I have the opportunity to get about 100 bdft of yellow birch heart wood, which to many of us is called red birch. In talking with my supplier, he told me he could give me my order in all curly. I about fell off my chair.

Now for my question.

If you had this wood.........what would you build?????

I have an idea but will reserve it till I hear your thoughts.

Thanks,

gary

center cut birch?   How wide were the logs when cut?

 

Center cut wood can move like a snake.

 

build a pie safe or something you wouldn't normally build.

 

What kind of shop do yu have to work with?

I envision a table or credenza. something where people  will notice the wood not the project

Folks have been building with heart wood birch for yrs. A religous farm commune out here built all their cabinets out of red birch. Beautiful wood.

I don't know how large the logs were. Understand now............this is not the pith part of the tree. If I am able to getthis wood..............I'll post a photo.

My shop??? Don't zactly know your question. It's a 24x32 with 10' sidewalls, heat in the floor.

dragon1 said:

center cut birch?   How wide were the logs when cut?

 

Center cut wood can move like a snake.

 

build a pie safe or something you wouldn't normally build.

 

What kind of shop do yu have to work with?

Well I guess it depends how curly it is????

 

Lots of intense "flame" is cool on smallish projects like boxes or a chest maybe even a shaker clock with a solid wood panel showing off the figure Processing figured wood can be tricky, chip-out is usually an issue.

 

Finishing figured wood is always an adventure, however rewarding. If the price is right...go for it!

Gary, I can think of several things.

 

Blanket chest with panels that would show off the curly.

Table for a flat panel wide screen TV. That would also give you a chance to highlight the curly in the door panels. Maybe some contrasting wood for the rails and stiles.

Round top table with a nice turned center post.

Of course you were correct with boxes, humidor, jewelry box.

 

That's a few of my suggestions, Let us  know what you decide.

 

 

Mike, your right that to big a project with figured wood would be over powering. My though has been mentioned, but I'm wait'n for others. Cuz there could be something I haven't thought about.

And just to let ya know............I don't really need no more furniture in my home. My thought was to build this and donate it to a worth cause as a money raiser. So..........right there you know I don't have an overly large object in mind....... but it ain't small either.       :-)

Cmon Gary, Go big!!!

 

Since you have a big shop I'll assume you've got it filled with tools so here goes.

 

It's probably QS wood so how bout a Apothacary chest?  Would make a wild front on it.

 

A large wardrobe would be good and challenging.

 

Cover a wall with it?

 

A Large tool chest designed for your planes and such (chisels, rules, etc.)

 

A few jewelry boxes.

 

A nice set of cabinets for the shop?

 

Hi Gary,

There are many things that can be made with curly Maple from cabinets to furniture and using contrasting wood along with the Maple give it a nice effect for showing the curly figure as the focal point of the project. I hesitate to use it for the whole project for it does have a certain amount of movement if used in large quantities or for the entire project.

Most figured Maple is used in fancy boxes such as jewelry and keepsake boxes.

I never look at board and wonder what to make. I pick a project and then pick the boards I want/need. Just store them and you'll know when it's time to use them.

Hi Guys,

I pulled some black walnut from my storage unit today and stickered it in my shop till next week and will process it then.

I will be resawing the boards after I true them up and rip then in 4" wide boards. Then I will glue them up and plane them down to 3/8" and then run them through my drum sander to 1/4" and then secure them to the cabinet I am repairing for a client. The Armoire came from Holand and during shipping either it was dropped or something fell onto it. What a mess.

 

I will post pictures when completed.

 

Ralph

Maybe I'm missing something but how does this relate to the OP's question?

Ralph Allen Jones said:

Hi Guys,

I pulled some black walnut from my storage unit today and stickered it in my shop till next week and will process it then.

I will be resawing the boards after I true them up and rip then in 4" wide boards. Then I will glue them up and plane them down to 3/8" and then run them through my drum sander to 1/4" and then secure them to the cabinet I am repairing for a client. The Armoire came from Holand and during shipping either it was dropped or something fell onto it. What a mess.

 

I will post pictures when completed.

