November 7, 2015  

Short Sycamore Log on Its Way to Being a Big Table

This week I picked up a sycamore log at Grant’s Farm for a local woodworker. He has been commissioned to build a round table from the tree that has stood on the property since the time of Ulysses S. Grant.

Because the log was too heavy to load in one piece and was going to be cut into round slices anyway, I cut it in half to make it easier to handle. The log is a minimum of 60″ in diameter on the skinny end, and should make a few nice table tops.

I jokingly complained to my wife that I drove all the way to Grant’s Farm only to pick up two 3′ long logs – that, by the way, filled up the truck.

Cutting the sycamore log in half for loading.

Cutting the sycamore log in half for loading.

I loaded both 3' logs on the truck standing up.

I loaded both 3′ logs on the truck standing up (the logs, uh and well, me too).

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About wunderwoods

Hi! My name is Scott Wunder and I am the owner of WunderWoods Custom Woodworking. We build wine cellars, built-ins and furniture from local woods, here in St. Louis, MO. Recently, I finished a three-year term as the President of the St. Louis Woodworkers Guild, which had me writing a monthly article for our newsletter. I love to write, especially about wood, and found that I still had more to say. Every day I run into something wood related that I realize some of my customers don't know and this seems like a great forum for sharing what I have learned (instead of telling the same story to each person). The main thing to remember is that I try to keep it light and as my wife always reminds people that have just met me, "He is joking."

6 responses to “Short Sycamore Log on Its Way to Being a Big Table”

  1. Doug says :

    Neat! They ought to be some really nice tables! Just make sure neither one lands on your toe!

    Reply
  2. davidaion says :

    I love sycamore for turning. I’ve made many large bowls out of it and it looks particularly beautiful when there is some spalting.

    Reply
  3. davevitale says :

    Hi Scott, Great post as usual.  It reminded me that I never sent you a photo of the finished tables that you helped me with. See attached.  They are in the parish life center lobby by the tv cabinet I made with the same tree. A good show and tell story if I can ever get free on a Thursday night and get to a guild meeting.  Happy Woodworking! ! Dave Vitale

    Sent on a Virgin Mobile Samsung Galaxy S® III

    Reply
  4. davevitale says :

    More pix

    Sent on a Virgin Mobile Samsung Galaxy S® III

    Reply
  5. Matt says :

    Very large! Should be a beautiful piece when completed.

    Matthew Laposa 636-219-4597 Sent from my iPhone

    >

    Reply
  6. John.Bronson@emerson.com says :

    Hi Scott,

    There is a live sycamore tree on my street that is almost that big, maybe ¾. The log in your pictures is oblong, or oval. The tree on our street is closer to round and roughly the diameter of the narrow dimension of your log.

    Best regards,

    John M. Bronson | Project Engineer | White-Rodgers
    Emerson Climate Technologies | 8100 West Florissant Avenue | St. Louis, MO 63136
    T +1 314 553 3341
    john.bronson@emerson.com

    To better serve our customers and industry partners, Emerson Climate Technologies has integrated its White-Rodgers and Flow Controls businesses.

    Reply

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