Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

Mike Pio asks:

live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

You've struck it rich. Mesquite is often high priced, is gorgeous and is not
all that difficult to work--it is a bit brittle, but turns well and otherwise
works well.

Get as much as you can.

Charlie Self
"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and
hurry off as if nothing happened." Sir Winston Churchill

Mike Pio asks:

live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

You've struck it rich. Mesquite is often high priced, is gorgeous and is not
all that difficult to work--it is a bit brittle, but turns well and otherwise
works well.

Get as much as you can.

Charlie Self
"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and
hurry off as if nothing happened." Sir Winston Churchill

"Mike Pio" wrote in message

I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they really came out beautiful
(smelled like popcorn or something while milling). I'm just wondering if
I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

My local dealer stocks mesquite (from Argentina?) and it sell for $8 a bd.
ft. Nice looking wood. If what you have is the same, you have a good deal.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

"Mike Pio" wrote in message

I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they really came out beautiful
(smelled like popcorn or something while milling). I'm just wondering if
I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

My local dealer stocks mesquite (from Argentina?) and it sell for $8 a bd.
ft. Nice looking wood. If what you have is the same, you have a good deal.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

Hard as hell, eats blades, absolutely beautiful.

--
Ross
www.myoldtools.com
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
m...

"Mike Pio" wrote in message

I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they really came out beautiful
(smelled like popcorn or something while milling). I'm just wondering if
I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

My local dealer stocks mesquite (from Argentina?) and it sell for $8 a bd.
ft. Nice looking wood. If what you have is the same, you have a good
deal.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

Hard as hell, eats blades, absolutely beautiful.

--
Ross
www.myoldtools.com
"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
m...

"Mike Pio" wrote in message

I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they really came out beautiful
(smelled like popcorn or something while milling). I'm just wondering if
I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

My local dealer stocks mesquite (from Argentina?) and it sell for $8 a bd.
ft. Nice looking wood. If what you have is the same, you have a good
deal.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

I just built a rocking chair made of mesquite. It's a little difficult, but
not too bad. It turns your hands purple when you work it. Lemon juice will
take care of that though. It costs $9-$10/board foot in Houston. I'd take
all I could get. :-)

"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:h8p2d.93509$yh.39987@fed1read05...
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock
and they really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something
while milling). I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's
just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

I just built a rocking chair made of mesquite. It's a little difficult, but
not too bad. It turns your hands purple when you work it. Lemon juice will
take care of that though. It costs $9-$10/board foot in Houston. I'd take
all I could get. :-)

"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:h8p2d.93509$yh.39987@fed1read05...
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock
and they really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something
while milling). I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's
just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

"Mike Pio" wrote in message
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Lousy wood! Smells, contracts and expands, dulls blades, and the seductive
grain will turn on you like a bad wife. Get rid of it as soon as can. Tell
you what ... just cut all you can get into 8/4 stock and we'll send you an
address where it can be properly disposed of before it corrupts you further.
..... even throw in free disposal of the chips and shavings.

You suck, BTW.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

"Mike Pio" wrote in message
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Lousy wood! Smells, contracts and expands, dulls blades, and the seductive
grain will turn on you like a bad wife. Get rid of it as soon as can. Tell
you what ... just cut all you can get into 8/4 stock and we'll send you an
address where it can be properly disposed of before it corrupts you further.
..... even throw in free disposal of the chips and shavings.

You suck, BTW.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

LOL -- If I hear you correctly (and I think that I do), this wood is
complete garbage ;-) Gotcha. I'll be sure to toss those 6' logs right into
the landfill.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Mike Pio" wrote in message
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Lousy wood! Smells, contracts and expands, dulls blades, and the seductive
grain will turn on you like a bad wife. Get rid of it as soon as can. Tell
you what ... just cut all you can get into 8/4 stock and we'll send you an
address where it can be properly disposed of before it corrupts you
further.
.... even throw in free disposal of the chips and shavings.

You suck, BTW.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

LOL -- If I hear you correctly (and I think that I do), this wood is
complete garbage ;-) Gotcha. I'll be sure to toss those 6' logs right into
the landfill.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Mike Pio" wrote in message
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Lousy wood! Smells, contracts and expands, dulls blades, and the seductive
grain will turn on you like a bad wife. Get rid of it as soon as can. Tell
you what ... just cut all you can get into 8/4 stock and we'll send you an
address where it can be properly disposed of before it corrupts you
further.
.... even throw in free disposal of the chips and shavings.

