themselves and are back up to pre-massacre numbers. Several have taken up residence in the stickered stacks. :D
Herb
So I guess we need to add a new definition to the forum dictionary: a "lizard" as a unit of measurement. Big question is just how big a lizard are you using? Kinda like "hands" for a horse- all depends on who you are and how old... Someone want to take a stab at a standard "lizard?"
Lj
"Lizards" would be more of a time unit. In that particular pile, it looked like 14 lizards would have been somewhere around mid-morning. :D :D
LJ,
Dan has it ALMOST right. In this case BUTCHERED lizards are a unit of time measurement. On the other hand, live lizards are generally location markers as in "set this slab down on that pile over by that big blue tailed racer...
From purely a size perspective, the range from small chamealians (sp) about two inches long to large "salamanders" which run close to a foot long...
Herb
Lizard: A length of time associated with southern saw millers , also see grits :) :) Holmes
i know about grits because I saw "my cousin vinny" 8)
For heaven's sake, why would you saw up your cousin? And what's he got to do with lizards eating grits anyway? Common folks, let's stick to the topic... whatever it happens to be at the moment, which I can't remember anyway without looking at the thread title which I can't see cause I'm typing a reply. This is just getting to be two or three lizard problem is the way I see it. :o
Lj
Quote from: ljmathias on July 26, 2010, 08:39:38 PM
For heaven's sake, why would you saw up your cousin? And what's he got to do with lizards eating grits anyway?
come to think it i done seen my cousin vinny and i done sawed him too....i am so sorry...i used 4 degree blades and didn't turn on the lubemizer.....but you young youts whose ever spun tires in southern mud outer know that grits takes 18-20 lizards to cook and nobody never made any fit grits in 5 lizards no matter what anybody said anyhoo
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on July 26, 2010, 09:26:44 PM
nobody never made any fit grits in 5 lizards no matter what anybody said anyhoo
You got that right, brother.
TerrificTimbers,
And by bringing up lizards and cooking grits you have created one of the strangest examples ever of all topics eventually turning to food that I can imagine... I'm starting to wonder what you've got in that bottle... Perhaps a drop or two of Dew?
Herb
smiley_headscratch smiley_headscratch smiley_headscratch
Quote from: PC-Urban-Sawyer on July 26, 2010, 10:54:43 PM
TerrificTimbers,
And by bringing up lizards and cooking grits you have created one of the strangest examples ever of all topics eventually turning to food that I can imagine... I'm starting to wonder what you've got in that bottle... Perhaps a drop or two of Dew?
Herb
Begging your pardon but.....Leviticus chapter 11......verse 29
" 'Of the animals that move about on the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink and the chameleon. Of all those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening. 32 When one of them dies and falls on something, that article, whatever its use, will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean till evening, and then it will be clean. If one of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean, and you must break the pot. Any food that could be eaten but has water on it from such a pot is unclean, and any liquid that could be drunk from it is unclean. Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean.
........so not all lizards are spoken of, but those that are in rather unfavorable terms. And perhaps this is the nail in the lizards are food coffin....... continuing verse 41
" 'Every creature that moves about on the ground is detestable; it is not to be eaten. You are not to eat any creature that moves about on the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is detestable. Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them
So we can conclude lizards are definitely not kosher and by extrapolation might not be widely regarded as food although one could certainly argue otherwise. Not sure what this says about insurance. And maybe this thread has become unclean and needs to be cleaned up by the admin. again i am so sorry.... ::) ::)
DJ,
I didn't take it to mean you referred to the lizards as food. It's pretty clear you meant them as a time measurement in regards to how long to cook the grits.
Herb
Oh duh yes i see now. Lost my appetite . Anyone can tell what the conversion factor for lizards to minutes might be helpful thanks. :P
See what happens when a conversation turns to grits? :D
That was a blow as low as a lizard belly :o ;D.
