CHAT Stupid question of the day (peach wood)

F

FireDance

TB Fanatic
We have approximately five peach trees that are dying.

The pith (very inner layer) of all the trees/branches is dead or dying.

Is there any use for this stuff like selling it for something, etc. that we could do?

We generally cut any green wood off and use it to smoke food on the grill. But these guys have to leave. I just wondered if there were other uses you guys could think of besides a bon fire.

I hate cutting trees. Most everything on that side (including blue berries) have HEAVY lichen attached. It’s killing everything. Or that’s how it appears. I always thought lichen was pretty benign. But maybe not.

TIA
 
C

Coulter

Veteran Member
FireDance said:
We have approximately five peach trees that are dying.

The pith (very inner layer) of all the trees/branches is dead or dying.

Is there any use for this stuff like selling it for something, etc. that we could do?

We generally cut any green wood off and use it to smoke food on the grill. But these guys have to leave. I just wondered if there were other uses you guys could think of besides a bon fire.

I hate cutting trees. Most everything on that side (including blue berries) have HEAVY lichen attached. It’s killing everything. Or that’s how it appears. I always thought lichen was pretty benign. But maybe not.

TIA
Click to expand...


My experience is that peach wood is lousy as firewood.

I thought I had found the most beautiful mulch in the world with peach wood - but 3 weeks after it was shredded it looked like crap.

At one time I had 300 peach trees.

So I am curious if anybody comes up with something good that I didn't find.
 
H

hummer

Veteran Member
Is peach wood a hard or soft wood? How would it work for candle holders, wall pegs, handles for doors, handles for drawers???
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
Spoon carvers would like it! ( yes, I carve spoons :) but hubby just brought me a huge pile of apple and cherry, so don't need any more) It's very addicting and a great pass time on cold winter nights.

You could put it on facebook or any of the green woodworking forums.

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There's a huge festival held annually in England. Thousands of spoon carvers from all over the world. r/t about 3 minutes.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIcN79S9xiI

A beautiful little film! r/t abt 6 mins

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI31eUULJXo
 
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H

hummer

Veteran Member
goosebeans said:
Spoon carvers would like it! ( yes, I carve spoons :) but hubby just brought me a huge pile of apple and cherry, so don't need any more) It's very addicting and a great pass time on cold winter nights.

You could put it on facebook or any of the green woodworking forums.

This item is unavailable - Etsy

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www.facebook.com

Spoon Carving, Green Woodworking and Sloyd | Facebook

Welcome everyone! This site is devoted to all things related to spoon carving, green woodworking and sloyd. Feel free to post pictures of your work, your latest greenwood experiences and general...
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There's a huge festival held annually in England. Thousands of spoon carvers from all over the world. r/t about 3 minutes.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIcN79S9xiI

A beautiful little film! r/t abt 6 mins

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI31eUULJXo
Click to expand...
Really neat videos! I make candle holders, wall hooks and pegs, door handles, walking sticks, mobiles, etc...Most of it from diamond willow, but I use whatever I find laying around. Then I sell at neighborhood markets, etc. I haven't done a spoon yet, but it is on my list for winter projects. Love your spoons.
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
hummer said:
Really neat videos! I make candle holders, wall hooks and pegs, door handles, walking sticks, mobiles, etc...Most of it from diamond willow, but I use whatever I find laying around. Then I sell at neighborhood markets, etc. I haven't done a spoon yet, but it is on my list for winter projects. Love your spoons.
Click to expand...

Oh I'd love to see your work! We don't have diamond willow here, that I know of. I use mostly what's growing in our woods. Birch, wild apple and black walnut are my favorites. We have lots of beech, sassafras, dogwood and hazel but they all tend to split badly as they dry. Hubby's a bit sick of all the half carved spoons in the refrigerator - to stop them drying too fast :) I'm looking forward to carving the black cherry he came home with.

None of those I posted were mine. Here are some I took pictures of. I'm still learning :)

I finally managed to make a mini kuksa that didn't split on me.

That spoon second on the left, with the raised bowl is a Welsh cowl spoon. Cowl is a type of soup or broth and is usually eaten with that traditional style of spoon. I plan to make a set of them.

DSCF9758.JPG

DSCF9774.JPG

DSCF9830.JPG
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
Oh yes! I found an old spoon gouge on ebay - it's shaped like a spoon- and it's perfect for carving out the deep, round bowls of coffee scoops. You have the added connection with your Dad and Grandpa, that must really warm your heart!

