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Huisache Wood For Sale
Huisache (pronounced "wee-sach"), or Sweet Acacia, has a beautiful grain pattern and gorgeous colors - being orange-red in the heartwood and a creamy yellow color in the sapwood. It turns easily when green, producing long curls of a fascinating sparkly orange-white color. The bark of fresh-cut Huisache is very tight and clings well to a natural edge vessel. The wood also finishes to a beautiful surface.
Interestingly enough, Huisache is a bane to farmers, ranchers and rural homesteads in this part of Texas. Similar to Mesquite, it is invasive and can quickly take-over fallow land and replace grasses and other vegetation. Similar to but even worse than Mesquite, Huisache has many thorns - long, very hard and sharp needle-like thorns that penetrate truck and tractor tires and result in numerous flats, pain and agony! Considerable effort is required to eradicate Huisache once it is established, and as a result, it is rarely found in sufficient size for most woodworking needs.
Occasionally, however, I am able to locate and harvest larger Huisache trees (I reckon you'd have to call them "old growth" Huisache). These larger trees are generally still small relative to other timber trees - I have yet to see a Huisache "saw log". But these larger "trees" do produce pieces big enough for useful lathe work. As a result, I have quite a few whole, half-log and crotch pieces available. A lot of effort is put into locating, harvesting and trimming these pieces, but the beauty of the wood makes the effort worthwhile.
Note : As elsewhere, the dimensions given below are Length x Width x Depth of the blank. Theoretically these numbers indicate the dimensions of the largest bowl, box/goblet or spindle that might be turned from that piece if no flaws are encountered. The approximate weight (in pounds) as well as obvious physical features (checks, etc) are also indicated. Note also that most of these are rough cut. I do not have the time or equipment to routinely surface the cut sides - although sometimes I think that the grain is interesting enough that I will take it to the jointer before I take the photo.
You can see examples of various bowls and vessels turned from these "exotic" Texas woods on our companion website, www.prairiesend.com.
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Huisache Pen Blanks
1"x 1"x 6""
I occasionally cut some of my nicely figured Huisache into pen blanks. Those pictured here are typical - the colors are the strong pinkish brown of Huisache heartwood with occasional traces of the white to gray sapwood on some of the blanks. The wood is hard and can be sanded and finished to a beautiful, sensually smooth surface.
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Huisache Pen Blanks |
$3.00 each, no minimum. |
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Huisache Lot 778
6" diameter x ~3" depth
4-1/2 lbs.
This is a very nice small crotch of reddish Texas Huisache. It looks to be suitable for a conventional 6" diameter bowl, but the bark seems pretty tight so it might also be good for a natural-edge bowl. It is a relatively thick, half-log crotch with a bright and colorful flame figure.
The pith is present in all three limbs, but they are generally quite sound. Minor, very thin and (apparently) shallow checks are present in the cut ends. They appear to be confined to the outer 1/2 to 3/4" of the cut ends - outside the 6" circle drawn on the face (top photo). Most of these small cracks should turn off as the piece is initially rounded, especially if the design is for a natural-edge bowl or hollow form. If they do not, they should be reinforced with a judicious application of CA glue.
There is a pith-related hole in the smaller limb and visible on the cut face. That hole is not present in the other end of that limb (right side, lower photo). I suspect that it is shallow but your design will have to consider that feature.
As with the other pieces of my Huisache, occasional small bugholes are present in the sapwood and some of the larger ones occasionally extend into the heartwood (one is obvious in the left cut-off limb - lower photo). These are also likely be removed in the initial shaping of a conventional bowl.
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Huisache Lot 779
8" diameter x 3-1/2" depth
6-1/2 lbs.
