A guy was talking about cutting wide, 16ft long inch thick willow planks on a Ripsaw, saying when planed it gave the appearance similar to that of Western Red Cedar.
I always viewed willow as a kind of unusable trash wood. Anyone know anything about this? Thanks.
‘Nemo me impune lacesset’
No one will provoke me with impunity
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I anxiouly await this out come..I used a ton of Black willow shoots in rustic furniture..I cannot for the life of me see any value to the sawn lumber at all. I have been wrong b4, so I am open to new ideas, but this one sounds like a farce.
Light, weak, wont burn worth a damm ( good for making charcoal)..smells like asprin and have a similar effect when in close contact ( salacylic acid is GOOD, for a hang over)...
I'd never consider it as a valuble asset to anything.
From a different discussion forum:
Just wanted to say 'go for it'As a RipSaw owner , It hooked me.I first used it for one off, art furniture.I using the band saw on firewood pieces.there is something out now for converting bandsaws into mills.The RipSaw is easier to use than a chainsaw mill.At first I was fruatrated because it was underpowered.But, I got a chance to buy a bigger Stihl from my cousin for $100. Needless to say, that price was for a bargain I couldn't pass up.RipSaw now offers a basic carriage which will go a long toward saving your back.Mine didn't come with a carriage but had plans.Then my parents died, leaving me with 20 acres and enough money to get a used Woodmiser band mill.I eventually got a 20 inch planer on sale from Grizzly, it's made in <!----><!----><!---->China<!----><!----> ,but, has a lot of cast iron in it, So, what does this have to do with domes?For an investment of $20,000 you can have as many domes as you want.my WoodMiser actually sold for more than I originally bought it for.The loan is as much as a CAR, except cars depreciate!Of course with a mill,you won't care about the escalating price of wood.There were three big cottonwood trees across the slough near the house.The first was dead, the second was half-dead, and the third didn't look like it would make it.I cut them down and cut them into 2x6 and 1x (not nominal like the lumberyards).One was curly. Definily rare.Another great wood here is willow. Out of one tree I got (16 ) 1x 16 ft. boards, 16 in wide.It really looks good too, when its planed, like Western Red Ceder, like the lumberyard, but, I knowit didn't cost as much;-).Another good tree is Boxelder. It is under appreciated here, but has a gorgeous grain pattern. Cottonwood, <!----><!---->Willow<!----><!----> and Boxelder, I call them 'good' because they all are soft hardwoodsthat work easily and take a screw or nail.I have lots o' pine. And lots o' hardwood like ash, oak, elm, honey locust, apple, walnut, plum, buckthorn, and even lilac.I might have even forgotten a few...I have piles all over.Then MSA symptoms appeared. I was milling when I was pushing aooound a walker.My neurologist was amused to hear stories from my wife. like how she drove in theyard after work to find me with a roaring chainsaw or drove 5 miles to a party in the country withmy tractor , because I wasn't driving the car. I'm writing to you from a nursing home, I think you are on the right track.Just make sure things happen soon. You may not have as much time as you think,.. lots of luckfrom -----on the prairie abyss
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
No offense, sounds a little like dementia may have muddied the creek a bit.
good for making wooden legs....DAMHIKT
Thought maybe you'd say good for making widows.
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Willow is generic for about 200 subspecies all somewhat related. Working properties range from easy to the total nightmare in reaction wood. Willow grows fast, has large growth rings and can have really wild grain. Well worth the extra effort if you can find nice stuff. The big trick is drying the wood, water content is through the roof and if it dries to fast you end up with kindling, dries to slow you get a stained moldy mess. I have used lots of it over the years, the best of pieces I used as bookmatched door panels. It has zero rot resistance so don't use it out doors.
Perfect for roasting marshmellows. :-)