help with wood.

[keswickbaber]

I was cutting firewood three weeks ago.I found and old tree,with no bark on it.When I cutting it in 16 inch lenghts,I found that the wood is dark choclate and you could see alittle purple in it. A very pretty piece of wood,Iwas thinking walnut ,but doesnt walnut have some light in it,the tree was 25 inch cir.all of it dark brown.What others woods are that color?Can anyone help? .Hate too burn it in the stove if its good wood to carve,probably keep it anyway

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Sounds like a dead walnut tree to me! Try to carve something with it. If it works great! If it doesn't burn it.

[Donsexton]

Hit it with a grinder or a saw it will smell like walnut that is what it sounds to me as well.

[Dan S]

I think I see the problem. Just send the wood down here to Vegas and I'll let you know if it was good to carve. Seriously, It sounds like walnut. If you burn it you will spend a few centuries in purgatory as punnishment!

Dan

[markken5889]

Hey, if the look catches your attention, doesn't matter what kind of wood it is, just enjoy carving it! Show us how it turns out.

Mark

[Kate]

I agree with Mark!
Unless it's horrible to carve, if it's pretty, use it!

[Just Carving]

Just be careful that it is not discoloration caused by spalting--mold. You carve that without some type of respiratory protection, and you will have one serious headache, sinus infection, and maybe even come down with bronchitis. Use caution.

Bob L

[Kate]

Bob,
Really? Just carving spalted wood can cause that?
I could understand if you were sanding it, but didn't think about carving creating a problem.

I didn't know. I have some really pretty spalted stuff I have been holding on to for awhile now, waiting for the right inspiration to come along.

Thanks for the heads up!

[Just Carving]

Anytime you carve, you are throwing fine particles off the wood surface. If any of those particles contain a pathogen--viral, bacterial, fungal--you could get an infection under the right circumstances. It's very much like being allergic to a particular wood. If you get enough of it in your system, your body will react to it. It's just a matter of how much your body will tolerate. Some people can carve for hours without any incident. Others only for a few minutes, and they'll feel like a ton of bricks fell on them.

Read this:
Women In Woodworking

Bob L

[Kate]

Wow, good article.

Thanks again!