What is Burl

[Pignut]

Not wanting to sound like a fool!.......................But...........................


I am wanting to make a Kuska and need a Birch "Burl" but what is it!!

 

[M@rk]

It’s the lumpy growth that you get on the side of a Birch tree trunk.

 

[Pignut]

Ah!

That is that sorted then!!!

Not seen that around here!

Is it compulsory for a Kuska

 

[wolf]

no its not,you can use a split trunk,the burl is used because its less likely to split,ect.check the forums for more info.

 

[Paganwolf]

Burls can form on most trees, its either where a young branch is damaged at the base or a parasitic insect has bored into the tree, this stimulates an erratic growth pattern which causes the burl to grow, its not nessasery for a kuksa but noggins are traditionaly made from them, as long as the heart wood is removed you can make a nice cup from most woods OH and M@rk BOY is that a beauty!!! LOL ive got one that Bam gave me seasoning in my shed but yours makes it look like a peanut! LOL....Heres a couple of pics of a noggin i made

 

[kata]

I think the pic that m@rk put up is taken from brisa......

 

[Paganwolf]

M@rk!! oh well its a biggun whos ever it is!

 

[M@rk]

I think the pic that m@rk put up is taken from brisa......

I didn’t know who’s it was, I did an image search with google so
Pignut could see what I was talking about.

M@rk!! oh well its a biggun whos ever it is!

I reckon your right its defernetly a biggun. I wonder if any one knows what it was made into.

 

[Pignut]

Been for a mooch around the woods, cant find anything big enough to call a burl!

Think I will opt for a section of birch Trunk!

Thanks All

 

[Biddlesby]

The end of the handle of that noggin. Does it "curl" around and not touch the handle again? I.e. is the 'end' attached to the handle or separated? I like it very much.

 

[bilko]

What is the best way ( for the tree ) to detatch the burl? Saw it off close to the rest of the trunk?
Will the rest of the tree become infected if i saw it off or will it heal depending on how big it is of course?
I ask because i find this very interesting. The wavy grain patterns can be very beautiful but it not worth killing a tree that has taken years to grow over.

 

[TJRoots]

What is the best way ( for the tree ) to detatch the burl? Saw it off close to the rest of the trunk?
Will the rest of the tree become infected if i saw it off or will it heal depending on how big it is of course?
I ask because i find this very interesting. The wavy grain patterns can be very beautiful but it not worth killing a tree that has taken years to grow over.

i would also like to know how to do this if anyone has any suggestions

 

[addo]

Find a fallen tree and help yourself, as damage isn't an issue. I use a long fixed handled silky saw and cut as much of the burl off as possible. Its a long old job mind so if you have access to a chainsaw and know what your doing, then thats an easy option.
Burls dont naturally detatch from the main stem.

For a decent sized piece of burl, taking from a living tree would cause a large wound that the tree would struggle to deal with, and infection from fungal disease would be very possible.

Happy Hunting!

 

[Waldganger]

Burl!!!

up until last year I had only ever heard them called Nigger Heads. I have since learned to call them Blood Knots.

sorry for the un PC remarks, but I find education on certain things not very PC at times either

 

[Stanleythecat]

Burl!!!

up until last year I had only ever heard them called Nigger Heads. I have since learned to call them Blood Knots.

sorry for the un PC remarks, but I find education on certain things not very PC at times either

Until I came on this site I only ever knew them as Burrs, where does Burl come from?

 

[Waldganger]

I spend most of my internet time looking at knife related forums etc, and burls are very common for handles. I can only assume that it is now (if not earlier) the correcterest term around

 

[Pikebite]

In the Uk we call them burrs, in the US they call them burls. But they are the same thing.

 

[helixpteron]

Not wanting to sound like a fool!.......................But...........................


I am wanting to make a Kuska and need a Birch "Burl" but what is it!!

Hope this helps!

 

[Stanleythecat]

Hope this helps!

Mr Tumble with a goatie!