This is an interesting crotch piece of bright reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a 7 to 8" bowl. It is a half-log with sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The pith was essentially removed from this half of the log (a small portion lies just below the cut face of the main limb). The distinctive feature of this crotch piece is the dark line through the center of the blank. It is not the pith, but a barky crotch gap (area where the bark between the limbs was trapped as the two limbs grew together). There is a significant gap within the bark, especially in the center of the cut face. However, the backside of the crotch is solid with no open crotch gap (bottom photo). I am not certain, but I suspect that the gap will be sound deeper into the blank. However, it will certainly warrant attention with the CA glue bottle as it is turned.
One prominent radial drying check is present on the cut end of the main limb. This appears to be confined to the waste wood outside the 8" circle on the cut face, and should turn completely off in a conventional bowl. Otherwise, this piece appears to be sound with no significant structural weakness.
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Huisache Lot 781
8" diameter x 3-1/2" depth
7-1/2 lbs.
This is another nice piece of bright reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a 7 to 8" bowl. It is a half-log with sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The blank was cut close to the pith but none of that pith remains in this half. The lower portion of a minor crotch is present at one end, and has influenced the grain pattern visible at the cut face. It is not a full "flame" or "feather" figure, but it is interesting and may well look very nice in the side of a bowl.
I see no bug holes in this piece. There are two significant radial drying cracks/checks on the lower end (cut end in top photo). These appear to be confined to the waste portion and should turn off when roughing-out. However, that is why I describe a possible 7 to 8" bowl rather than guarantee a full 8". Otherwise, this piece appears to be sound with no significant structural weakness.
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Huisache Lot 782
8" diameter x 4-1/2" depth
12 lbs.
This is a very nice piece of bright reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a deep 7 to 8" bowl. The "half-brother" to Huisache lot 781, it is a thick half-log piece with sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The lower portion of a minor crotch is present at the upper end, and has influenced the grain pattern visible at the cut face. It is not a full "flame" or "feather" figure at that cut surface, but it is interesting and may develop to a more classic compression figure at depth (and in the side of a bowl?).
I see no bug holes in this piece. The pith of the main trunk and both limbs remain in this half but all appear to be tight and sound. There is one significant radial drying crack or check on the lower end (right side, cut end in top photo). It appears to be confined to the waste portion and should turn off when roughing-out. However, that is why I describe a possible 7 to 8" bowl rather than guarantee a full 8" diameter. Otherwise, this piece appears to be sound with no significant structural weakness.
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Huisache Lot 782 |
$25.00 |
SOLD
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Huisache Lot 7
9" x 9-1/2" x 2-1/2"
6 lbs.
This is an absolutely beautiful crotch piece of reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a deep 7 to 8" diameter bowl. It includes a wide, bright and colorful flame figure that extends through most of its length.
The blank was cut close pith and most of that pith has been removed. There do not appear to be any pith-related radial cracks. One tight radial drying crack incises the sapwood and outer heartwood on the left limb (both photos). It does not appear to extend deeply into the blank and should be removed in the initial shaping of a bowl. Numerous small beetle holes penetrate the bark and sapwood, and may extend somewhat into the heartwood. The depth of these will not be known until the blank is mounted and turned.
The bark on this blank is loose and would be difficult to maintain when turning. I do not recommend this piece for turning of a natural-edge bowl.
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Huisache Lot 7 |
$22.00 |
SOLD
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Huisache Lot 8
9" x 9-1/2" x 3"
6-1/2 lbs.
This is another absolutely beautiful crotch piece of reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a deep 7 to 8" diameter bowl. It is the other half of the log that produced Lot 7, and a wide, bright and colorful flame figure extends through most of its length.
The blank was cut close pith, but pith is present close to the cut face at the lower end and upper left-hand limb. Minor, tight pith-related radial cracks are associated with the pith at the lower end and more prominent, partially open radial cracks incise the sapwood and outer heartwood of that left-hand limb. These radials do not extend to the sawn face and the bulk of them will turn-off when a bowl is roughed-out. Numerous small beetle holes penetrate the bark and sapwood of this blank and may extend somewhat into the heartwood. The depth of these will not be known until the blank is mounted and turned.
