From the Forest to the Kitchen: Yellow Birch Burl

Cutting up a Burl

In October 2010, I wrote about Brian cutting up a yellow birch burl and preserving the pieces by sealing the cut edges.  This allowed the wood to dry slowly and evenly, without cracking.

Yellow Birch Burl Bowl

This winter, one of the larger yellow birch sections was ready to turn on the lathe.  There was a sense of excitement as Brian cut into the burl that he had harvested from the fallen Rebecca Lake tree.  He followed the natural shape of the wood to reveal the intricate grain and colour variations. The underside of the bowl recalls the unusual curves of the burl.

Woodturning is an art which brings elements of nature, warmth and texture into your home. The smooth, food-safe finish ensures that the journey from the forest to the kitchen brings pleasure as you use the bowl to serve and display your food.

Box Elder Burl Bowl

The process of turning a beautiful burl bowl begins with a chainsaw.  Often the irregularly shaped knob from the side of the tree sits in the workshop for years until it is dry enough to turn.  Brian studies the burl and shapes it so that he can mount it on the lathe and sculpt it to its final form.

The grain of a burl is unknown until the tools begin to carve away the bark and the intricate patterns and colours are revealed.  Box elder has a very fine texture and often produces beautiful coral-coloured streaks.

Brian decided to create a bowl shape from this burl and used a very sharp gouge to make a graceful rounded form.

Brian then flipped the burl and attached a chuck to the bottom so that he could carve out the top.  He drilled a depth-finding hole and as the lathe rotated the burl, he turned out the interior of the bowl.  Already the bark inclusions, spalting and red streaks are visible.

A few inches of bark were left on the edge of the burl and the final sanding, oiling and buffing were completed.

The finishing process can take up to a week as the bowl is allow to dry between coats of oil and then mounted on the lathe for further applications. The result is a lustrous food-safe finish that enhances and protects the wood.

The final box elder burl bowl is a delight to behold.  The character of the forest is evident in the bark live edge, the intricate figuring and the dramatic natural colouring of the wood. 

This final photograph, taken by Kelly Hollinshead, demonstrates the inherent beauty of this rare and unique piece.

http://www.kellytheshutterbug.com/