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Mesquite Block M2037 3.1" x 3.1" x 7.8" 2.5 lbs. This is a beautiful end-grain block of Texas-grown Mesquite. The color is the rich, reddish-brown of Mesquite heartwood with some creamy beige sapwood and dark-chocolate bark. The grain is mostly straight. This block has been fully air-dried to 10-12% moisture content. There are a few thin cracks and some wane on two edges. You may wish to infill the cracks with CA glue prior to working with the block. They are fine, and most will turn off if using on the lathe. See photos for closeups. About the Tree This Texas-grown Honey Mesquite tree was harvested in El Campo, Texas in March of 2022. It was cut down by the city for reasons unknown to us, and we were happy to help save the tree from a burn pile. It is possible that this tree was damaged by the Valentine's Day Freeze that Texas suffered in February 2021, which is when our state lost a lot of beautiful trees in an unusually deep and long freeze. You can feel good about this American-grown hardwood being responsibly harvested and turned into beautiful art by YOU. The tree was in healthy growing condition, with a minimum of bug damage and a nice healthy girth to the trunk. There is some minor evidence of fire damage, perhaps from a campfire, near the base of the tree on one side. It may have been in a fairly protected area such as a city park, as the Mesquite is less twisted and gnarly than trees grown in open pastures. The grain looks generally long and straight and of excellent quality for green or dried turning. |