Uses for spent real Christmas trees - parang practice

[mountainm]

We had our first real tree this Christmas. Think it was a nordman spruce about 6.5ft. It's needles stayed on really well.

Anyway we took the decks down on Monday and the tree sat outside all forlorn.

Took my condor village parang to it today and had stripped it of branches in under a minute - so they can be recycled. That was good fun.

What to do with the trunk? What are you doing with yours?

 

[Mesquite]

I seem to remember someone mentioned they carve an ornament from the trunk for next years tree and they're building up a small collection

 

[Blundstoned Love]

I still have the trunk from last year's which I kept after stripping the branches off, to make this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQulkCAY4U4

I might get round to making two now.

 

[Toddy]

You can make a whisk from the peeled top bit of the tree. The little branches just before the growing tip I mean. The tip dries out and becomes the handle.

That idea came from one of the Scandinavians a few years ago, but I found peeling the top of my tree to be like trying to cuddle a cactus and gave up with sore, sticky, hands.

M

 

[mountainm]

Aye mine is far too sticky to even contemplate that. Loads of resinous small cones that burn with a lovely smell.

 

[Robson Valley]

Cut off 6" - 8" of clear wood, if you can find it.
Split that precisely in half, peel off the bark.
Carve a wood spirit for next year's tree.
One of the very best ideas for an old tree that I've ever heard of.
Don't forget to put the date on the back

 

[Harvestman]

From the widest section of trunk, remove the bark, and then use a forstner bit to hollow down into it. Smooth out the interior with a spoon knife and or a bit of sandpaper, give it a finish to seal it and you have a quick cup/beaker. Use it for next year's Christmas toasts.

 

[humdrum_hostage]

I have been thinking all Christmas "what can I do with that tree when I take it down?" I now have a tree "stump" in a pot behind my flat with no branches awaiting his fate!

 

[Stew]

Cut off 6" - 8" of clear wood, if you can find it.
Split that precisely in half, peel off the bark.
Carve a wood spirit for next year's tree.
One of the very best ideas for an old tree that I've ever heard of.
Don't forget to put the date on the back

Love that idea!