For a while, in the spring, I was carving a spoon a day but once it got hot and humid it wasn't as much fun. Plus the wood was drying too fast. I'm looking forward to getting back at it now the fall weather is coming in.

Maybe we can get FireDance, the op, into carving!
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
goosebeans said:
Spoon carvers would like it! ( yes, I carve spoons :) but hubby just brought me a huge pile of apple and cherry, so don't need any more) It's very addicting and a great pass time on cold winter nights.

You could put it on facebook or any of the green woodworking forums.

This item is unavailable - Etsy

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www.facebook.com

Spoon Carving, Green Woodworking and Sloyd | Facebook

Welcome everyone! This site is devoted to all things related to spoon carving, green woodworking and sloyd. Feel free to post pictures of your work, your latest greenwood experiences and general...
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There's a huge festival held annually in England. Thousands of spoon carvers from all over the world. r/t about 3 minutes.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIcN79S9xiI

A beautiful little film! r/t abt 6 mins

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI31eUULJXo
Click to expand...

Now, that's a skillset I don't have yet. Yet. I do finish shaping on gun stocks, though. I love working wood. Black Walnut, Circasian Walnut, Cherry. Sweet Smells. I imagine Peach would smell like Summer in Georgia.

If it is that aromatic, it should do well in incense and potpourris.

You do good work. I like the historical accuracy.
 
F

FireDance

TB Fanatic
goosebeans said:
Oh yes! I found an old spoon gouge on ebay - it's shaped like a spoon- and it's perfect for carving out the deep, round bowls of coffee scoops. You have the added connection with your Dad and Grandpa, that must really warm your heart!

For a while, in the spring, I was carving a spoon a day but once it got hot and humid it wasn't as much fun. Plus the wood was drying too fast. I'm looking forward to getting back at it now the fall weather is coming in.

Maybe we can get FireDance, the op, into carving!
Click to expand...
This is terrible! Watched the vids and REALLY would love to do this. I’d just have to get rid of my “you’re going to cut yourself” screamer for awhile.

I swear, I have done kitchen stuff for years and EVERYTIME I cut anything it’s “YOU’RE GOING TO CUT YOURSELF!!!” Get on my nerve. An axe? Lord. Fits to be had. lol
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
FireDance said:
This is terrible! Watched the vids and REALLY would love to do this. I’d just have to get rid of my “you’re going to cut yourself” screamer for awhile.

I swear, I have done kitchen stuff for years and EVERYTIME I cut anything it’s “YOU’RE GOING TO CUT YOURSELF!!!” Get on my nerve. An axe? Lord. Fits to be had. lol
Click to expand...

Lol, I Hate to tell you, but, you probably will! Some days I put Bandaids on before I even start. :)
 
F

FireDance

TB Fanatic
goosebeans said:
Lol, I Hate to tell you, but, you probably will! Some days I put Bandaids on before I even start. :)
Click to expand...
On a project like that? Most likely. But on a pepper, tomato or onion? Well, not quite as likely. Oh man I so want to start doing this! Lol. Have to do stupid things first before I start. Thank you for the project idea!! (I think.)
 
H

hummer

Veteran Member
I have these little leather thumb and finger coverings, plus I have a thick piece of leather that covers my lap. Oh....and many little cut scars from before I used the leather. :rolleyes:
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
goosebeans said:
Spoon carvers would like it! ( yes, I carve spoons :) but hubby just brought me a huge pile of apple and cherry, so don't need any more) It's very addicting and a great pass time on cold winter nights.

You could put it on facebook or any of the green woodworking forums.

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.
www.etsy.com www.etsy.com

www.facebook.com

Spoon Carving, Green Woodworking and Sloyd | Facebook

Welcome everyone! This site is devoted to all things related to spoon carving, green woodworking and sloyd. Feel free to post pictures of your work, your latest greenwood experiences and general...
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

There's a huge festival held annually in England. Thousands of spoon carvers from all over the world. r/t about 3 minutes.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIcN79S9xiI

A beautiful little film! r/t abt 6 mins

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI31eUULJXo
Click to expand...

What knive are you using to carve spoons? I want to care dipping/doming blocks for metal smithing.
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
packyderms_wife said:
What knive are you using to carve spoons? I want to care dipping/doming blocks for metal smithing.
Click to expand...