You suck, BTW.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

My cousin runs a business near San Antonio called Mesquite Furniture of
Texas which, as you might guess, specializes in mesquite furniture. Here in
Chicago, the local place used to have it for about $11/bf. I notice it's
not even on the current price list. The book on it is that it's hard,
though it seems to work OK. BTW, he finishes everthing with a few coats of
precatalyzed lacquer. Some of the larger (and especially the burled) logs
get turned into fireplace mantels.

todd

"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:h8p2d.93509$yh.39987@fed1read05...
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

My cousin runs a business near San Antonio called Mesquite Furniture of
Texas which, as you might guess, specializes in mesquite furniture. Here in
Chicago, the local place used to have it for about $11/bf. I notice it's
not even on the current price list. The book on it is that it's hard,
though it seems to work OK. BTW, he finishes everthing with a few coats of
precatalyzed lacquer. Some of the larger (and especially the burled) logs
get turned into fireplace mantels.

todd

"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:h8p2d.93509$yh.39987@fed1read05...
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

Mike, could you please send me the location of that landfil? I'm only 10
minutes away from Arizona.
Many thanks,
GerryG

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 20:01:15 -0700, "Mike Pio" wrote:

LOL -- If I hear you correctly (and I think that I do), this wood is
complete garbage ;-) Gotcha. I'll be sure to toss those 6' logs right into
the landfill.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Mike Pio" wrote in message
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Lousy wood! Smells, contracts and expands, dulls blades, and the seductive
grain will turn on you like a bad wife. Get rid of it as soon as can. Tell
you what ... just cut all you can get into 8/4 stock and we'll send you an
address where it can be properly disposed of before it corrupts you
further.
.... even throw in free disposal of the chips and shavings.

You suck, BTW.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

Mike, could you please send me the location of that landfil? I'm only 10
minutes away from Arizona.
Many thanks,
GerryG

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 20:01:15 -0700, "Mike Pio" wrote:

LOL -- If I hear you correctly (and I think that I do), this wood is
complete garbage ;-) Gotcha. I'll be sure to toss those 6' logs right into
the landfill.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Mike Pio" wrote in message
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Lousy wood! Smells, contracts and expands, dulls blades, and the seductive
grain will turn on you like a bad wife. Get rid of it as soon as can. Tell
you what ... just cut all you can get into 8/4 stock and we'll send you an
address where it can be properly disposed of before it corrupts you
further.
.... even throw in free disposal of the chips and shavings.

You suck, BTW.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

"Mike Pio" wrote in
news:Prs2d.95292$yh.83784@fed1read05:

LOL -- If I hear you correctly (and I think that I do), this wood is
complete garbage ;-) Gotcha. I'll be sure to toss those 6' logs
right into the landfill.

No, Mike. Let us do it for you! I'll even bring the truck over! I mean,
what are friends for, anyway?

Patriarch

"Mike Pio" wrote in
news:Prs2d.95292$yh.83784@fed1read05:

LOL -- If I hear you correctly (and I think that I do), this wood is
complete garbage ;-) Gotcha. I'll be sure to toss those 6' logs
right into the landfill.

No, Mike. Let us do it for you! I'll even bring the truck over! I mean,
what are friends for, anyway?

Patriarch

I love mesquite!! It is a beautiful wood. It is abrasion resistent and
pretty stable as far as contracting and expanding with humidity. It is in
the same family as poison oak and I react to it strongly. My eyes swell up,
I get sinus drainage and it feels like a bad flu. I still have an unfinished
set of pistol grips in some beautifully figured mesquite. Since I can't work
with it, I have to console myself with cocobolo (which luckily I don't react
to). The sad part is I'm in Texas where mesquite is also readily available.
I still use it for smoking on the grill.


"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:h8p2d.93509$yh.39987@fed1read05...
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

I love mesquite!! It is a beautiful wood. It is abrasion resistent and
pretty stable as far as contracting and expanding with humidity. It is in
the same family as poison oak and I react to it strongly. My eyes swell up,
I get sinus drainage and it feels like a bad flu. I still have an unfinished
set of pistol grips in some beautifully figured mesquite. Since I can't work
with it, I have to console myself with cocobolo (which luckily I don't react
to). The sad part is I'm in Texas where mesquite is also readily available.
I still use it for smoking on the grill.


"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:h8p2d.93509$yh.39987@fed1read05...
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

Bruce C. responds:

love mesquite!! It is a beautiful wood. It is abrasion resistent and
pretty stable as far as contracting and expanding with humidity. It is in
the same family as poison oak and I react to it strongly. My eyes swell up,
I get sinus drainage and it feels like a bad flu. I still have an unfinished
set of pistol grips in some beautifully figured mesquite. Since I can't work
with it, I have to console myself with cocobolo (which luckily I don't react
to). The sad part is I'm in Texas where mesquite is also readily available.
I still use it for smoking on the grill.

