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American Sycamore
Sycamore trees are not unique to Texas but we do have some very nice ones, especially along the nearby Brazos River. I have acquired several which have sat around my woodlot long enough to spalt very nicely. I think that these are attractive enough to mill and offer for your woodturning. You can see some examples of various bowls and vessels turned from this Sycamore as well as other Texas woods on my companion website, www.prairiesend.com.
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.
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Sycamore Pen Blanks
1"x 1"x 5-1/2" to 6""
I occasionally cut nicely figured/spalted Sycamore into pen blanks. Those pictured here are typical although my photography leaves something to be desired.
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Sycamore Pen Blanks |
$2.00 each, no minimum. |
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Sycamore Lot 150
9" wide x 4-1/2" deep
8 lbs.
This is a very nice round block of heavily-spalted Sycamore. It is a fascinating combination of light orange-brown with eye-catching thin black pencil-line spalting that forms random and very interesting patterns across the grain. This is a pretty piece of wood.
This block is quite sound with the following exceptions:
1) it was cut close to the pith and a single pith-related radial crack extends from the cut face to about 1-1/4" into the blank. I would reinforce and fill this as necessary and "turn away".
2) There are several thin and apparently shallow drying checks on the backside of the blank. Most, if not all, will turn-off as the bottom is rounded. I would chase them with CA glue as I turned.
3) it is heavily spalted which is what gives it the beautiful character. This also means that in some areas the wood is relatively soft - not punky, but not a hard wood. So very sharp tools are required and very light finishing cuts are necessary to avoid tear-out. These areas can also be hardened-up somewhat with thin CA glue or other grain-hardening techniques. I have completed a number of bowls from this same type of spalted wood and had very nice results.
I trimmed this blank round to make it lighter to ship and easier for you to mount on your lathe (as well as to show off the beautiful spalting).
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Sycamore Lot 150 |
$25.00 |
Sold
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Sycamore Lot 151
9-1/2" wide x 4-1/2" deep
9 lbs.
This is another very nice round block of heavily-spalted Sycamore - the other half of the log that yielded lot 150 (above). It is a fascinating combination of light orange-brown with eye-catching thin black pencil-line spalting that forms random and very interesting patterns across the grain. This is a pretty piece of wood.
This block is quite sound with the following exceptions:
1) it was cut close to the pith and that pith is present, extending from the cut face to a depth of ~3/4" on the opposite side (top photo).
2) Several thin, tight and short radial cracks are associated with that pith. One is partially open at the cut face, but appears to extend no more than 1/4" into the blank. I would reinforce and fill these cracks as necessary and "turn without concern".
3) There are several deep drying checks on the backside of the blank that will certainly reduce the maximum depth of a bowl. Their depths are not clear but most will turn-off as the bottom is rounded. Again - I would chase them with CA glue as I turned.
4) it is heavily spalted which is what gives it the beautiful character. This also means that in some areas the wood is relatively soft - not punky, but not a hard wood. So very sharp tools are required and very light finishing cuts are necessary to avoid tear-out. These areas can also be hardened-up somewhat with thin CA glue or other grain-hardening techniques. I have completed a number of bowls from this same type of spalted wood and had very nice results.
I trimmed this blank round to make it lighter to ship and easier for you to mount on your lathe (as well as to show off the beautiful spalting).
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Sycamore Lot 151 |
$28.00 |
Sold
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Sycamore Lot 156
2" x 2" x 14"
1-3/4 lbs.
This is a nice spindle block of lightly spalted Sycamore. The basic colors are varying shades of light orange-brown. There is some "pencil-line spalting and a strong zone of prominent Sycamore ray flecks on the face (top photo).
I see no large cracks but there does seem to be a little grain separation on the back side (left end of the side visible on the lower photo). There are also several small, open (but old) bugholes on the opposite side. I see no other flaws in this block.
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Sycamore Lot 156 |
$6.00 |
Sold
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Sycamore Lot 170
2-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 6-1/2"
1 lb.