Talk about grits making me hungry. Not sure I've ever had them. Just asked my wife if she could get some next time she goes to the store and she said "maybe you could just eat some sawdust". Not sure I will get to try grits soon but will keep y'all informed. ::)
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on July 30, 2010, 07:52:04 PM
Talk about grits making me hungry. Not sure I've ever had them. Just asked my wife if she could get some next time she goes to the store and she said "maybe you could just eat some sawdust". Not sure I will get to try grits soon but will keep y'all informed. ::)
Terrific,
You have a very astute wife. :)
Norm
:) :) :) :)
Somehow this has turned into one of the most enjoyable threads on the forum- deserves to have its own niche under a new title: maybe "Lizards and Grits?" Thanks for all the comments- had me belly laughing for a few minutes here and thank goodness the wife is out shopping or she'd have been looking over my shoulder trying to figure out just what kind of forum this is... :D :D :D :D
Lj
Quote from: ljmathias on July 31, 2010, 04:10:50 PM
Somehow this has turned into one of the most enjoyable threads on the forum- deserves to have its own niche under a new title: maybe "Lizards and Grits?" Thanks for all the comments- had me belly laughing for a few minutes here and thank goodness the wife is out shopping or she'd have been looking over my shoulder trying to figure out just what kind of forum this is... :D :D :D :D
Lj
Lizards and grits sounds like Kibbles and Bits, doesn't it. Will the pooch eat grits? We sometimes use her as a dishwasher pre-wash cycle.
Quote from: Shotgun on July 30, 2010, 09:00:36 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on July 30, 2010, 07:52:04 PM
Talk about grits making me hungry. Not sure I've ever had them. Just asked my wife if she could get some next time she goes to the store and she said "maybe you could just eat some sawdust". Not sure I will get to try grits soon but will keep y'all informed. ::)
Terrific,
You have a very astute wife. :)
Norm
You're right about that and thanks for the compliment. Doesn't always work in my favor but I am glad nonetheless. She just got back from the store and guess what, she didn't bring me grits. Think she just forgot (but I really don't want to know, it would be too disappointing). So I will write them on her list and see if I get them next time.
Quote from: ljmathias on July 31, 2010, 04:10:50 PM
Somehow this has turned into one of the most enjoyable threads on the forum
That Herb is an ace at making something out of nothing, ain't he?! He got those pen blanks from the edging strips from almost rotten boards, then made a five-page thread just talkin' about them. 8) 8) 8)
Thanks DanG. I thought spalted meant stained my Lizard guts, now you say this thread is about almost rotten wood. So is a Lizard a time? place? thing?location? or just fun? Holmes
Quote from: Holmes on August 01, 2010, 09:06:28 AM
Thanks DanG. I thought spalted meant stained my Lizard guts, now you say this thread is about almost rotten wood. So is a Lizard a time? place? thing?location? or just fun? Holmes
Holmes,
In this case lizards are being used as a unit of time measurement, based on the number of lizards member Woodbowl slaughtered while milling my cypress and sycamore logs. This message from the thread about milling those logs shows a few of the lizards that were slized up... https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,42628.msg616014.html#msg616014
Herb
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on July 31, 2010, 08:00:45 PM
She just got back from the store and guess what, she didn't bring me grits. Think she just forgot (but I really don't want to know, it would be too disappointing). So I will write them on her list and see if I get them next time.
OK try try again, look what was in the shopping bag when she got home today. :) :) :) :) :) Don't laugh about the brand sure it isn't what you choose "down under" no not that far down under I mean down under Connecticut. Since they take at least 20 lizards to cook I'll get back to you about it. this is going to be good. 8) 8) 8)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21495/DSC_0092.jpg)
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on August 08, 2010, 02:59:07 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on July 31, 2010, 08:00:45 PM
... this is going to be good.
Careful now, them's GRITS you're talking about. Don't want any more Yankee's learning the truth about them of we'll have to start putting distribution quota's on them to keep from runinng out of them down here below the Mason Dixon Line...
Herb
Quote from: PC-Urban-Sawyer on August 08, 2010, 04:27:50 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on August 08, 2010, 02:59:07 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on July 31, 2010, 08:00:45 PM
... this is going to be good.
Careful now, them's GRITS you're talking about. Don't want any more Yankee's learning the truth about them of we'll have to start putting distribution quota's on them to keep from runinng out of them down here below the Mason Dixon Line...
Herb
I may not be able to keep quiet. Who shall I obey? You or my conscience? We'll see. They may indeed become as scarce on the supermarket shelves as ginger on Thanksgiving morning. 8)
They need salt while they are cooking, so don't skimp. Some people like to put a little sugar in them to make them a little bit salty and sweet. And don't forget the butter. Cut some strips of good sharp cheddar cheese and lay these on the top of the cooked grits just before serving. They go best with eggs and bacon (of course you can substitute sausage if you prefer). I like my eggs over easy, then top with grits, and mix it all together ;D.