I use Mora knives, Packy. Absolutely love them. The Mora 106, and the 122 and the 164, hook knife. They're reasonably priced and very sharp right out of the box. I always buy them off Amazon. The 122 looks like a regular knife but the blade is on the straight edge that would be the spine on a normal knife. That's how I most often get cut, I pick it up and mistakenly put my thumb on what looks like the spine. So just be aware if you buy one. I thought I was ordering a smaller version of the 106 and got a surprise when I came to use it. I love it now though.

Amazon.com : mora knife 106

www.amazon.com
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
FireDance said:
On a project like that? Most likely. But on a pepper, tomato or onion? Well, not quite as likely. Oh man I so want to start doing this! Lol. Have to do stupid things first before I start. Thank you for the project idea!! (I think.)
Click to expand...

Life's too short not to try new things :) It would be just, well, "peachy"!

And Christmas is coming.
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
packyderms_wife said:
Tell us more about your ax please! I have my mom's hatchet I'm assuming it'll work for this since it looks to be about the same size as yours?
Click to expand...

It's just one of those little Ozark brand hatchets from the camping section at Walmart. Nothing fancy. It's light and easy to sharpen. I use one of these sharpening pucks:


I'd try your Mom's hatchet first though and see it's comfortable for you. Just get it good and sharp first. I sometimes drool over the nice, hand-forged carving axes I see online, but just can't see paying a lot of money for an axe when this one does everything I need it to do.
 
F

FireDance

TB Fanatic
You guys are killing me! I want to do this as it looks so satisfying. Yet, I’m not sure who should receive the lost digits! The axe work in the long vid scared the bejebbers out of me. Yes, she knows what she is doing but she was SO fast it scared me to death. Of course fast is not necessary. It simply blew my mind you COULD go that fast. Sheesh. Thank you for the vids and info. I shall put this on my burner. M

BEAUTIFUL piece of cherry by the way. Sigh. Guts. I need them.
 
H

hummer

Veteran Member
FireDance said:
You guys are killing me! I want to do this as it looks so satisfying. Yet, I’m not sure who should receive the lost digits! The axe work in the long vid scared the bejebbers out of me. Yes, she knows what she is doing but she was SO fast it scared me to death. Of course fast is not necessary. It simply blew my mind you COULD go that fast. Sheesh. Thank you for the vids and info. I shall put this on my burner. M

BEAUTIFUL piece of cherry by the way. Sigh. Guts. I need them.
Click to expand...
Just take that leap of faith and start. Get yourself a small hatchet that is comfortable for your hand, a good sharpening stone, some wood pieces, and just "hack" for awhile while you get used to the movement of your hand, arm, shoulders, body. Sit off to the side a little while you practice. You will eventually feel how hard a grip you need and how hard you have to hit to achieve what you want. Don't worry about creating anything yet except a nice pile of chips to dry and use for kindling. You will get the hang of it, and while you are doing this, your mind will come up with oodles of ideas of things to make. You will become excited, start smiling, and realize how much fun you are having!!!
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
FireDance said:
You guys are killing me! I want to do this as it looks so satisfying. Yet, I’m not sure who should receive the lost digits! The axe work in the long vid scared the bejebbers out of me. Yes, she knows what she is doing but she was SO fast it scared me to death. Of course fast is not necessary. It simply blew my mind you COULD go that fast. Sheesh. Thank you for the vids and info. I shall put this on my burner. M

BEAUTIFUL piece of cherry by the way. Sigh. Guts. I need them.
Click to expand...

You can do it. Just keep your fingers out of the way and take your time. It is very satisfying. And what doesn't work just becomes kindling for the fire, so it's all good.

Lol! now you've put that Genesis song in my head: Harold the Barrel, (cut off his toes and served them all for tea! )

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-bi082tP_4
 
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F

FireDance

TB Fanatic
At the ER: yes, I saw this on the internet.

Lol. But really I do think this is one of those things you just have to jump into. Yes, you need knowledge, but it’s like almost anything else, you have to feel it and simply understand you won’t get it right for a bit and carry on.

Tools? Well, you have to find what suits you. Could be a fun hunt. Up here I could probably find a lot of them at garage sales. Sharpening would be my downfall but simply something else to learn.

But it’s a great hobby and looks like immense fun. I love wood and to create something useful from it would be fantastic! Especially when you add the art aspect to it.
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
I hope you give it a go. It was after seeing "Shrink Pots" on some guy's blog and wanting to have a go at making them, that I bought my first Mora Knife. Somewhere along the way I came across spoons, probably on one of the bushcraft sites. They're just such a challenge. You want to keep making a better one and a better one.