 

Ralph

Hi Richard,

Since I had already answered his question a few threads up, I guess I got to thinking I was on a different forum. That is what happens when a person is having too many irons in the fire. I am just wondering if there will be any movement of the glue ups I am going to make. Then will be secured onto the shelf rails about 12" apart as well as the edges all the way around with glue.

LOL, that's kind of what I was thinking. I only pointed this out in case you wanted to move to somewhere else.

Ralph Allen Jones said:

Hi Richard,

Since I had already answered his question a few threads up, I guess I got to thinking I was on a different forum. That is what happens when a person is having too many irons in the fire. I am just wondering if there will be any movement of the glue ups I am going to make. Then will be secured onto the shelf rails about 12" apart as well as the edges all the way around with glue.

Ok, here's my idea as to what I want to do. My thought is to build a cedar chest/hope chest affair. I woujld like to go with 3 or 4 raised panels on the front, whatever would fit and look pleasing and balanced. Maybe even a long raised panel across the bottom. Then the ends would have 2 raised panels with the same long panels across the bottom. The panels would be of the curly yellow (red) birch. The frame work would be white hard maple. That should be a pleasing contrast. But how about the top????? Do you think...............yes, this is a real question...........I should use a maple plywood top, trimmed with solid maple????? Or should I go all out............and frame in more curly raised panels???? That might be to much curly...yes???

Ralph...............I'll fergive ya this time fer try'n ta jihack my post. Next time I will send my cousin veeto after ya. Ya know??? He's the guy with the long trench coat.............and hat down over his eyes................and carries a violin case.    :-)

Oh ya!!!! I thank all of you for your ideas and you did help my bunches. My idea has changed a bit and incorporated the contrasting wood. To begin with I was going to go with plain old red birch to frame.

Thank you,

gary

Gary, Some times I get a little Cnile.

Gary Heltemes said:

Ok, here's my idea as to what I want to do. My thought is to build a cedar chest/hope chest affair. I woujld like to go with 3 or 4 raised panels on the front, whatever would fit and look pleasing and balanced. Maybe even a long raised panel across the bottom. Then the ends would have 2 raised panels with the same long panels across the bottom. The panels would be of the curly yellow (red) birch. The frame work would be white hard maple. That should be a pleasing contrast. But how about the top????? Do you think...............yes, this is a real question...........I should use a maple plywood top, trimmed with solid maple????? Or should I go all out............and frame in more curly raised panels???? That might be to much curly...yes???

Ralph...............I'll fergive ya this time fer try'n ta jihack my post. Next time I will send my cousin veeto after ya. Ya know??? He's the guy with the long trench coat.............and hat down over his eyes................and carries a violin case.   

:-)

Wow, that is kinda tough, Gary, I guess it would be one of those I would go ahead and build the box and then layout the top with the solid boards just to see what it looked like up close. you could also do a frame and raised panel top, but like you said will it be too much. I am interested in what you decide though. It could be a nice accent and compliment the front and side panels.

 

I guess I just am not sure.

 

Gary Heltemes said:

Ok, here's my idea as to what I want to do. My thought is to build a cedar chest/hope chest affair. I woujld like to go with 3 or 4 raised panels on the front, whatever would fit and look pleasing and balanced. Maybe even a long raised panel across the bottom. Then the ends would have 2 raised panels with the same long panels across the bottom. The panels would be of the curly yellow (red) birch. The frame work would be white hard maple. That should be a pleasing contrast. But how about the top????? Do you think...............yes, this is a real question...........I should use a maple plywood top, trimmed with solid maple????? Or should I go all out............and frame in more curly raised panels???? That might be to much curly...yes???

Ralph...............I'll fergive ya this time fer try'n ta jihack my post. Next time I will send my cousin veeto after ya. Ya know??? He's the guy with the long trench coat.............and hat down over his eyes................and carries a violin case.    :-)

I'd go with either the box and top in your wood  (bookmatched) and the bottom board and corner trim and top trim in maple.

 

Or

 

The exact opposite.

 

But I'm nuts like that.