I've got wood!

Jakedog · April 30th, 2008, 10:55 AM

So I go to rehearsal last night at my buddies house, and as I am pulling up, I see a ton of rather large pieces of tree trunk on his neighbors lawn, with a sign that says "free" in front of them. So I grab my bud, and we roll one of them over and muscle it into the back of my truck.

It's a piece of White Oak trunk. About 30" across, and 28" or so high. Weighs (in my estimation) more than 200 lbs.

My idea was to keep it out back as a campfire coffee table/ picking stump. But now I am thinking, I could probably get a couple of nice bodies out of it. Anybody know if White Oak makes a nice guitar??

Jake

Colt W. Knight · April 30th, 2008, 11:00 AM

Let it dry for a while before you sit on it. Fresh oak contains acidic substances and it will set your but on fire. Also, if you intend to use it for a body, you'll need to rough cut it out into blanks as soon as possible or it will split and splinter and be a huge chunk of firewood.

Jakedog · April 30th, 2008, 11:08 AM

Thanks for the advice about the burning buns, I don't need any of that in my life!!

As far as making a body out of it, I'm just wondering if it's better off left as campfire furniture, or if Oak is actually a suitable tonewood. I have never seen an Oak guitar, don't know if it's because it might not sound too good...

I did have a friend where I grew up that made one out of Mesquite... very bright, and VERY heavy.

Jake

Colt W. Knight · April 30th, 2008, 12:46 PM

It would be very heavy, and would take probably 1 1/2 years to dry out properly if you saw it up now and put it in a dry place and rotate the wood every month or so. Also you have to keep the wood elevated so air gets to it equally. Even if you do all that, oak is pretty bad to split when air dried. I'd probably be more prone to use it as a campfire chair. But yeah, fresh oak will give you the red ***. Thats a rash you'd like to avoid.

boris bubbanov · April 30th, 2008, 04:35 PM

You've got firewood, Jake!

There's lots and lots of big trees with big hunks of wood out there. I'd hold out for the time-proven species, and leave the cutting and drying to the guys holding all the secrets and having all the experience.

Heck, there's a lot of wood out there that'll mess up your chimney, doesn't even produce any heat to speak of.

garytelecastor · April 30th, 2008, 04:40 PM

I really thought that this post was about a very old man and something entirely different.

Jakedog · April 30th, 2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

You've got firewood, Jake!

There's lots and lots of big trees with big hunks of wood out there. I'd hold out for the time-proven species, and leave the cutting and drying to the guys holding all the secrets and having all the experience.

Heck, there's a lot of wood out there that'll mess up your chimney, doesn't even produce any heat to speak of.

Yeah, looks like it's gonna be a backyard coffee table by the fire pit. Hey, it can't blow away!

Jake

Jelly · May 1st, 2008, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

You've got firewood, Jake!

There's lots and lots of big trees with big hunks of wood out there. I'd hold out for the time-proven species, and leave the cutting and drying to the guys holding all the secrets and having all the experience.

Heck, there's a lot of wood out there that'll mess up your chimney, doesn't even produce any heat to speak of.

I remember from another thread, Boris got a thang against oak

Can't find the thread though because this forum's search engine won't allow three-letter word searches

Boris, you know your woods, I can tell. Have any idea how Magnolia would work as an electric body?

woodman · May 1st, 2008, 09:23 AM

i had a red oak strat and it was nothing to write home about, tone-wise ... but boy did it sustain. and it was heavier than a Les Paul. i'd imagine it wouldn't be the easiest of woods to work once it's dried out.

April 30th, 2008, 10:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TE Posts: 2,905	I've got wood! So I go to rehearsal last night at my buddies house, and as I am pulling up, I see a ton of rather large pieces of tree trunk on his neighbors lawn, with a sign that says "free" in front of them. So I grab my bud, and we roll one of them over and muscle it into the back of my truck. It's a piece of White Oak trunk. About 30" across, and 28" or so high. Weighs (in my estimation) more than 200 lbs. My idea was to keep it out back as a campfire coffee table/ picking stump. But now I am thinking, I could probably get a couple of nice bodies out of it. Anybody know if White Oak makes a nice guitar?? Jake __________________ "Them that don't know him won't like him, and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him..."

April 30th, 2008, 11:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TE Posts: 2,905	Thanks for the advice about the burning buns, I don't need any of that in my life!! As far as making a body out of it, I'm just wondering if it's better off left as campfire furniture, or if Oak is actually a suitable tonewood. I have never seen an Oak guitar, don't know if it's because it might not sound too good... I did have a friend where I grew up that made one out of Mesquite... very bright, and VERY heavy. Jake __________________ "Them that don't know him won't like him, and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him..."

April 30th, 2008, 04:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,156	You've got firewood, Jake! There's lots and lots of big trees with big hunks of wood out there. I'd hold out for the time-proven species, and leave the cutting and drying to the guys holding all the secrets and having all the experience. Heck, there's a lot of wood out there that'll mess up your chimney, doesn't even produce any heat to speak of. __________________ Bubban0v

April 30th, 2008, 04:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
garytelecastor Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,303 18 Photos	I really thought that this post was about a very old man and something entirely different. __________________ éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é Redd Volkaert is a Jedi Knight at one with the Force!!!

May 1st, 2008, 09:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,675	i had a red oak strat and it was nothing to write home about, tone-wise ... but boy did it sustain. and it was heavier than a Les Paul. i'd imagine it wouldn't be the easiest of woods to work once it's dried out. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

April 30th, 2008, 11:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wyoming Age: 24 Posts: 1,612	Let it dry for a while before you sit on it. Fresh oak contains acidic substances and it will set your but on fire. Also, if you intend to use it for a body, you'll need to rough cut it out into blanks as soon as possible or it will split and splinter and be a huge chunk of firewood.

April 30th, 2008, 12:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wyoming Age: 24 Posts: 1,612	It would be very heavy, and would take probably 1 1/2 years to dry out properly if you saw it up now and put it in a dry place and rotate the wood every month or so. Also you have to keep the wood elevated so air gets to it equally. Even if you do all that, oak is pretty bad to split when air dried. I'd probably be more prone to use it as a campfire chair. But yeah, fresh oak will give you the red ***. Thats a rash you'd like to avoid.