Inclusion in Maple Wood

[Lamar Wright]

I cut this piece of maple from a fell tree last year and it has been in my barn drying. The other day I checked the MC and it was 12% in the medium range. So I decided to cut a piece off the log to make a platter. The piece had a small burl jutting out and when I sawed it into there was this inclusion. I think it would be unique to make the platter anyway with the inclusion. Any ideas?

 

[hockenbery]

What you have is a limb scar
Sometimes called a cat’s eye

They often look like burls. But there are just where a limb broke off the bark and wood grew over the opening. Most large trees will have several.
Avoid them for traditional bowls for obvious reasons.
You could have an interesting platter or some sort of winged bowl that uses the natural opening as the bowl’s opening.

I use the limb scar bump for openings % will have a hollow inside.
This often held water and ther will be water stain. All good for the most part.

Once in a while the rot is too extensive to be useful but most of the time the holes are relatively small. Also the limb remains whole or knot will usually slant downward toward the roots inside the blank.
Some examples of hollow forms a maple and a chaphor both about 13” diameter


Below is a maple HF opening set on a limb scar. See the hollow appear below the rim.

Two views of a camphor HF opening set at a limb scar.


Camphor HF ABOUT 10” diameter

 

[Don C Davis]

I love wood with features like that, I would turn it and deal with what it becomes--usually very attractive to me--I have taken a few pieces and cast then in resin to encompass the 'feature' and keep the type of piece I wanted I.E. a bowl without a void--just an idea--I like that piece a lot sir!

 

[Lamar Wright]

What you have is a limb scar
Sometimes called a cat’s eye

They often look like burls. But there are just where a limb broke off the bark and wood grow over the opening. Most large trees will have several.
Avoid them for traditional bowls for obvious reasons.
You could be an interesting platter or some sort of winged bowl that uses the natural opening as the bowls opening.

I use the limb scar bump for openings % will have a hollow inside.
This often held water and ther will be water stain. All good for the most part.

Once in a while the rot is too extensive to be useful but most of the time the holes are relatively small. Also the limb remains whole or knot will usually slant downward toward the roots inside the blank.
Some examples of hollow forms a maple and a chaphor both about 13” diameter

Below is a maple HF opening set on a limb scar. See the hollow appear below the rim.View attachment 25286

Two views of a camphor HF opening set at a limb scar.

View attachment 25287 View attachment 25288

Thanks Al for your very informative reply...... I understand now what a limb scar is and it is developed. Your hollow form is beautiful Al, the inclusions just add to the piece.

 

[Lamar Wright]

Thanks Don for your thoughts . I was thinking about using resin in one piece and leave the other natural.

 

[Odie]

I would turn it and deal with what it becomes

I was going to say something similar.......

Mother Nature has made her statement.....can't change that. Throw it on the lathe.....grab a cup o' joe.....and contemplate. The idea will come.....it always does!

-----odie-----

 

[Lamar Wright]

I was going to say something similar.......

Mother Nature has made her statement.....can't change that. Throw it on the lathe.....grab a cup o' joe.....and contemplate. The idea will come.....it always does!

-----odie-----

Hi Odie, that is exactly what I,m going to do! We'll see. Might have something nice to show when finished.