Happy Me Red Oak

[Donsexton]

I scored this clean red oak trunk yesterday my favorite wood to carve. The tree got struck by lighting this spring and died. I was driving by this RV campground and I heard a chainsaw music to my ears. I talked to the contractor cutting down the tree and ask him to leave me some wood. Take a look at my wood harvest rig the bed tilts but my wench didnt have the power to lift the big one. I have this "A" frame assembly back at my shop I can set it up by myself I used both to load this beauty.

[Phyllis Singer]

Hey Don you need our big John Deere tractor. I passed some guys cutting down big trees and asked them if I could have a piece( 30"x36") and they set it in the passenger seat in my jeep, it weighed about 200 lbs. So I used the seatbelt on it just like a person and hauled it home. It is drying out now. How long do you let it dry out before carving it?

Phyllis

[Donsexton]

I don't wait if I have something in my minds eye I start carving and deal with cracks as they come. I have a bunch of live oak and pecan left over from hurricane Katrina that is dry and cured. I think I will carve a heard of wild horses or something with more than one subject in the carving. I need to finish my Lincoln bust first, I started last week its at the point now I get bored with it. Yes I need a tractor with a hoist on it for sure.

[mateo]

You have every reason to be happy. It would take forever to season that monster. I agree you should pounce on it with chainsaw discs whirring, while the inspirations hot!

[bigEd_H]

That's a huge chunk of red oak, Don. You should be ecstatic about that find. A herd of wild horses would look great carved out of that. Can't wait to see that thing carved.

[Bill102M]

Hey Don! I am really envious on your find. I too carve large projects out of logs. Finding good wood is always tough. Aquiring a log of those demensions is like finding the Holy Grail! I got lucky a few months ago and picked up three lengths of White Ash 48 x 28 I have them in my shed out back drying out, getting ready for the winter projects.

[hwallen48]

Originally Posted by Donsexton

I scored this clean red oak trunk yesterday my favorite wood to carve. The tree got struck by lighting this spring and died. I was driving by this RV campground and I heard a chainsaw music to my ears. I talked to the contractor cutting down the tree and ask him to leave me some wood. Take a look at my wood harvest rig the bed tilts but my wench didnt have the power to lift the big one. I have this "A" frame assembly back at my shop I can set it up by myself I used both to load this beauty.

Nice piece of Timber you got there Don , any ideas or it yeT??

[Donsexton]

Yes I am seeing a heard of stylized wild horses in my minds eye.

[Dan Wegiel]

Great find Don! Looking forward to seeing your idea come to life. When's Lincoln gonna be done?

Dan

[Donsexton]

Originally Posted by Dan Wegiel

Great find Don! Looking forward to seeing your idea come to life. When's Lincoln gonna be done?

Dan

Dan,
I finished that Lincoln head and just a few others but have not started on my ambitious horse project. I did carve a model horse to help me make my main cuts with the saw.