Funny - in this part of Texas, hackberrys are considered weeds. It's the only tree I've seen that will draw swarms of flies while you're cutting it down.
I've taken out four of them in the last 15 years - 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet diameter, 60 feet+ tall. Wish I'd known some was worth saving; people here won't even put it in fireplaces or stoves.
There are still some huge pieces by the burn pile from the last one.
What did you use it for?
[email protected] wrote:
> Funny - in this part of Texas, hackberrys are considered weeds. It's the only tree I've seen that will draw swarms of flies while you're cutting it down.
>
> I've taken out four of them in the last 15 years - 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet diameter, 60 feet+ tall. Wish I'd known some was worth saving; people here won't even put it in fireplaces or stoves.
>
> There are still some huge pieces by the burn pile from the last one.
>
> What did you use it for?
Hackberry is indeed a "trash wood" if you try to use it for lumber or
firewood. However, it is a favorite of woodturners for bowls and
hollow forms, especially after spalting. (If you ever have to take out
a mature hackberry, let your local woodturning club or a professional
woodturner know before you do so . . . you may find that they are more
than willing to "dispose" of large parts of it for you.)
When freshly cut, the wood is a rather boring whitish color with little
discernable grain. However, after 6 months of spalting, the wood
typically takes on a tan or grey cast, with striking, highly
contrasting black, dark brown, and/or dark green grain. It works and
finishes well, and when finished it often reminds many people of
marble.
Typically, the logs are sawn into 2-3' lengths, with the ends and any
cuts painted with greenwood sealer and then set aside (ideally, outside
in a shaded place) for 6-12 months to spalt, and then cut in half
lengthwise and bandsawed into turning blanks.
LKB in Houston
[email protected] wrote:
> What did you use it for?
Hackberry is indeed a weed. This tree was so close to the front of our
house that we couldn't even fit a gutter between the trunk and the
eave. Clearly no one planted it there. The worst part is that the
trees tend to fail catastrophically. I don't know if that is a feature
of hackberry's everywhere, or just because they are a non-native
species in Texas.
This was an experiment in turning trees into lumber. I have gotten a
variety of opinions on hackberry from "it's a great furniture wood" to
"it's total trash that doesn't even make good firewood." I finally
decided to quit asking people and searching the web and just get it
milled and see how it turns out.
I haven't used it yet. There's 250 board feet drying in my backyard.
I might take a few boards to a kiln near Bastrop if I get too
impatient. My upcoming list of projects include a dining room table,
chest of drawers, beds, and more, so it will probably be used in some
of those projects.
In general, I am trying to use more local woods in my projects. I'm
still too cheap to buy mesquite, but I built a chest of drawers for my
shop and a set of shelves for my son's room out of cypress. Both
turned out well. Yes, it is a little soft and smells like the swamp
when you cut it, but it is actually pretty nice to work and looks good
finished.
I started trying to use local woods more after these 3 experiences.
1. I learned that the Shakers used local woods in the furniture,
maybe because it was easier to get it, but I like to think it was also
part of striving for simplicity.
2. I visited a Colonial Williamsburg-like place near Salt Lake City
where they had re-enactments of period jobs. The settlers to SLC were
used to using hardwoods, but they only had softwoods available, so they
painted the grain on pine to make it look like mahogany, quartersawn
white oak, and others. That seemed kind of silly to me.
3. We visited a friend in Seattle, where they serve fish that have
been cooked on an "alder plank." I commented that alder is considered
a fine furniture wood in Austin and has actually become almost as
popular, or maybe even more popular, than cherry in kitchen cabinets.
He laughed and said that alder grows like a weed there.
After those three experiences, I decided that I need to just start
working with what I'm given. I had a hackberry to use right here.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Mark
Mon, Oct 16, 2006, 6:44pm (EDT+4) [email protected]
(<[email protected]>) doth sayeth:
Funny - in this part of Texas, hackberrys are considered weeds. <snip>
Hackberry=A0
(Celtis occidentalis)
=A0Description=A0
The Lakota name for this species is Yamn=FAmnugapi , meaning "crunching
with teeth." Hackberry has an alternate,
finely-toothed, ovate leaf that is lopsided at the base. The small round
fruit becomes purple when ripe. The bark is grayish and covered with
distinctive warty projections.=A0
Distribution=A0
Hackberry is found from North Dakota to Vermont and Oklahoma to North
Carolina. It is found throughout most of South Dakota, except in the
north-western quarter.
Hackberry is a floodplain species. In the western extreme of its range,
however, it is often found in ravines or low areas. The moisture
conditions in these areas are more dependable than some rivers since the
water drains in from the surrounding area. The depressions also shelter
the trees from the harsh winds and summer heat. Along the lower Missouri
River, hackberry is found on the upper slopes of the floodplain rather
than in low areas.
Size: Hackberry is a long-lived tree, often reaching the age of 150
years. It can reach heights of 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 m).
Our state champion is 65 feet (20 m) tall and is in Brandon.
Significance
Hackberry wood is fairly soft and coarse grained. It is only
occasionally used for lumber. The primary use for hackberry is
as a shade and windbreak tree. The Dakotas used the hackberry berries as
a flavoring for meat. The fruit is eaten by
pheasants, wild turkeys, robins and other birds.
JOAT
It's not hard, if you get your mind right.
- Granny Weatherwax
Unfortunately, a long time gone. The Mangusta had better lines but had even
more overheating problems. I don't know if it had the same bad design or
just airflow through the radiator. It was a LOT of fun to drive.
Interesting to think that the harmonic balancer was less than six inches
from the drivers right elbow. Thanks for the comments.
Respectfully,
Ron Moore
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Ron Moore" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:ICTYg.8027$eZ4.2489@dukeread06...
>> And the "processed" (by birds) fruit will take the paint off a car. Got
>> the primer, too. I was NOT happy. It was a recently painted Pantera.
>> Darn birds!!!>>>...
>
> You've got a Pantera? Way cool--always lusted after one of those or a
> Mangusta when I was a kid.
>
> If it's a regular driver and not a show car I'd bite the bullet and put
> Imron on it. Doesn't give the same kind of finish as hand-rubbed lacquer
> but it's nearly indestructible.
>
>
> <snip>
>
And the "processed" (by birds) fruit will take the paint off a car. Got the
primer, too. I was NOT happy. It was a recently painted Pantera. Darn
birds!!!>>>...
Respectfully,
Ron Moore
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Funny - in this part of Texas, hackberrys are considered weeds. It's the
> only tree I've seen that will draw swarms of flies while you're cutting it
> down.
>
> I've taken out four of them in the last 15 years - 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet
> diameter, 60 feet+ tall. Wish I'd known some was worth saving; people
> here won't even put it in fireplaces or stoves.
>
> There are still some huge pieces by the burn pile from the last one.
>
> What did you use it for?
>
>
>
"Ron Moore" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:ICTYg.8027$eZ4.2489@dukeread06...
> And the "processed" (by birds) fruit will take the paint off a car. Got
> the primer, too. I was NOT happy. It was a recently painted Pantera.
> Darn birds!!!>>>...
You've got a Pantera? Way cool--always lusted after one of those or a
Mangusta when I was a kid.
If it's a regular driver and not a show car I'd bite the bullet and put
Imron on it. Doesn't give the same kind of finish as hand-rubbed lacquer
but it's nearly indestructible.
<snip>