CYPRESS KNEES, a Supplier

Colin_Partridge · #11 11-12-2005, 11:35 PM

Wade I have been meaning to answer this thread for a few days but never got around to it. I know the place in Dundee where you got your cyprus knee's. I used to get mine there years ago when I visited my mom and dad who lived in Watchula Florida. Gail gave me a complete tour of her place she even had two workers who were boiling the knees it 45 gallon drums in the back. Interesting process how they get that bark off. Gail (who I believe then was on he 7th husband)

had some beautiful knees in the store. She also showed me some that were sandblasted quite a different effect. I couldnt believe the size of some of those knee's. I have about 20 or so still tucked up on a shelf in my work shop all from her store. Small world isnt it when you start talking to people.
Colin

wade clark · #12 11-13-2005, 02:14 AM

Doug,
Sounds good! I'm in the Florida Panhandle at present, but hope to be buying a place in TN or MO soon, maybe December, so would be closer.
Colin,
It IS a small world! Seven!!!!!!! My wife will never let me go in the shop without her when she hears this! She seems like a very nice lady...aparently popular too! (My Mom's about to out-live #7).
Paula's keeping me. I was too much trouble to train; she doesn't want to go through that again!
Wade

Doug Ridley · #13 11-13-2005, 08:45 AM

Wade, if you move to west Tenn. or southeast Mo. you won't be too far. You can contact me thru here or call me on the phone. I'm in the directory.
I boil the bark off using 55 gallon drums and a propane weedburner. Takes about 4 hours boiling and then it just peels off with your hands. I have had some sandblasted but prefer boiling.

Colin_Partridge · #14 11-13-2005, 11:03 AM

Doug I have a question I have about 20 with the bark still on them and it has been on them for about 5+ years. Do you think that it will come off now if I boil them?
Colin

wade clark · #15 11-13-2005, 11:32 AM

Colin and Doug,
I haven't taken the bark off until I started carving them. It's a little hard on the dry ones, but not THAT hard. I like the sheen of the boiled ones too, but I'm usually carving enough off (castles, dragons, pelicans...)that I'd be below the sheen anyway.
The dust, using power tools, gives me a heck of a sinus headache! So in the future I'll be faithful to use a good dust mask or carve non-power.
By the way, at the prices that I've paid in S. Florida, I've doubled the price and put them in my shop, partly because I didn't really want to sell them but wanted to re-coup or justify buying more than I could carve in a year. At that doubled price, they sold regularly. I finally quit selling them, because I was losing all my carving knees! I'm 350 miles from where I buy them and don't get there that often.
Wade

Doug Ridley · #16 11-13-2005, 02:42 PM

Wade-- Click on www.thesnowteam.com and if you are interested call Bob Snow in Paducah for a talk. He is good. No affiliation, just a very satisfied customer.
Doug

I tried to send a private msg. but your box was full.

Doug Ridley · #17 11-13-2005, 02:46 PM

Colin-- I have never tried any that old but I don't see why not. It might help to soak them a few days before boiling. Suggestion; try a small one in a pot on the stove first and see how it works. Remember- they need to boil about 4 hours.

wade clark · #18 11-13-2005, 04:03 PM

Doug,
Thanks, I'll check it out!
Wade

Colin_Partridge · #19 11-13-2005, 09:50 PM

Thanks Doug I will have to wait until the good lady is out of the house I will let you know how it works.
Colin

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #20 11-13-2005, 10:34 PM

I just posted some pics in the gallery of my first cypress knee....they are fun, going to have to get some more.