Sycamore

Hi-Country Orange · November 25, 2009, 12:24:15 PM

Are there any good uses for sycamore ??

Tom · November 25, 2009, 12:49:44 PM

Yes there are.

Cut in vertical grain configurations, it's lumber is beautiful and used for furniture.

It makes a grand table, when cut into thicker dimensions.

It's not rot resistant but works as structural timbers inside of a outbuildings.

It's claim to fame is its figure and high finish.

Hi-Country Orange · November 25, 2009, 01:39:53 PM

Thanks Tom, I've got a guy that want's to give me 30 or 40 10'
logs so i guess i'll take them, because i need a couple of small
utility sheds & a few more table slabs. Thanks again Randy

Tom · November 25, 2009, 01:59:48 PM

Use the Search on the forum and look for Sycamore. There are a bunch of pictures here and there. Arkansawyer started posting a lot of the pictures, so you might put his name in the search engine too. use the advanced search. I think the regular search window only goes back a short ways. You can get the advanced option to go back to the beginning.

Frickman · November 25, 2009, 05:57:56 PM

Never say no to free logs.

Magicman · November 25, 2009, 09:30:49 PM

It can be some of the most beautiful wood that you can work with. Very hard with very little shrinkage. It must be sanded evenly to avoid areas "catching" the stain.

I've built jewelry boxed, etc. out of it. It's also very good for drawer sides and backs. I would think that it would turn on a lathe very well.

footer · November 26, 2009, 12:14:55 AM

Shade.....

!

WDH · November 26, 2009, 08:37:38 PM

Quote from: Magicman on November 25, 2009, 09:30:49 PM
It can be some of the most beautiful wood that you can work with. Very hard with very little shrinkage. It must be sanded evenly to avoid areas "catching" the stain.

I've built jewelry boxed, etc. out of it. It's also very good for drawer sides and backs. I would think that it would turn on a lathe very well.

Like Magicman said, I have used it for drawer sides and backs.

Jeff · November 26, 2009, 09:35:19 PM

One of my most treasured possessions is a bowl made of sycamore that was turned for me by Electric Al and Linda's boys.

DanG · November 26, 2009, 09:44:06 PM

Quartersawing Sycamore is all the rage because of the unique speckledy grain, but it is beautiful when flat sawn too.

Fraxinus · November 28, 2009, 08:28:28 PM

My wife calls it "buttonwood". Not sure if that's a local (Massivetushes) appellation for it but I suspect it was used for buttons in the old days. Wood similar to beech and I bet it would look good quartersawn.

Hi-Country Orange · November 28, 2009, 10:33:24 PM

I went & looked at the pile of sycamore logs sat . there must be
50 or so, most in the 8" range, some will go 18" but for the most
part pretty straight, i'll likely start this coming week.

WDH · November 29, 2009, 12:25:09 AM

Keep good air flow while air drying or it might stain on you.

Hi-Country Orange · December 01, 2009, 03:41:05 PM

WDH the kiln i use does a good job of that, so i will likely take
any of it to be used for anything other than framing straight to him.

GF · December 01, 2009, 04:39:51 PM

Had a 13' sycamore log laying around about a year and a half and cut it a couple of weeks ago this was what I found inside.

SwampDonkey · December 01, 2009, 05:28:50 PM

Looks like spalted maple. ;D

WDH · December 01, 2009, 06:35:27 PM

That is serendipity, GF ;D.

Jeff · December 01, 2009, 06:40:13 PM

Quote from: SwampDonkey on December 01, 2009, 05:28:50 PM
Looks like spalted maple. ;D

So does spalted Maple look like spalted Maple. smiley_bucktooth

Tom · December 01, 2009, 11:01:50 PM

Quote from: WDH on December 01, 2009, 06:35:27 PM
That is serendipity, GF ;D.

It's not Sweetgum!

WDH · December 01, 2009, 11:05:09 PM

I bet sweetgum spalts too, but I have not run across any yet.

Tom · December 01, 2009, 11:12:56 PM

Yepsir, Sweetgum spalts too.
Does Serendipity spalt?

WDH · December 01, 2009, 11:14:47 PM

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!!

I just got to have some of that 8) 8) 8).

SwampDonkey · December 02, 2009, 05:01:12 AM

Quote from: Jeff on December 01, 2009, 06:40:13 PM
Quote from: SwampDonkey on December 01, 2009, 05:28:50 PM
Looks like spalted maple. ;D

So does spalted Maple look like spalted Maple. smiley_bucktooth

Spalted birch. :D

Modat22 · December 02, 2009, 08:39:08 AM

I'm trying to get 3 wild cherry logs to spalt as an experiment. So far it hasn't done much after 16 months >:(

coldnorth · December 02, 2009, 08:49:26 AM

A few years ago I had someone here who wanted all the Sycamore I could get. 2" thick for carving. Not sure what he was carving, but you might look into it.