The bark on this blank is loose and would be difficult to maintain when turning. I do not recommend this piece for turning of a natural-edge bowl.
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Huisache Lot 10
7-1/2" x 9-1/2" x 3-1/2"
8 lbs.
This is another nice piece of bright reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a 6 to 7" bowl. It is a half-log with sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The blank was cut close to the pith and a portion of that pith remains in this half. There appear to be no radial cracks associated with the pith. That thin dark area along the central grain is an area of pith-related decay. As visible at the cut ends, this decay is very shallow and looks as if most of it would be removed as the bowl is hollowed.
Numerous small bug holes are present in the sapwood and possibly the outer portion of the heartwood. The bug holes would likely be removed when turning a conventional bowl, but the true depth of the borer tunnels will not be known until the blank is mounted and turned. Otherwise, this piece appears to be sound with no significant structural weakness.
The bark on this blank is loose and would be difficult to maintain when turning. I do not recommend this piece for turning of a natural-edge bowl.
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Huisache Lot 10 |
$16.00 |
SOLD
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Huisache Lot 12
7" x 9-1/2" x 3-1/2"
8 lbs.
This is another nice piece of bright reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a 6 to 7" bowl. It is a half-log with sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The blank was cut close to the pith but none of that pith remains in this half. That thin dark area along the central grain is an area of pith-related decay. As visible at the cut ends, this decay is very shallow and looks as if most of it would be removed as the bowl is hollowed.
Numerous small bug holes are present in the sapwood and possibly the outer portion of the heartwood. The bug holes would likely be removed when turning a conventional bowl, but the true depth of the borer tunnels will not be known until the blank is mounted and turned. Otherwise, this piece appears to be sound with no significant structural weakness.
The bark on this blank is loose and would be difficult to maintain when turning. I do not recommend this piece for turning of a natural-edge bowl.
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Huisache Lot 12 |
$18.00 |
SOLD
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Huisache Lot 13
7" x 9-1/2" x 3-1/2"
7-1/2 lbs.
This is another nice piece of bright reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a 6 to 7" bowl. It is a half-log with sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The blank was cut close to the pith and a portion of that pith remains in this half. That thin dark area along the central grain is an area of pith-related decay. As visible at the cut end (top photo), this decay is very shallow and looks as if most of it would be removed as the bowl is hollowed.
Numerous small bug holes are present in the sapwood and possibly the outer portion of the heartwood. The bug holes would likely be removed when turning a conventional bowl, but the true depth of the borer tunnels will not be known until the blank is mounted and turned. Otherwise, this piece appears to be sound with no significant structural weakness.
The bark on this blank is loose and would be difficult to maintain when turning. I do not recommend this piece for turning of a natural-edge bowl.
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Huisache Lot 14
9" x 9" x 3"
6-1/2 lbs.
This is another absolutely beautiful crotch piece of reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a deep 8 to 9" diameter bowl. A wide and colorful flame figure is present in the central portion and a partially open, bark-inclusion is present between the crotch limbs at the top.
The blank was cut close pith and a portion of that pith is present close to the cut face at the left and right-hand limbs. Prominent, partially open radial cracks incise the sapwood and outer heartwood of both limbs. These larger radials do not extend to the sawn face and the bulk of them will turn-off when a bowl is roughed-out, but several small, thin and tight pith-associated cracks are present at the cut face of the right-hand limb.
Numerous small beetle holes penetrate the bark and sapwood of this blank and may extend somewhat into the heartwood. The depth of these will not be known until the blank is mounted and turned.
The bark on this blank is loose and would be difficult to maintain when turning. I do not recommend this piece for turning of a natural-edge bowl.
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Huisache Lot 14 |
$22.00 |
SOLD
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Huisache Lot 15
9" x 9" x 3-1/2"
9 lbs.
