I GOT WOOD!!!

[LURCHWV@BJS]

     Some of you may remeber a few months back I asked about curl in Maple.  Whether it went throughout the tree and what have you.  Later I told how  ran across a tree that had been knocked down during the winter.  The tree was given to me for the sole purpose of making blanks, handles and whatever else my brain could imagine.  Had to wait several weeks for the weather to dry up enough to get my pickup into it.  Harvested it took it to a mill and had it cut 2.75" thick.  It was then put in a dehumidfing kiln to dry.

   Well the kiln finally called, $63 for sawing and drying.  Sad thing is , out of 12 planks only 5 look as though they could support my need for a stock.  I want a 48" barrel.  I should however be able to get SEVERAL pistol blanks out of the as well as lots ot misc.



   If the pics are blurry I apologize, should have a MUCH better camera in the next few days.  ( Got a sweet deal on a $500 camera... $82.00)

    Now I still have to order the barrel.  I procrastinate......  ALOT....
    While I wait, I think Ole Frankenstien may get a restock 

   Rich

[FALout]

I would let that wood sit for awhile even thou it's been thru a kiln, let it get acclimated to your work area.  You don't have to wait long, but give it a few weeks to a month.

[b bogart]

$63 for 5 blanks? Seems like a deal to me!! I'm sure the rest will find a purpose. Well played Rich!

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Good to see you back on Rich.  Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Coryjoe

[David R. Pennington]

Looks good. I recently found a similar tree on my cousins farm and got two logs sawn out of it. The tree had an old injury that revealed its curl. It's red maple and has grown with sort of a double crook so that the grain in both logs would follow the shape of a gunstock blank through the wrist. Sadly I found a small hollow in the center of butt log about the size of my forearm but should still be able to get a few stocks out of it. Same scenario about the weather and access. Had to clear and old log trail and snake the logs out with tractor. I borrowed a trailer to haul them and sawyer charged me $35 to cut them into 3" planks. I don't have access to a kiln and am not in any hurry so I stacked them and will forget them for 3 or 4 years. I was surprised to see that it looks like the curl is nice in both logs.

[T*O*F]

Lay out your raw blanks on the planks and cut them out.  Even though they are kiln dried, they can still split on you, especially the ones closer to the outside of the tree where the growth rings are rounder.  Best to get them to the smallest working size ASAP.

[Tom Currie]

Rich, Keep Frankensein around. It'll will be a reminder of how far you've come when you get to where you want to be !

[Clowdis]

I wouldn't sweat the lack of curl too much, it isn't always the amount of curl that makes the rifle. Use good longrifle architecture and do a good job of 'smithing and you'll end up with a nice rifle.