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Wood from State Trees

R

Royce

Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
6
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Location
Harrisburg, SD
Our local AAW chapter is beginning a "group project" this year. We would like to get a sample of wood from each of the 50 "official" state trees. We will then distribute this wood to various members and he or she will turn a small item from this wood.

At the present time we have wood from the following "official" state trees:

Alaska
California
Colorado
Delaware
Iowa
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana
New Hampshire
New York
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
Texas
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin

If there are any of you who would have a fairly small sample of wood from any of the other state trees, particularly from the state where you live we would be interested in having you send us a sample. Size does not really matter. Some of our items will be very small. Others may be larger but we will work with any size piece of wood from your state tree that you are willing to send us.

If necessary, we would be willing to reimburse you for your shipping cost. If you can help us out please reply with a private message and we will make the shipping arrangements.

Thanks. We look forward to hearing from you.

Royce Meritt
Siouxland Woodturners
Harrisburg, SD
 
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Royce, I have a few small pieces of Maine Eastern White Pine that I'll send in a few days.
Sounds like a neat project!

It is a soft wood but can still be turned with shrp tools
 
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State Trees

Our state tree in South Carolina is the Palmetto or Cabbage Palm. The inside is spongy and fiberous. Not much good for turning. Interesting historical fact: during the revolutionary war, a British fleet shelled Fort Moultrie which was made of Palmetto logs. The logs absorbed the cannon balls with little damage, the fort returned fire, and the British fleet was forced to withdraw, ending the threat of a British invasion of Charleston..
 
Sort of off topic

Well we fired our guns and the British kept a comin'
There wasn't as many as there was a while a go
We fired once more and they began a runnin':D

This is off the topic but,
A deceased friend of mine would celebrate the Boston Tea Party each year,
he would flush a tea bag down the toilet, and proclaim
"Damn the British"
No offense to those across the pond.

I think winter is starting to get to me.
Jim
 
Royce said:
There are a number of "shared" state trees. Hopefully that will make our job of getting a sample of each a little easier.
Click to expand...

But in cases like this you would like an actual piece to represent each state - so 2 pieces - one from Utah - one from Colorado - right?

You want a piece that actually grew in that state correct?

As for the Palmetto guy - I would get a piece anyway if I was Royce and either put it into an acrylic or soak it with something to make it turnable - like those pen guys do with some blanks... that way there would still be a piece. That is if it were me - just my humble opinion :)
 
Royce,

Florida and South Carolina do not have state trees. Instead, both have chosen the Sabal palmetto (common name Cabbage palm or palmetto palm) in lieu of choosing a tree. Politicians are never ones to let facts get in the way.

Palms not being trees don't have any wood in them.
Life is never as simple as it should be.

Palm can be turned and is roughly equivalent to turning a glued up bundle of straws.

happy turning,
Al
 
Wipedout said:
But in cases like this you would like an actual piece to represent each state - so 2 pieces - one from Utah - one from Colorado - right?

You want a piece that actually grew in that state correct?

As for the Palmetto guy - I would get a piece anyway if I was Royce and either put it into an acrylic or soak it with something to make it turnable - like those pen guys do with some blanks... that way there would still be a piece. That is if it were me - just my humble opinion :)
Click to expand...

I don't think we are going to be quite that "militant" about it. If 2 or more states have the same official state tree I think we won't worry about it too much where the wood came from. For example, there are several state where sugar maple is the official state tree. As long as we have enough wood to turn an object to represent each of those state, where the wood came from might not matter too much.
 
I'll see if I can get one of my arbor guys to save me a piece of fresh cut palm and then I'll seal it in wax. If you turn it green it's better...but not much. Unless Al is going to send some.
Bill
 
Bill,

I don't have any sabal palm.

Do check it for hardness. Some palms are sort of squishy inside from the get go. if a screw driver pushs in easily it isn't worth turning. it will just fall apart.

see you next week.
=Al
 
Na ah, up there the mosqitoes are so big it only take 3 to make a dozen! :D
 
Oklahoma state tree

I have several pieces of redbud from a large redbud tree harvested in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The tree was brought down by a combination of weather and old age. I am still very new to this and am not sure which pieces would be best suited for you and your project. I have small pieces, large pieces and even some small pieces of burl. Let me know where I can mail these pieces. I also have some large pieces of cottonwood, willow, and persimmon if you know anyone wanting to trade.

Thanks,
Dave Beers
 
MichaelMouse said:
Many duplicates. Not sure how they'll handle them.

When I was there, they said the North Dakota state tree was the telephone pole. It's Ulmus americana officially. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_trees

Guess they were only kidding about the mosquito being the state bird, too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_birds
Click to expand...

I got a Question about the state tree of Kentucky being a Tulips tree , KY state tree were the coffee tree , what happen ?
 
Bet you never thought such things could involve so much, eh? http://kdla.ky.gov/resources/kytree.htm

I watch the sprightly year-round residents of our fair state - chickadees - feeding every day, yet our official state bird - Robin - won't stick around. My guess is the legislators thought the binomial was humorous enough to justify the designation.

Turdus migratorious. Flying what?
 
Virginia state tree

The Virginia state tree is the Dogwood. I do not have any, but if I did I would be glad to send some to you. Maybe some other turner here can find a piece to help your project.
 
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