I'm not one for joining groups, but listening to that lady , in the long video, talk about the spoon carving club she belongs to, made me quite wistful. Funny 'cause I've never had that feeling about a knitting or spinning club.

Oh. these are shrink pots. You hollow out a small log that's still green - freshly cut- then carve a channel just inside the bottom. You cut a circle of very dry, thin , wood and pop it into the channel. As the green wood dries, it shrinks tightly to the bottom, making a container for dry stuff such as salt, or just for storing small items.

Hmm, I bet peach wood would make nice shrink pots!

images.jpg

www.robin-wood.co.uk

shrink pot

wonderful shrink pots and some history.
www.robin-wood.co.uk
 
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F

FireDance

TB Fanatic
goosebeans said:
I hope you give it a go. It was after seeing "Shrink Pots" on some guy's blog and wanting to have a go at making them, that I bought my first Mora Knife. Somewhere along the way I came across spoons, probably on one of the bushcraft sites. They're just such a challenge. You want to keep making a better one and a better one.

I'm not one for joining groups, but listening to that lady , in the long video, talk about the spoon carving club she belongs to, made me quite wistful. Funny 'cause I've never had that feeling about a knitting or spinning club.

Oh. these are shrink pots. You hollow out a small log that's still green - freshly cut- then carve a channel just inside the bottom. You cut a circle of very dry, thin , wood and pop it into the channel. As the green wood dries, it shrinks tightly to the bottom, making a container for dry stuff such as salt, or just for storing small items.

Hmm, I bet peach wood would make nice shrink pots!

View attachment 222181

www.robin-wood.co.uk

shrink pot

wonderful shrink pots and some history.
www.robin-wood.co.uk
Click to expand...
Oooooo. Want. To. Do. This. Too.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
goosebeans said:
It's just one of those little Ozark brand hatchets from the camping section at Walmart. Nothing fancy. It's light and easy to sharpen. I use one of these sharpening pucks:


I'd try your Mom's hatchet first though and see it's comfortable for you. Just get it good and sharp first. I sometimes drool over the nice, hand-forged carving axes I see online, but just can't see paying a lot of money for an axe when this one does everything I need it to do.
Click to expand...

I have that sharpening puck, thanks. I think I may just use the band saw to carve out the initial shape and my flex shaft to get the spoon started and then go at it with a spoon carving knife, I wrote down which ones you listed and will put an order into Ragweed Forge for the knives. If you're wondering why I'd take that approach... I'm a Klutz with a capital K!!! I can see me hurting myself with my mom's hatchet. I have one of those hatches from WM floating around here somewhere as well. We'll see, I'll get both of them sharpened and give it a try, if it's deemed too dangerous then I'll try the other approach.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
hummer said:
Just take that leap of faith and start. Get yourself a small hatchet that is comfortable for your hand, a good sharpening stone, some wood pieces, and just "hack" for awhile while you get used to the movement of your hand, arm, shoulders, body. Sit off to the side a little while you practice. You will eventually feel how hard a grip you need and how hard you have to hit to achieve what you want. Don't worry about creating anything yet except a nice pile of chips to dry and use for kindling. You will get the hang of it, and while you are doing this, your mind will come up with oodles of ideas of things to make. You will become excited, start smiling, and realize how much fun you are having!!!
Click to expand...

Sounds like me and my metalsmithing and leatherworking... right now I'm just practicing cutting sheet metal and hand hammering it, very satisfying. I've also been practicing with some 6 and 10 gauge copper wire and have now made two cuffs and one ring. Nothing exciting, and once I have a rolling mill I can anneal the metal and flatten it back out if it's deemed too ugly. I finally got my finer gauge copper wires in house so I can start wire weaving pendants and the like... next up I need to get my new bench assembled and set up in it's new spot.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
hummer said:
I can't remember if I posted this before or not...FireDance, There is a group (club) of carvers up in this area ...they call themselves "The Bloody Thumbs." I feel like I would fit right in with them. :) :)
Click to expand...

The Bloody Thumbs, I love it, it's so appropriate, even for a flint knapping group which will definitely give you bloody thumbs.
 
goosebeans

goosebeans

Veteran Member
packyderms_wife said:
I have that sharpening puck, thanks. I think I may just use the band saw to carve out the initial shape and my flex shaft to get the spoon started and then go at it with a spoon carving knife, I wrote down which ones you listed and will put an order into Ragweed Forge for the knives. If you're wondering why I'd take that approach... I'm a Klutz with a capital K!!! I can see me hurting myself with my mom's hatchet. I have one of those hatches from WM floating around here somewhere as well. We'll see, I'll get both of them sharpened and give it a try, if it's deemed too dangerous then I'll try the other approach.
Click to expand...