Whoa! Seems to me that smoke would be as bad, maybe worse, than sawdust. Try a
good pair of tight sealing goggles and a good dust mask, change clothing
immediately after working with the mesquite, wash clothing separately and run
an empty cycle through the machine right afterwards.

The Triton respirator might also do the job, but it's a wee bit pricey.

Charlie Self
"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and
hurry off as if nothing happened." Sir Winston Churchill

Bruce C. responds:

love mesquite!! It is a beautiful wood. It is abrasion resistent and
pretty stable as far as contracting and expanding with humidity. It is in
the same family as poison oak and I react to it strongly. My eyes swell up,
I get sinus drainage and it feels like a bad flu. I still have an unfinished
set of pistol grips in some beautifully figured mesquite. Since I can't work
with it, I have to console myself with cocobolo (which luckily I don't react
to). The sad part is I'm in Texas where mesquite is also readily available.
I still use it for smoking on the grill.

Whoa! Seems to me that smoke would be as bad, maybe worse, than sawdust. Try a
good pair of tight sealing goggles and a good dust mask, change clothing
immediately after working with the mesquite, wash clothing separately and run
an empty cycle through the machine right afterwards.

The Triton respirator might also do the job, but it's a wee bit pricey.

Charlie Self
"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and
hurry off as if nothing happened." Sir Winston Churchill

Mike Pio wrote:

Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling). I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just
fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Grab it. Large sections of American mesquite are hard to come by--generally
to get large boards you have to import it from South America.

Lovely to look at, and not at all difficult to work. Also one of the most
stable woods around.

Finishing can sometimes be a pain--there's something in it that seems to
make polyurethane cure slowly and sometimes the first coat is lifted by the
second. Shellac seems to stick fine but doesn't bring out the grain
particularly well. So far I've gotten the most attractive results with
either polyurethane or boiled linseed oil with shellac over, but that's
with "black" mesquite, not "honey" which is what most of the North American
is, so YMMV.

Seems to glue all right but I haven't really tested it hard in that regard.

If you don't use scrapers you may want to try one--the mesquite that I've
worked with scrapes beautifully.

-m

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Mike Pio wrote:

Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling). I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just
fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Grab it. Large sections of American mesquite are hard to come by--generally
to get large boards you have to import it from South America.

Lovely to look at, and not at all difficult to work. Also one of the most
stable woods around.

Finishing can sometimes be a pain--there's something in it that seems to
make polyurethane cure slowly and sometimes the first coat is lifted by the
second. Shellac seems to stick fine but doesn't bring out the grain
particularly well. So far I've gotten the most attractive results with
either polyurethane or boiled linseed oil with shellac over, but that's
with "black" mesquite, not "honey" which is what most of the North American
is, so YMMV.

Seems to glue all right but I haven't really tested it hard in that regard.

If you don't use scrapers you may want to try one--the mesquite that I've
worked with scrapes beautifully.

-m

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Hi Mike,
Don't listen to these guys on helping you to clean your shop of that
Mesquite. I will trade you some nice Mrtlewood, or some fiddleback Maple,
for some of 8/4 mesquite it use for making some NA style flutes.
--


Richard,

Richard L. Rombold
WIZARD WOODWORKING
489 N. 32nd. St.
Springfield, Or .97478

http://www.PictureTrail.com/gallery/...ername=thewizz

"Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste
good with ketchup"
"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:h8p2d.93509$yh.39987@fed1read05...
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

Hi Mike,
Don't listen to these guys on helping you to clean your shop of that
Mesquite. I will trade you some nice Mrtlewood, or some fiddleback Maple,
for some of 8/4 mesquite it use for making some NA style flutes.
--


Richard,

Richard L. Rombold
WIZARD WOODWORKING
489 N. 32nd. St.
Springfield, Or .97478

http://www.PictureTrail.com/gallery/...ername=thewizz

"Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste
good with ketchup"
"Mike Pio" wrote in message
news:h8p2d.93509$yh.39987@fed1read05...
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m

I used Deft Oil (Deft Danish Oil Finish) on a mesquite chair I made
recently. The pro's at Homestead Heritage recommended it. I'm quite
satisfied with it and it was easy to apply.

Deft has more varnish in it that other Danish Oils (or so I'm told).

snip
Finishing can sometimes be a pain--there's something in it that seems to
make polyurethane cure slowly and sometimes the first coat is lifted by
the
second. Shellac seems to stick fine but doesn't bring out the grain
particularly well. So far I've gotten the most attractive results with
either polyurethane or boiled linseed oil with shellac over, but that's
with "black" mesquite, not "honey" which is what most of the North
American
is, so YMMV.

