What causes this???

Slab Slicer · January 04, 2013, 09:51:30 PM

I've never seen this many burls on one tree.

I got this pic from a freind, and he was wondering why there were so many.

shelbycharger400 · January 04, 2013, 09:58:30 PM

number of reasons why its knobby.

That log, Id be puttin on the mill !

Slab Slicer · January 04, 2013, 10:11:37 PM

That's for sure Shelby. Not very large in dia, but would make some REALLY unique lumber.

shelbycharger400 · January 04, 2013, 10:26:29 PM

I saw a lot of 10's and 12's. I have a homebuilt chain bar slabber and They still produce 3 or 4 decent boards. Lot of waste too though. All those knobs bring a premium in live edge lumber

pasbuild · January 04, 2013, 10:48:17 PM

Do you know what flavor it is?

WDH · January 04, 2013, 10:58:30 PM

If I knew what caused it, I would try to reproduce it

. All I can say is that Mother Nature caused it. Are you going to saw it?

Slab Slicer · January 04, 2013, 11:08:32 PM

Unfortunately for me, the tree is in Lexington NC, and I'm in PA, so I won't be sawing it. I'll be looking for a similar tree around here though. I have no idea what spcies of tree this is, and neither does my friend. He's not much of a tree guy, and there are no leaves to help ID it right now.

I can see about putting someone local in touch with the land owner. He is talking about cutting it down, and having it milled, or giving it to a mill. If anyone is local, and is intrested, I can see what I can do.

Chuck

WDH · January 04, 2013, 11:11:33 PM

I will come get it :D.

Slab Slicer · January 04, 2013, 11:16:07 PM

I emailed my friend to see if it's possible to get someone from this forum, a chance to mill this tree. I'll see what he comes back with, and let you know. I'll just put the 2 parties in contact, and hope to see some pics of the milling here on the forum.

Chuck

Migal · January 04, 2013, 11:37:15 PM

Tell the man it would best be sawn in east texas where the weather has not effected the results of a log of this nature and would gather the most representation of this species that is so rare it is called a once in a lifetimer that would need to be air dried like indians did it "Do not use a kiln or stack it under a pile of unused wood" and there are only a few sawyer's in the world left that could do this to the quality this tree deserve's" or get Jeff to put it up for auction for the better of the forum but will need shipping included. Either way keep a photo album on its journey though the after life. :P

PS pm me for shipping address 8)

CCC4 · January 05, 2013, 10:19:23 AM

JMO it is a white oak. I am cutting a tract of timber right now that has quite a few of these logs on it. This ground is fairly "poor" ground. I think trees do this due to disease maybe like a wart virus for trees. ??? I am located in Arkansas if anyone is interested in logs such as this... send me a P.M., we have a trucking fleet, just saying.

Weekend_Sawyer · January 05, 2013, 02:45:17 PM

I have a hickory with warts like these all over it. It's only about 4' at the base and it looks like it might be dead. If it doesn't have any leaves next spring I'll cut it off and mabe try and use it as the main stalk for a coat rack.

RynSmith · January 05, 2013, 04:01:28 PM

That's a stout coat rack, Jon. ;D

I'd like to see pictures of that project if your tree does end up dead...

mesquite buckeye · January 05, 2013, 09:15:33 PM

Quote from: Slab Slicer on January 04, 2013, 09:51:30 PM
I've never seen this many burls on one tree. I got this pic from a freind, and he was wondering why there were so many.

Pretty neat. I don't know what causes it, but I've seen it like this on elms in MO, lodgepole pine in Yellowstone, Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) in AZ. I expect if you wanted to make one on purpose, you should be able to bark graft pieces of the burls onto young trees and wait 40 years. The burls grow more burls..... 8) Of course it has to be the same species.

Slab Slicer · January 07, 2013, 08:27:23 PM

He mentioned a couple of other trees like in in that area, but a bit smaller. PM me if you'd like his email address. Just got the heads up about posting emails here on the forum, and I don't want to make any waves

His name is Rick. Let me know if you get hooked up, and if so, be sure to post pics here. I'd like to see this tree opened up.

ND rancher · January 07, 2013, 09:14:34 PM

I have cottonwoods that are like that except they are bigger!

Dodgy Loner · January 09, 2013, 05:40:08 PM

Here is a Carolina silverbell from the Smoky Mountains in NC. There were dozens of trees like this in one little cove, all covered up with burls. It would suggest an environmental or genetic cause, rather than just a random occurence, but beyond that, I have no clue. This tree was about 3' DBH.

mesquite buckeye · January 09, 2013, 07:12:25 PM

Super cool. I had never heard of this tree. Now I have to look for one.

What is the wood like ???

WDH · January 09, 2013, 09:12:54 PM

Wow! That is a SILVERBELL ;D.

ND rancher · January 09, 2013, 10:27:38 PM

What is a silverbell?

mesquite buckeye · January 09, 2013, 10:32:37 PM

Halesia carolina, Carolina Silverbell, native to SE US, 20-40ft, deciduous. Pretty bell shaped flowers. :P

Dodgy Loner · January 10, 2013, 12:33:52 AM

Throughout most of its range, we think of it as a small understory tree. However, in the rich coves of the Smoky Mountains, it grows to be a good-sized tree- I've seen up to 3' in diameter and over 100' tall. They get even bigger than that. However, even at that size, they are usually an understory tree. The silverbell in my picture is dwarfed by the tulip-poplar behind it, which was probably ~140' tall.

I've see the wood, and it has a pleasant pinkish color. No idea about its working properties, though. Never came across one big enough to saw that wasn't in a protected forest.

SwampDonkey · January 10, 2013, 05:01:51 AM

That just looks a lot like most of the black cherry around here with black knot on them. Endless supply of cherry burls. ;D

plumbstraight · February 22, 2013, 09:21:31 PM

This is very common in the main part of Alaska. At least around Anchorage north where I live. I expect it is from a virus and is common in black spruce.