Manzanita Burls (Probably Misspelled or Mispronounced!)

[Walt Matzek]

Hey All,

I saw these burls in a catalogue and now I own one. Like the Greyhound that catches the bus, what do you do with it now? Anyone have any tips on carving one of these things, before I really mess this up?

Any books that might offer some insight into carving one of these? Appreciate all help and thanks in advance.

Walt

[Keoma]

OOOOh weeeee...ManzaNITA!!!! I Adoooore Manzanita and work with it a lot. Any chanch you have a photo of your burl?
I can tell you a few things firsthand-
*Its Hard...I don't mean hard as a rock...I mean hard as Manzanita Nails...Its amazing!
*It takes a lot of sanding!!!
*It will buff to a glass shine
*Oil makes it darker
*Varnish makes the grain pop
* I like furniture WAX best on it.
It WILL DULL YOUR TOOLS
*Do not drop it on your toe!!!
Congratulations! You now own one of natures wonders!!! Have Fun


Oh---say it like this Man-za-NITA... But it helps to say it like you are a sultry Spanish Flamenco dancer and the name just rolls of your tongue...ahem...never miond

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

We have a couple of lamps my wifes grandfather made out of manzanita roots...many, many years ago.....!

[mark yundt]

I used to have piles of 'em and used them for bases for some bird carvings since I got them for only a couple of bucks each and they looked neat. I never tried carving one as it's true,,they're hard as rocks. But they sure are neat looking.

[whittlewomen]

A guy near Grants Pass, Oregon called "The Burl Guy" has several ones with faces carved in them similar to knotheads that I carve. They were beautiful, but like everyone else, they are ____ hard!
Good luck!
Sharon

[Colin-Partridge]

Really no need for me to reply they have said it all HARD is not the word. I have some I brought back from BC with me and still have not carved it is much too hard and dulls chisels in seconds. I may suggest power carving it.
Colin

[nadcarves]

I do faces in them. The problem is finding the right shape.I prefer the ones that have a depression in the center like an old baseball glove..POWER is the word, in carving them..Nice part is that no two will be alike Cordially Nad

[menehune]

Hard is an understatement. There used to be a company in California that made briar type tobacco pipes from them. You'll also want to be very careful about small stones embedded in the wood. VERY hard on bandsaw blades. DAMHIKHammer