I've got some pieces of a large maple burl that I plan on using for box
tops. We all know that wood expands quite a bit across the grain and
very little if any along the grain.
But burl has no grain that I can see. Does it expand equally in all
directions? Is the expansion large like cross grain or minimal like long
grain?
--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw
In article <[email protected]>, Larry Blanchard
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I've got some pieces of a large maple burl that I plan on using for box
> tops. We all know that wood expands quite a bit across the grain and
> very little if any along the grain.
>
> But burl has no grain that I can see. Does it expand equally in all
> directions? Is the expansion large like cross grain or minimal like long
> grain?
I came into a lot of Manitoba Maple (aka Box Elder) burl a number of
years ago.
Never seen it move to any bias, in any of the turning I've done with
it. What I have left must be dry by now, and there's no sign of
checking.
"Larry Blanchard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I've got some pieces of a large maple burl that I plan on using for box
> tops. We all know that wood expands quite a bit across the grain and
> very little if any along the grain.
>
> But burl has no grain that I can see. Does it expand equally in all
> directions? Is the expansion large like cross grain or minimal like long
> grain?
I have not seen any expansion or shrinkage in any maple burl I've used. Not
a tremendous amount of experience, but enough that I wouldn't worry about
it. When buying maple burl for turning or Small projects (box lids) I have
also never seen it coated. I did have a chunk (8"x8") of manzanita burl
split on me.