Us Southern boys at this year's Pig Roast were respectful of our more Northern counterparts and did not bring any grits. We (Fishpharmer and DanG to be exact...... I was only on quality control duty) did, however, supply those people with copious fried catfish and hushpuppies as a part of Friday night's supper :). Respectfully, of course.
It doesn't take nearly as many lizards to cook yellow grits, and they are better anyway. digin_2
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/2410/DSCN0763_%28Custom%29.JPG)
The young lady done mighty well to find grits at all, way up there. 8) 8) We have Quaker grits down here too, but I've never seen them in that type of container. I wonder why they would package them differently in other parts of the Country? ???
Quote from: DanG on August 14, 2010, 06:40:04 AM
The young lady done mighty well to find grits at all, way up there. 8) 8) We have Quaker grits down here too, but I've never seen them in that type of container. I wonder why they would package them differently in other parts of the Country? ???
The northern packaging is easier to dispose of when still full... ;D
Ahhhh, I see. Us folks down here in the South have different methods, apparently. What we do when we don't want something is to just not buy it in the first place. ;)
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on August 08, 2010, 02:59:07 PM
Quote from: terrifictimbersllc on July 31, 2010, 08:00:45 PM
She just got back from the store and guess what, she didn't bring me grits. Think she just forgot (but I really don't want to know, it would be too disappointing). So I will write them on her list and see if I get them next time.
OK try try again, look what was in the shopping bag when she got home today. :) :) :) :) :) Don't laugh about the brand sure it isn't what you choose "down under" no not that far down under I mean down under Connecticut. Since they take at least 20 lizards to cook I'll get back to you about it. this is going to be good. 8) 8) 8)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21495/DSC_0092.jpg)
Back from a camping and fishing trip on NY's Ausable W. Branch, and visit to Woodsmen's Days in NY. Took various recipe ingredients along including grits but somehow I didn't do any cooking just ate crackers and drank juice boxes. Obviously was by myself. Will ask the Mrs. to cook me some of the grits. I think the Quaker is on them because grits is a peaceful food I don't know will see how I feel.
Quote from: shinnlinger on May 16, 2010, 02:02:28 AM
My high school woodshop kids just started making pens and I have them give me completed pens (they make 2, give me 1) instead of paying for the pen kits. I haven't sold any yet, but I have a decent and growing collection which I will need to advertise soon.
ANywho, I could have the kids make you up some pens if you want to send some up here, I think the kids would get a kick out of someone random sending in wood. I won't let on that I know and you would get some interesting pens
Mascoma High School Woodshop
27 Royal Road
Canaan NH 03741
Back almost three years ago, I offered "free" pen blanks to Forum members.
Forum member Shinnlinger asked for a few blanks to be used by his shop class students at Mascoma High School. I packed up a "bunch" and sent them off to him.
A lot of the pen blanks (spalted sycamore) were too punky/soft (rotten) to be used, but recently he sent me the two pens that are shown in the picture below.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14314/DSC_4145.jpg)
I really appreciate the thought and craftmanship that went into this effort. I just wanted to take a moment to publicly thank Shinnlinger and his students.
Herb
Glad you got them and like them. I'm just sorry it took so long to get you some pens. 3 years ago I had just started teaching pen making and had a few things to learn myself. Now we are fairly proficient but I had forgotten your generosity until recently. Sorry for the delay.
Dave
I'm glad you made this post, I also received a couple of pens in the mail, couldn't place the name until I read this post :D A second thanks for the pens
Quote from: pasbuild on April 25, 2013, 08:47:28 PM
I'm glad you made this post, I also received a couple of pens in the mail, couldn't place the name until I read this post :D A second thanks for the pens
Pasbuild,
I'd say you're welcome but I didn't send them.
What I was sending then was pen blanks (3/4 x 3/4 x 6), not finished pens...
Again, to everyone who participated, thanks.
Herb
Glad you got yours too.
The kids pound out pens these days and most are pretty good. We sell them for a memorial fund and part of that money buys a lathe we give to a member of the senior class who most embodies the spirit of a former student who passed on.
Dave
Here is a spalted red oak pen radar turned for me. Same type deal. He kept 30 or so blanks and I got 3 pens. ;D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25938/pen_.JPG)
I got two that were spalted bodark but I forgot to take a pic of them before I gave them away. One to the land owner that let me cut the bodark and the other to my grandpa.
Wow , I got some of them blanks you and forgot were they are . I had plans for a few cool pens but other things got in the way . I still hope to get them done. Thanks for the blanks . you will get the first one when I do get them finished