Do whatever's best for you, Packy. There's no right or wrong way. Just enjoy the process. In this pandemic/lockdown, I really feel for those who have no hobbies to engross themselves in. One of my neighbor ladies retired from a high level executive position and has absolutely no interests. The first time we visited I was struck with how spotless the house was, it looked like a hotel room or those minimalist magazine interiors. I kind of groaned and felt guilty because my house is NOT like that, She put her hand on my shoulder and said " No, honey, I know what you're thinking" then she whispered "I have nothing else to do!" LOl. Her husband does all of the cooking. She said she's only cooked about three meals in forty five years! I've offered to teach her to knit or spin but she doesn't think she can do it and doesn't want to try. So she's bored to death, dusting all day. I'd go nuts. Lord, with all the extra preps and axes and knives in here. Our place resembles base camp at Annapurna! :)
 
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packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
goosebeans said:
Do whatever's best for you, Packy. There's no right or wrong way. Just enjoy the process. In this pandemic/lockdown, I really feel for those who have no hobbies to engross themselves in. One of my neighbor ladies retired from a high level executive position and has absolutely no interests. The first time we visited I was struck with how spotless the house was, it looked like a hotel room or those minimalist magazine interiors. I kind of groaned and felt guilty because my house is NOT like that, She put her hand on my shoulder and said " No, honey, I know what you're thinking" then she whispered "I have nothing else to do!" LOl. Her husband does all of the cooking. She said she's only cooked about three meals in forty five years! I've offered to teach her to knit or spin but she doesn't think she can do it and doesn't want to try. So she's bored to death, dusting all day. I'd go nuts. Lord, with all the extra preps and axes and knives in here. Our place resembles base camp at Annapurna! :)
Click to expand...

Dear God I'd go nuts with no hobbies! I did pretty well up until the Derecho hit and day four with no electricity I absolutely lost my shit. OC came home from work and his comment entering the kitchen was Oh Look someone has gone stir crazy! I had had it with being in the dark for four days, our house is dark during the day due to the huge eaves off the roof. Keeps it nice and cool and also dark. I've remedied some of those holes we now have a battery operated radio, and a battery operated desk light, led. We already had the two LED lanterns but they're not nearly as bright as the desk lamp. So I did manage to write quite a bit, do some sketching, etc., but after awhile my eyes hurt and had to rest them. Sitting outside wasn't going to happen because it was really hot, humid, and no wind. But to have no hobbies at all, ummm no. Maybe you should tell her to take up writing NaNoWriMo is coming up in November.

NaNoWriMo

nanowrimo.org nanowrimo.org
 
H

hummer

Veteran Member
After my move two years ago I still don't have everything unpacked, or my storage unit totally empty. But, I have been gathering things to do this winter; getting the carving tools all together to work on more diamond willow things, and I would like to try a shrink pot, and I have 2 pieces of tree set aside to try a couple bowls. And of course with bowls I will have to try a couple of spoons. Got my flintknapping things out. Never did much with that yet, but will be this winter. I did take one of my grandsons up to a central Mn. flintknappers get together a few years ago. It was a great learning experience watching and talking with the folks that were there. Plus, my grandkid now has a little knowledge, experience and a few tools...hopefully it planted a seed for sometime in the future. Plus, there are always books to read, and I have been writing short stories that I have experienced with my spiritual journey over the last 20+years.
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Haven't perused the whole thread but wanted to say, just saw pics of a knife with Peach Wood scales; looked nice!

If you have a desire for such a use, the proper cutting and curing is important.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
hummer said:
After my move two years ago I still don't have everything unpacked, or my storage unit totally empty. But, I have been gathering things to do this winter; getting the carving tools all together to work on more diamond willow things, and I would like to try a shrink pot, and I have 2 pieces of tree set aside to try a couple bowls. And of course with bowls I will have to try a couple of spoons. Got my flintknapping things out. Never did much with that yet, but will be this winter. I did take one of my grandsons up to a central Mn. flintknappers get together a few years ago. It was a great learning experience watching and talking with the folks that were there. Plus, my grandkid now has a little knowledge, experience and a few tools...hopefully it planted a seed for sometime in the future. Plus, there are always books to read, and I have been writing short stories that I have experienced with my spiritual journey over the last 20+years.
Click to expand...

Where are you located? There's a group that gets together near Red Rock Lake here in Iowa.
 
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