Seems to glue all right but I haven't really tested it hard in that
regard.

If you don't use scrapers you may want to try one--the mesquite that I've
worked with scrapes beautifully.

-m

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

I used Deft Oil (Deft Danish Oil Finish) on a mesquite chair I made
recently. The pro's at Homestead Heritage recommended it. I'm quite
satisfied with it and it was easy to apply.

Deft has more varnish in it that other Danish Oils (or so I'm told).

snip
Finishing can sometimes be a pain--there's something in it that seems to
make polyurethane cure slowly and sometimes the first coat is lifted by
the
second. Shellac seems to stick fine but doesn't bring out the grain
particularly well. So far I've gotten the most attractive results with
either polyurethane or boiled linseed oil with shellac over, but that's
with "black" mesquite, not "honey" which is what most of the North
American
is, so YMMV.

Seems to glue all right but I haven't really tested it hard in that
regard.

If you don't use scrapers you may want to try one--the mesquite that I've
worked with scrapes beautifully.

-m

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Mike Pio wrote:

Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m


I used to live in NV. While mesquite was not plentiful, it was the
dominate tree. I found a log once and cut it into boards and made a
scrollsawn box from it. A picture is at the top of this page

http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html

Mike Pio wrote:

Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m


I used to live in NV. While mesquite was not plentiful, it was the
dominate tree. I found a log once and cut it into boards and made a
scrollsawn box from it. A picture is at the top of this page

http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html

Ray,

Really nice box...must have taken a few hours to make all those cuts, eh?


"Ray R" wrote in message
...
Mike Pio wrote:

Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4
stock and they really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or
something while milling). I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here,
or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m
I used to live in NV. While mesquite was not plentiful, it was the
dominate tree. I found a log once and cut it into boards and made a
scrollsawn box from it. A picture is at the top of this page

http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html

Ray,

Really nice box...must have taken a few hours to make all those cuts, eh?


"Ray R" wrote in message
...
Mike Pio wrote:

Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4
stock and they really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or
something while milling). I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here,
or if it's just fool's gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m
I used to live in NV. While mesquite was not plentiful, it was the
dominate tree. I found a log once and cut it into boards and made a
scrollsawn box from it. A picture is at the top of this page

http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html

Excellent job and interesting projects. I'll be taking some ideas from your
pictures.




"Ray R" wrote in message
...
Mike Pio wrote:

Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often
comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m


I used to live in NV. While mesquite was not plentiful, it was the
dominate tree. I found a log once and cut it into boards and made a
scrollsawn box from it. A picture is at the top of this page

http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html

Excellent job and interesting projects. I'll be taking some ideas from your
pictures.




"Ray R" wrote in message
...
Mike Pio wrote:

Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often
comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

-m


I used to live in NV. While mesquite was not plentiful, it was the
dominate tree. I found a log once and cut it into boards and made a
scrollsawn box from it. A picture is at the top of this page

http://rayr.150m.com/Woodwork2/woodwork2.html

Here in the San Angelo area of Texas mesquite is considered a choice locally
grown hardwood. The country side is covered in mesquite bushes that are
considered a nuisance. Trees large enough to yield usable lumber from them
are not so plentiful. Locally cut mesquite lumber is unique in its
properties since most of it in this area of Texas is cut from trees that are
relatively small, twisted, and prone to have knots and lots of limbs. There
is a lot of waste in working around some of the lumbers defects. Long, wide
pieces of lumber that would grade FAS are uncommon and bring a premium
price. Around here a piece of mesquite that is 4 - 6" thick and large enough
to make a fireplace mantle will cost $500 - $800 for a single board
depending on width, length, and defects. Most of the lumber that is
available is 4 - 5 inches wide, 1 - 2" thick and 3 -4 feet long, at best.
Most of the smaller pieces of mesquite will sell for around $6.00/board foot
air dried, when you can find it. Almost all of it will have a knot hole, a
check mark or some other defect on it. Mesquite woodworkers around here
accept the lumber for its unique properties and work around them or
incorporate them into their finished pieces. For example, many of the boxes,
and table tops made from highly figured mesquite will have the check marks,
voids, and knots filled with black epoxy.

The lumber is exceptionally hard, dense and finishes well. The lumber does
not expand or contract as much as many of the other domestic hardwoods. It
can produce exceptionally attractive boxes, wood turnings, and table tops. I
particularly like the table tops that have the lumbers defects removed from
them because of the long straight redish brown grain in the parts of the
lumber that is clear of defects. The boxes that are made from the burls and
limb crouches of the lumber have exceptional grain patterns in them and the
lumber used to make them will almost always have defects in it that will
need repair of some form.

