Silve-Birch burr

[Les Symonds]

I've been offered a fresh silver birch burr. It's currently still attached to a felled tree which has been bucked into lengths, so it's on a 4ft length of log, which is about 10inch diameter. The burr itself forms a crust, wrapping around about 80% of the trunk, and is about 6" thick on average. beyond that, there's no clue as to what happens inside the timber, but I'm itching to have a go at it.

Any idea what to expect inside? What does it look like, how does it work, how does it dry?? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Thanks guys...Les

[georg]

       Les its a lovely Burr the one I turned was a Dark Honey Brown. In my experience it must be rough turned
       straight away and then dried otherwise it will turn to mush very quickly.
        I will try and get a picture  up but it will be tomorrow now
       
        Tony

[Buzzbee]

I've had 5 3 foot planks drying for over two years now. Tried some recently and you can expect some beautiful colour variations. The twisted grain can create some problems with tearout but it did finish quite well.

Allan

[georg]

                 
 the first one is spalted Burr
the second is Burr
the last was best left on the host log it was very mushy All silver Birch
Hope these give you a few ideas

     Regards Tony                                         

[Les Symonds]

Hi Tony...thanks for that. I like the look of those burrs....as Pete (Bodrighywood) would say, 'Wabi sabi'!

Les

[Bryan Milham]

Les,

I've never turned Silver Birch Burr, but I have Silver Birch (and even Paper Birch) quite often.

If you are lucky it will have had a birch polypore (horse-hoof fungus) on it. A fungus that is prevalent on birches, and grows without killing the tree. but causes some wonderful spalting.