Birdseye Maple

[montana]

I just picked up 17 cants of birdseye maple, they are from 5"-2" thick and 4-5' long, and 12-22" wide. I know this is a terrible problem to have but I need some ideas of how best to use it. They have been in storage for over 15 years. Is there any special things i need to do after re-sawing. I'll try to get some pictures loaded today.

Thanks, Mike  8) 8) 8)

[Larry]

I resawed some birdseye couple of weeks ago.  It was for a floor inlay...didn't do anything special.  I do use a carbide band...it saves wood two ways.  Thinner kerf and the cut is smoother, so less sanding.

[montana]

Thanks, larry

[pasbuild]

Slow down your feed rate to avoid pulling the eyes out.

[montana]

Thanks Pasbuild I would have not thought of slowing it down.

[Burlkraft]

That Bird's eye is tricky stuff, but very beeutiful once ya get used to workin' with it.

[metalspinner]

Don't forget to sticker the stock after you resaw it.  No matter how long the cant has been laying around, the center of it will still be a different moisture content that the outside. 

[Sprucegum]

I never have any luck planing Birdseye - so I just sand it

[CHARLIE]

Using a thickness planer on birdseye could be a problem by getting some tearout in the eyes.  Moisten the board a bit and take light cuts to help eliminate tearout.

Also, when finishing birdseye, there are some special ways that will really make the birdseye Pop out visually. Really enhances the piece.

[forest.c]

would make a nice gun stock i'v only ever seen one made of birdseye.

[montana]

Thanks everyone for your input, I did resaw some and it turned out great. I had an order for a table top today, 54"x 26"x 2 1/2"and my arms are still sore from sanding. I started at 220 grit all the way to 400. I put one coat of boiled linseed oil on today, and everything popped. I would be hard pressed to find a per-te-er wood. Today I 'm goimg to add 1-2 coats of hi-gloss poly. Wish me luck. I would put pictures on here, but every time I do it comes back file to large or something. Dang Montana Hill Billy :D :D