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[Goulss]

Hi Guys,

Hope you are all ok, and busy spinning wood!

I know I haven't been around much and as you know I am not doing much turning at the moment!

However I have been asked by a friend to do a pen for his wife's birthday, problem is it needs to be in Elder, so does anyone happen to have a couple of blanks they can sell me?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Buckeye]

Have you looked at lignaterra's list in the Sell/Buy section? I don't have any sorry.

Peter

 

[paulm]

I wish I had some to let you have but unfortunately not.

 

[Walter]

I would happily cut down next door's sambucus nigra which I have to trim every year to stop it shading my greenhouse, but I doubt you would want to wait for a year or so 'til it is dry enough to use.

 

[Neil]

Hi Guys,

Hope you are all ok, and busy spinning wood!

I know I haven't been around much and as you know I am not doing much turning at the moment!

However I have been asked by a friend to do a pen for his wife's birthday, problem is it needs to be in Elder, so does anyone happen to have a couple of blanks they can sell me?

Thanks in advance.

I think that the answer is sadly no, but what may make you mad is that I burnt it (a log) yesterday on the woodburner. I picked it up in a garden tree clearance which included an apple, chestnut and a cherry. It was a remarkably unattractive piece of wood.

However, all may not be lost. Can you tell me the reason it should be elder, is it to do with the church? I may have a better substitute.

 

[Jim]

Good to hear you will be back in the shed Stewart, i can't help you with your request my friend but as stated above, lignaterra may be your answer ..

 

[paulm]

I have just realised that its elder you want and I read alder. I have several elder trees in the garden which I would happily cut some blanks up and put on the aga to dry if you don't need them too soon.

 

[Goulss]

Thanks for the responses and info, will look at Lignaterra!

Neil, her birthday is Nov 25th which is Elder in the Celtic tree calendar, and I wouldn't want to deceive anyone with another wood!

 

[paulm]

It is Elder trees that I have, not box Elder so it would be a bit plain but Elder all the same. The offer stands if you'd like me to cut and dry some.

 

[Goulss]

Paul, thanks does the Aga dry them reasonably quickly without splitting! If so then yes please, at least I will be sticking to what has been requested!

 

[Neil]

Thanks for the responses and info, will look at Lignaterra!

Neil, her birthday is Nov 25th which is Elder in the Celtic tree calendar, and I wouldn't want to deceive anyone with another wood!

Deception wasnt on my agenda, but there is a myth attached to Elder that it was the tree from which Judas Iscariot hung himself after he betrayed JC. This is about as likely as Nick Clegg becoming the next prime minister as the Elder is not a native of Palestine, but there is another wood which has attached the same claim, and this is a native of the Eastern Mediterranean, Judas Wood. And I have some of this, but the relevance is not pertinent to this occasion so Ill shut up!

 

[Goulss]

Whilst we are wandering on tangents, I was always led to believe that Yews were planted in graveyards because the animals wouldn't eat them, today I was told it is far from the truth and that churches were built near yew trees as that was where the ancients worshipped! Doubt anyone is going to be able to prove either but interesting all the same!

 

[paulm]

Whilst we are wandering on tangents, I was always led to believe that Yews were planted in graveyards because the animals wouldn't eat them, today I was told it is far from the truth and that churches were built near yew trees as that was where the ancients worshipped! Doubt anyone is going to be able to prove either but interesting all the same!

Neil told me a story about the Yews that is more feasible... but although I've got a good memory, its not very long... NEIL?

I'll cut some Elder up for you tomorrow. I seal the ends and then plonk them on the aga for a week or so and I guess it should be a bit longer in your case just to make sure its dry. I have had a lot of luck with blanks and only lost a few but I've never done Elder before which is quite a punky wood anyway so we'll see. If all else fails, I've got some box.

 

[Neil]

Whilst we are wandering on tangents, I was always led to believe that Yews were planted in graveyards because the animals wouldn't eat them, today I was told it is far from the truth and that churches were built near yew trees as that was where the ancients worshipped! Doubt anyone is going to be able to prove either but interesting all the same!

No proof here but a few interesting points. Whether Churches were built near Yew Trees or subsequently planted are both correct. The Yew tree was sacred to the Druid practices and many churches at the outbreak of christianity were built on the sacred druid ground, as such they , the yew trees, were already there. Other myths involved planting the yew trees in churchyards so that the branches could be made into bows. This is cobblers as you are aware how slow growing Yew trees are. Also bows werent made from branchwood but from the main trunk and required a section about 1 and a half inches by three quarters, about five and a half foot long, of straight grain without knots or twists. You know the yew and you'll know that is pretty rare. Most bow making yew was actually thieved from France or traded. One of the suspected main reasons that Yew was associated with religions is to do with safe passage of the dead to the next world. Elm was used as coffins to preserve the body longer as it was less susceptible to rot, and Yew repelled foxes who were in the habit of digging paupers graves. These graves were normally only two feet deep and the dead were buried in cloths as there was nothing to buy a coffin with. The expression "six feet under" represents not only the fact that someone was dead, but they were of reasonable wealth as the gravediggers were paid by the foot, paupers being buried two feet down. The Yew kept the foxes from having a big mac. The popular myth is that Yew trees kept away the evil spirits, a further perpetuation of the unearthly horrors that crossing the church could bring upon you. Control by fear. The reality that the body snatcher was actually a fox rather than some force from the other side.

 

[wm460]

There are a lot of elders around here you can have, dunno what they turn like.

Google Image Result for http://digital-photo.com.au/gallery3/var/albums/People/Aborigine/Aboriginal-Elder-Cedric-Dreamtime-IMG_4409.jpg%3Fm%3D1335135998

 

[paulm]

I forgot to cut some yesterday but did today. I've now cut it into blanks and sealed the ends with wax. Total weight at the moment 1034g
Most are about 18-20mm but could only get 2 larger ones due to the pith. Hopefully you'll get a few good ones from this. The CMM hasn't noticed it yet. You'll probably hear her when she does

 

[Penpal]

Hi Guys,

Hope you are all ok, and busy spinning wood!

I know I haven't been around much and as you know I am not doing much turning at the moment!

However I have been asked by a friend to do a pen for his wife's birthday, problem is it needs to be in Elder, so does anyone happen to have a couple of blanks they can sell me?

Thanks in advance.

Morning Gouls I have had practical lessons on Busy since April this year Wilma and I have been serving a Mission based from home supporting 26 young men and woman on full time Missions here in Canberra we are the go to for their rented apartments, cars, push bikes and it seems incredible to me you need Elder and I am so far away. Take care mate.

Kind regards Peter. We are goofing off to a Field Day out of town this morning.

 

[wm460]

Morning Gouls I have had practical lessons on Busy since April this year Wilma and I have been serving a Mission based from home supporting 26 young men and woman on full time Missions here in Canberra we are the go to for their rented apartments, cars, push bikes and it seems incredible to me you need Elder and I am so far away. Take care mate.

Kind regards Peter. We are goofing off to a Field Day out of town this morning.

 

[Goulss]

Paul, please apologise to her ladyship on my behalf, or you could say you are trialling a room scenter idea

But once again for responding, I just hope the lady who is getting it appreciates the effort!

On the plus side doing pens with a note about the relevance of the tree to their birthday appears to be a winner, and a nice USP!

 

[paulm]

I'm just happy to help and my little commandant doesn't really get angry at me using her cooker.