Some people (including yours truly) are allergic to the sawdust. Good dust
collection would probably be advised. Sawing produces a very fine dust.



"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Mike Pio" wrote in message
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often
comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Lousy wood! Smells, contracts and expands, dulls blades, and the seductive
grain will turn on you like a bad wife. Get rid of it as soon as can. Tell
you what ... just cut all you can get into 8/4 stock and we'll send you an
address where it can be properly disposed of before it corrupts you
further.
.... even throw in free disposal of the chips and shavings.

You suck, BTW.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

Here in the San Angelo area of Texas mesquite is considered a choice locally
grown hardwood. The country side is covered in mesquite bushes that are
considered a nuisance. Trees large enough to yield usable lumber from them
are not so plentiful. Locally cut mesquite lumber is unique in its
properties since most of it in this area of Texas is cut from trees that are
relatively small, twisted, and prone to have knots and lots of limbs. There
is a lot of waste in working around some of the lumbers defects. Long, wide
pieces of lumber that would grade FAS are uncommon and bring a premium
price. Around here a piece of mesquite that is 4 - 6" thick and large enough
to make a fireplace mantle will cost $500 - $800 for a single board
depending on width, length, and defects. Most of the lumber that is
available is 4 - 5 inches wide, 1 - 2" thick and 3 -4 feet long, at best.
Most of the smaller pieces of mesquite will sell for around $6.00/board foot
air dried, when you can find it. Almost all of it will have a knot hole, a
check mark or some other defect on it. Mesquite woodworkers around here
accept the lumber for its unique properties and work around them or
incorporate them into their finished pieces. For example, many of the boxes,
and table tops made from highly figured mesquite will have the check marks,
voids, and knots filled with black epoxy.

The lumber is exceptionally hard, dense and finishes well. The lumber does
not expand or contract as much as many of the other domestic hardwoods. It
can produce exceptionally attractive boxes, wood turnings, and table tops. I
particularly like the table tops that have the lumbers defects removed from
them because of the long straight redish brown grain in the parts of the
lumber that is clear of defects. The boxes that are made from the burls and
limb crouches of the lumber have exceptional grain patterns in them and the
lumber used to make them will almost always have defects in it that will
need repair of some form.

Some people (including yours truly) are allergic to the sawdust. Good dust
collection would probably be advised. Sawing produces a very fine dust.



"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Mike Pio" wrote in message
Anyone use mesquite? I live in Arizona where these trees are pretty
plentiful. I have a friend in the tree trimming business who often
comes
across very large sections of this tree. He brought me a few 2 foot
samples
today, just rough chain sawed. I dressed them into some 8/4 stock and
they
really came out beautiful (smelled like popcorn or something while
milling).
I'm just wondering if I've struck it rich here, or if it's just fool's
gold.

Any experience with mesquite??

Lousy wood! Smells, contracts and expands, dulls blades, and the seductive
grain will turn on you like a bad wife. Get rid of it as soon as can. Tell
you what ... just cut all you can get into 8/4 stock and we'll send you an
address where it can be properly disposed of before it corrupts you
further.
.... even throw in free disposal of the chips and shavings.

You suck, BTW.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

Any thoughts on how Mesquite would turn for chess pieces?
Grandpa (in NM)

Joe Nation wrote:

Here in the San Angelo area of Texas mesquite is considered a choice locally
grown hardwood. The country side is covered in mesquite bushes that are
considered a nuisance. Trees large enough to yield usable lumber from them
are not so plentiful. Locally cut mesquite lumber is unique in its
properties since most of it in this area of Texas is cut from trees that are
relatively small, twisted, and prone to have knots and lots of limbs. There
is a lot of waste in working around some of the lumbers defects.

Any thoughts on how Mesquite would turn for chess pieces?
Grandpa (in NM)

Joe Nation wrote:

Here in the San Angelo area of Texas mesquite is considered a choice locally
grown hardwood. The country side is covered in mesquite bushes that are
considered a nuisance. Trees large enough to yield usable lumber from them
are not so plentiful. Locally cut mesquite lumber is unique in its
properties since most of it in this area of Texas is cut from trees that are
relatively small, twisted, and prone to have knots and lots of limbs. There
is a lot of waste in working around some of the lumbers defects.

Grandpa wrote:Any thoughts on how Mesquite would turn for chess pieces?
Grandpa (in NM)

It turns great. Tom

Work at your leisure!