This is another spindle block of Sycamore. The basic colors are varying shades of light orange-brown. There is a strong zone of prominent Sycamore ray flecks on the back side (lower photo).
I see no cracks or other flaws in this block.
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Sycamore Lot 171
2" x 3" x 7-1/4"
1 lb.
This is a small, rectangular block of Sycamore. It is approximately half Sycamore heartwood and half sapwood; the basic colors are varying shades of light orange-brown. There is a strong zone of prominent Sycamore ray flecks on both the back and one side (lower photo).
I see no cracks or other flaws in this block.
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Sycamore Lot 171 |
$5.00 |
Sold
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Sycamore Lot 173
3" x 3" x 9-1/2"
2 lb.
This is a nice spindle block of Sycamore. The colors are varying shades of light orange-brown. There is a beautiful curving zone of Sycamore ray flecks that crosses one side (lower photo).
There is one long radial pith crack on one edge. It looks as if most, if not all, of this will turn off as the block is rounded. There is also the pith of a side limb, with minor associated cracks, that crosses diagonally through the upper half of the block (top photo). This is an eye-catching feature that could be quite interesting in the final-turned piece.
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Sycamore Lot 173 |
$7.00 |
Sold
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Sycamore Lot 179
3-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 12"
4 lb.
This is an interesting but challenging spindle block of Sycamore. It is approximately 40% light orange-brown, lightly-spalted sapwood and 60% darker orange-brown heartwood. It contains considerable and attractive pencil-line spalt patterns within the sapwood.
The challenge is the presence of a secondary branch on one edge that includes the pith and an associated barky crotch-gap. It appears to extend into the heart of the block and some is likely to remain once the block is roughed to round. It may make for a very interesting and attractive grain pattern.
There is also one thin, tight and apparently shallow drying check on the back, sapwood face (so thin and tight that it not apparent in the photo). It appears to extend ~1/2" into the block where exposed at the cut end (right side, lower photo). Again, I would reinforce/fill as necessary when turning. I see no other flaws.
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Sycamore Lot 179 |
$10.00 |
Sold
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Sycamore Lot 157
2" x 2" x 15"
2 lbs.
This is another nice spindle block of lightly spalted Sycamore. It is composed on approximately 30% orange-brown heartwood and 70% light brown sapwood.The basic colors are varying shades of light orange-brown. There is some minor "pencil-line spalting and zones of prominent Sycamore ray flecks on the front and back.
I see no significant flaws in this block.
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Sycamore Lot 162
2" x 2" x 26"
3-1/2 lbs.
This is a nice long spindle block of Sycamore. It is composed primarily of light orange-brown sapwood with a minor amount of heartwood on one edge. There is strong "pencil-line" spalting on two sides.
I see no significant flaws in this block.
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Sycamore Lot 163
3" x 3" x 12-1/2"
3 lbs.
This is another nice spindle block of spalted Sycamore. It is composed entirely of light brown sapwood with minor "pencil-line spalting and beautiful Sycamore ray flecks throughout.
There are several thin but open cracks at one end on the back side (left end, lower photo). These will require some attention before and/or during turning. I see no other significant flaws.
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Sycamore Lot 163 |
$7.00 |
Sold
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Sycamore Lot 119
8" x 7" x 4"
5 lbs.
This is a basically rectangular block of clear (non-spalted) Sycamore. It is not perfectly rectangular however - one back edge is all "wane" (bark or lack of wood on an edge or corner of a piece) from the outside of the log. Depending on your design plans, that wane edge will likely be removed, along with the one or all three of the other edges, as the block is turned to round.
I consider this block to be suitable for an elongated form such as a vase or tall hollow-form, or for a 7" diameter bowl. The colors are predominately light orange-brown with nice pattern of Sycamore ray flecks on the face.
The pith was cut completely out of this piece and I see no significant structural weakness.
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Listing last updated 10 February 2010
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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