This is another absolutely beautiful crotch piece of reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a deep 8 to 9" diameter bowl. A wide and colorful flame figure is present in the central and lower portion and a partially open, bark-inclusion is present between the crotch limbs at the top.
The blank was cut close pith and a portion of that pith is present close to the cut face of the main trunk. No pith-associated radial cracks are visible at the cut ends, but several thin and tight pith-associated cracks are present at the cut face of the left-hand limb.
Numerous small beetle holes penetrate the bark and sapwood of this blank and may extend somewhat into the heartwood. The depth of these will not be known until the blank is mounted and turned.
The bark on this blank is loose and would be difficult to maintain when turning. I do not recommend this piece for turning of a natural-edge bowl.
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Lot 769 Huisache
9"x 9"x 3"
7 lbs.
This is a small crotch piece of Texas Huisache. It is a half-log crotch with a large, open "barky" gap between the two limbs. I cut the whole-log crotch in half anticipating that the crotch "gap" would be minimal and that a clear 8-inch diameter bowl-form would be possible. Woops - not so! That bark-lined gap extended deep into the wood.
The pith is present at and immediately below the cut surface in one limb, and a narrow zone of echelon-overlapping thin and tight radial cracks are present in the right-hand limb (top photo). Judicious application of CA glue should easily reinforce those minor radial cracks. As with the other pieces of Huisache in this series, numerous small bugholes are present in the sapwood and some of the larger ones extend into the heartwood.
Despite the crotch "gap" and small radial cracks, this piece appears quite sound and I would not hesitate to turn it. The attractive crotch figure in this wood and the barky gap might make for a very interesting bowl in either conventional or natural-edge form.
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Lot 774 Huisache
9"x 9"x 3"
7 lbs.
This is an absolutely beautiful crotch piece of reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a conventional 9" diameter bowl. It is a half-log crotch with a bright and colorful flame figure which extends throughout its length.
The pith of one limb (the left, top photo) is present just below the cut surface and several very thin and tight pith-related radial cracks are present. These appear to be quite shallow and judicious application of CA glue should easily reinforce those minor cracks. Two open radial drying cracks incise the sapwood and outer heartwood on the end (top photo). These do not appear to extend deeply into the blank and should be removed in the initial shaping of a conventional bowl.
As with the other pieces of Huisache in this series, numerous small bugholes are present in the sapwood and some of the larger ones occasionally extend into the heartwood. These are also likely be removed in the initial shaping of a conventional bowl.
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Huisache Lot 774 |
$25.00 |
SOLD
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This beautiful natural edge bowl was recently turned from some of the same Texas Huisache wood listed on this site. Additional examples of Huisache turnings are presented on our companion website Prairie's End Woodshop.
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Lot 776 Huisache
10"x 14"x 4-1/2"
15 lbs.
This is an absolutely beautiful crotch piece of reddish Texas Huisache suitable for a deep 10" diameter bowl or hollow-form. It includes a wide, bright and colorful flame figure which extends throughout its length.
The pith has been removed and there is very little evidence of pith-related radial cracks. Two small but open radial drying cracks incise the sapwood and outer heartwood on the end (top photo) and one small but prominent and open radial drying crack also incises the sapwood and outer heartwood just below the cut face on one side (left limb on the middle photo). These cracks do not appear to extend deeply into the blank and should be removed in the initial shaping of a bowl or hollow-form.
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Huisache Lot 776 |
$35.00 |
SOLD
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This tall, delicate goblet was recently turned from some of the same Texas Huisache wood listed on this site. Additional examples of Huisache turnings are presented on our companion website Prairie's End Woodshop.
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Listing last updated 2 July 2008
Nothing here that suits your needs?
Then send me an email at: l.stahl@maroon.com
or a telephone call at: 281-392-5336
There is a good chance that I have more, either cut into blocks or in the rough log,
so I may be able to meet your specific requirements.
© 2008, Texas Woodcrafts
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