Willow Logs

steveST · September 04, 2003, 07:55:49 AM

I can get some HUGE willow logs that fell over in a storm. Are they worth sawing? What is willow lumber like? I don't believe I ever heard or seen any.
Thanks!

Tom · September 04, 2003, 08:03:19 AM

I've got black willow out here that is real pretty. I've not sawed enough to know if I have a good representation. Mine is wide and open grained, kind of porous and light reddish brown in color. (more to the redder side) It's grain is straight and It splits easily (as in firewood). It looks as if it would polish well even though it has that porous grain.

I have a bowl turner friend that likes to turn it but can seldom find diameters large enough.

steveST · September 04, 2003, 08:30:13 AM

I have some that is large enough for your friend to turn a bathtub!! :D

Thanks for the info.

Regards.

Larry · September 04, 2003, 11:46:10 AM

Years ago I stopped in Frank Paxton Lumber Co to pick up a few boards. They had black willow at a very attractive price so I asked the salesman what it was used for. He said a lot of people used it for drawer sides. Also he said it could be stained to closely match walnut. They sold a lot to schools for industrial arts classes but I suppose that market is pretty much gone these days.

I bought a few boards to use for drawer sides as the guy suggested and it worked ok. Pretty soft about like basswood.

Never have sawed any on my mill but if any free logs ever come my way I would saw a few hundred BF and keep it for my own use.

Tom · September 04, 2003, 06:30:30 PM

That little bit I've sawed felt brittle. You couldn't bend it like you can a piece of pine or Holly.

johnjbc · September 05, 2003, 07:33:17 AM

You can cut willow real thin.

https://forestryforum.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?board=sawmill;action=display;num=1043036086;start=20

Its also good for making models. This is a model of a cabin I hope to build some day

http://www.campbeaver.org/Cabin1.JPG

this is willow used to make a mold for soap bars. I put a piece of sarn wrap in first then when the soap cools I ues it to pull the soap out and wrap it