Hatcher's Studio 2022 #2

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Al Mojo

Looks great, Mark!

Thanks Al Mojo! The center of the overlay is the the same curly spalted Sugar Maple as the back graft, It is a nice color and will go great with gold tuners.

m

[Mark Hatcher]

Look what I have waiting for me in my studio this morning:



Yes, it is Dark Burl.

As we approach a figure emerges:



It is the Troll-of-the-Burl

His cheek is a burl cluster:



More to come--

[KevWind]

I don't know Mark the first photo looks like it could be the 2022 version of the Blob make sure it does not start growing

[rule18]

Wow, so cool. Lol, the blob!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by KevWind

I don't know Mark the first photo looks like it could be the 2022 version of the Blob make sure it does not start growing

Originally Posted by rule18

Wow, so cool. Lol, the blob!

It's funny you should mention The Blob.

Here are my messages with my brother after wrestling this thing into the shop:

[NTS]

Sacrifices were made, That’s funny.
If that is the same burl you showed us high up in the tree, how did you manage to get it down?
I’ll be anxious to see the inside once you crack it open.

[rule18]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

It's funny you should mention The Blob.

Here are my messages with my brother after wrestling this thing into the shop:

Hilarious!! Soooo, I'm assuming Karen didn't see that last bit? LOL!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by NTS

Sacrifices were made, That’s funny.
If that is the same burl you showed us high up in the tree, how did you manage to get it down?
I’ll be anxious to see the inside once you crack it open.

I took the tree down. It is a nice straight tree which I'll have milled. Black Cherry makes great guitar necks etc.

Originally Posted by rule18

Hilarious!! Soooo, I'm assuming Karen didn't see that last bit? LOL!

Fortunately the lovely and ever patient Mrs H has a good sense of humor!

[Mark Hatcher]

It is hard to predict what you'll find when you open up a burl. There are often bark incursions and voids that can limit the yield.

My first step is to skim off a cut to create a good flat side so I can go to the big band saw. Getting a straight cut on a big heavy round piece is hard and can be dangerous if it rolls on you while cutting.

I hand cut that first skim cut which took about 45 minutes. The burl wood was quite hard, much harder then cutting regular straight grained Cherry. This is tough to handsaw but bodes well for the integrity of the burl.

Here is the inside of that first cut:



That looks better than expected!

With the flat cut to ride on the band saw table I ran a straight string across the middle to act as a guide and cut the burl in two manageable pieces. From there I sliced the whole whole thing in 3/4" thick pieces:



Here is a random book matched set:



I'm thrilled with what I'm getting here. This will be headstock overlays, rosettes, inlays, binding and veneers for things like back straps and bevels.

It's all stickered now and I figure I should be able to start putting it to use buy next fall!

m

[Treenewt]

That is some beautifully figured wood! Can’t wait to see it on some instruments next fall!

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

It is hard to predict what you'll find when you open up a burl. There are often bark incursions and voids that can limit the yield.




With the flat cut to ride on the band saw table I ran a straight string across the middle to act as a guide and cut the burl in two manageable pieces. From there I sliced the whole whole thing in 3/4" thick pieces:




I'm thrilled with what I'm getting here. This will be headstock overlays, rosettes, inlays, binding and veneers for things like back straps and bevels.

It's all stickered now and I figure I should be able to start putting it to use buy next fall!

m

Burl Bread looks almost edible ---- will be some great guitar elements

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

That is some beautifully figured wood! Can’t wait to see it on some instruments next fall!

Originally Posted by KevWind

Burl Bread looks almost edible ---- will be some great guitar elements

Thanks Treenewt and KevWind! I cut out a little headstock sized block and sanded one side down to a gloss so I could get a good look at what this will finish up like:



m

[Guitars44me]

The Blob Burl looks BOSS…

Nice score! Love it…

Cheers

Paul

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

The Blob Burl looks BOSS…

Nice score! Love it…

Cheers

Paul

Thanks Paul, I’m very happy with it!

m

[Mark Hatcher]

The first gloss coat is on Dustin's Greta GA. It has an Italian Spruce top with BRW back and sides. Snakewood trimmed trough-out.

Won't be long now!





m