How to cut this branch into something useful?

[Paul May]

I am not verse in the ways of of cutting bowl blanks. A friend gifted me a chunk of mulberry and I am trying to figure out how to cut it to get the most interesting grain.
Whaddya all think?

 

[Richard Coers]

With that broken off limb and rotten wood there, you won't get much of anything no matter how you cut it. Maybe a couple of pen blanks. Doesn't look like mulberry, more like crab apple.

 

[Lyle Jamieson]

I am not verse in the ways of of cutting bowl blanks. A friend gifted me a chunk of mulberry and I am trying to figure out how to cut it to get the most interesting grain.
Whaddya all think?

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Hi Paul,
The right hand end of the log looks like a crotch. I am not familiar with the grain character of mulberry crotch figure but it might be some nice wood in there. I have addressed crutches in my Remote demos and on my YouTube videos many times. So I would cut that end off to use the crotch. That cut might reveal the log straight grain figure in what is remaining. From the left side of the tree it looks like it has grown over branches there and could be some great stuff. However it might be punky or rotten in the middle of it. I don't ever turn with the pith in my pieces, so the next cut I would do is a cut right down the pith line from end to end. Cut it in half along the pith. That will show the inside color and grain. Now you will have at least two bowl blanks from this end, maybe four, if the wood is still solid and safe to turn.

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Like Richard says it sure looks like Apple, the ends should be yellow with white sapwood.

Here is some Mulberry pictures so you can see the wood.



Then the UFO as I call it, Mulberry with a Walnut part and brass landing legs , opened to show the fresh color still.



A small piece showing the crotch figure of Mulberry.

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I am not verse in the ways of of cutting bowl blanks. A friend gifted me a chunk of mulberry and I am trying to figure out how to cut it to get the most interesting grain.
Whaddya all think?

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Oh and here are a couple of Mulberry logs, compare the bark on them with your wood.

 

[Paul May]

With that broken off limb and rotten wood there, you won't get much of anything no matter how you cut it. Maybe a couple of pen blanks. Doesn't look like mulberry, more like crab apple.

See... What do I know. Now to choose whether I want to use black or blue ink.

 

[Paul May]

Hi Paul,
The right hand end of the log looks like a crotch. I am not familiar with the grain character of mulberry crotch figure but it might be some nice wood in there. I have addressed crutches in my Remote demos and on my YouTube videos many times. So I would cut that end off to use the crotch. That cut might reveal the log straight grain figure in what is remaining. From the left side of the tree it looks like it has grown over branches there and could be some great stuff. However it might be punky or rotten in the middle of it. I don't ever turn with the pith in my pieces, so the next cut I would do is a cut right down the pith line from end to end. Cut it in half along the pith. That will show the inside color and grain. Now you will have at least two bowl blanks from this end, maybe four, if the wood is still solid and safe to turn.

Hi Lyle. Thanks for the thoughtful response. I will try your suggestions.

 

[Paul May]

Like Richard says it sure looks like Apple, the ends should be yellow with white sapwood.

Here is some Mulberry pictures so you can see the wood.

View attachment 55968

Then the UFO as I call it, Mulberry with a Walnut part and brass landing legs , opened to show the fresh color still.

View attachment 55969View attachment 55970

A small piece showing the crotch figure of Mulberry.
View attachment 55971

Thanks Leo. Crab apple it is then.

 

[Dean Center]

The left end might make a bowl, but it probably will have bark or holes or other 'defects', and won't be a utility piece. To me, that's a hollow form chunk of wood.

But don't forget that all of us have at least a couple pieces of wood sitting around that we can't figure out what to do with, but it's too special to get rid of. This may be yours. Some day in the future, the lightbulb may go on, after you've tripped over it 15 times.

 

[Paul May]

The left end might make a bowl, but it probably will have bark or holes or other 'defects', and won't be a utility piece. To me, that's a hollow form chunk of wood.

But don't forget that all of us have at least a couple pieces of wood sitting around that we can't figure out what to do with, but it's too special to get rid of. This may be yours. Some day in the future, the lightbulb may go on, after you've tripped over it 15 times.

Thanks Dean. I may just go for it.

 

[Larry Mercier]

Some day in the future, the lightbulb may go on, after you've tripped over it 15 times.

There is a lot of wisdom in this statement.

 

[Sam Fleisher]

But don't forget that all of us have at least a couple pieces of wood sitting around that we can't figure out what to do with, but it's too special to get rid of. This may be yours. Some day in the future, the lightbulb may go on, after you've tripped over it 15 times.

I keep mine under a table, lessens the trip hazard and it gives a spot to stack the ones that I just know I'm going to get to soon...... ya right.