#localprovenance

An afternoon of making shavings... . . . . . #shavehorse #greenwoodworking #greenoak #oak #localprovenance #localtimber #gardenworkshop #handtoolsonly #drawknife #axe #gransforsbruks #polelathe #polelatheturning #newproject #keepsmeentertained https://www.instagram.com/p/CBoNII7DMN9/?igshid=f6jva16yxr38

I confess I was not looking forward to ripping down all those rafters into batten. It would have been a very noisy hour or so for everyone within earshot, plus a very dusty occasion! So I'm extremely relieved the builder of the neighbours' extension has decreed that the old battens don't meet spec to use on a new roof. My job for the afternoon has been organised too - there's clearly going to be a de-nailing session 🔨🔨🔨 . . . . . #savedbythebell #denailing #newlifeforoldwood #lockdownlodge #localprovenance #keepsmeentertained #makinguseofwaste #funinthesun #wastenotwantnot https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZsPsRjNEz/?igshid=1byc6d3w6cwm

In between walks a few things have happened, such as getting the end walls tidied up in readiness for cladding. Today I made a bit of progress on a doorway too. A nearby neighbour has dismantled their garage as part of a planned house extension, so a 200yd walk enabled me to gather a few of the old trusses. The red arch shows roughly where they were in use yesterday. With local timber yards closed I had thought I'd not be able to find any batten for the roof, to enable the cedar shingles to go on. But this wood + my table saw will rectify that shortfall. The shingles themselves *all* came out of a skip, though it was a good 2 years of regular visits to collect this hoard. Now I'm just hoping there will be enough for the job! . . . . . #skipdivingtreasures #makinguseofwaste #lockdownlodge #localprovenance #cedarshingles #recentlyrecovered #reclaimedwood #summerhouse #gardenroom #progressisbeingmade https://www.instagram.com/p/B_S3nKKjfUZ/?igshid=mcv4geaxqr8a

Let's have a look at Birch. From the Anglo-Saxon 'birce' meaning 'a tree', birch first spread into Britain around 12,000 years ago. Not a durable wood if left outside, it's golden brown timber is often used for furniture and small turned items. Particularly attractive when spalted, it can also contain random brown flecks when attacked by an Agromyza fly, which add a dramatic visual appearance. Burrs too are a sought after feature of birch, popular with both woodcarvers and turners. Beyond firewood, birch timber is not widely available in the UK, though in Scandinavia, the Baltic States and Russia trees are grown and harvested to make plywood that is much valued by furniture makers. About 40 species can be found scattered throughout the northern hemisphere, some surviving further north than any other species of tree. Silver birch (Betula pendula) and Downy birch (B. pubescens) are our two native species, both with an impressive list of traditional uses. Possibly the best known use of birch is for making besom brooms (the stereotypical witches broom) but at this time of year many people 'tap' the trunks and harvest the sap to make wine. Gently seasoning in my garden are planks from a few trees felled during local conservation work, which I'm looking forward to exploring in 10-12 months time. . . . . . #wildaboutwood #birch #nativetimber #naturalbeauty #localprovenance #seasonedtimber #whatwilltheybecome #woodturning #woodenbowl #bowlturner #spalted https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ZZikmjc8b/?igshid=1ws2qwi1yg8aj

I've been cavorting about on Crazies Hill this week, as an opportunity arose for me to purchase a whole yew tree! Thanks @philipkoomen for putting out there. Despite plenty of sleet, mud, wind and rain the bulkiest baulks have all been transported to Nettlebed sawmill, thanks mainly to the enthusiastic assistance of @hannahmatthe.ws , where they await being planked into a variety of board thicknesses. My home made timber trolley was surprisingly effective, managing three large logs before the back wheels fell off. And the rollers I turned were prefect for getting stuff in and out of the van. I'm now very excited to see how they look when sawn, and most of the boards should be dry within the next 12 months 👏👏👏 . . . . . #localprovenance #savedfromfirewood #yewtree #crazieshill #chilternhills #chilternstimber #lovewood #loveyew #nettlebedsawmill https://www.instagram.com/p/B9KXeJbjx2g/?igshid=10oqfxtkdpz63

I took the opening pic the day they went into stick. Now nearly 13 months later the 1" planks are coming out again. These boards are ash and sycamore sourced from a local nature reserve. In fact I can even pinpoint the tree stumps they came from. Using timber with specific provenance is for me a genuine highlight of any woodworking project, making a firm connection between the wood and the woodland. A few sections will have to be kept for personal use as I've a particular connection to the site they came from - it was actually my childhood home. . . . . . #lovewood #localprovenance #locallysourced #childhoodconnection #athomeinthewoods #localnaturereserve #chilternhills #seasonedtimber #airdried #partoftheprocess #lovemywork #nativetimber #hardwoodtimbersupplies #worththewait https://www.instagram.com/p/B84Dod9A6Zw/?igshid=u78r5r0h8unq

😍🌳😍🌳😍 . . . . . #instick #goodthingscometothosewhowait #lovewood #lovemywork #localprovenance #woodworking #cherry #hornbeam #yew https://www.instagram.com/p/B8GyqmZgGWg/?igshid=1c5dwha8m6opf

Today I manged to clear a pile of assorted logs off my driveway, and collected some robinia and elm which were planked for me during the past week. At this point I haven't got the faintest idea what any of the planks will be used for once they are dry, it's just nice to see them all sitting and maturing. Species in the first pic include oak, ash, yew, cherry, beech, elm, laurel, hawthorn, whitebeam and lime, all being milled by the friendly folks at Nettlebed sawmill. . . . . . #sawmill #nettlebedsawmill #locallysourced #localprovenance #nativetimber #partoftheprocess #hardwoodtimbersupplies #whatwilltheybecome #woodworking https://www.instagram.com/p/B6BzRYpgvxb/?igshid=639q6hd654dt