Furniture, from Massive Pecan Tree in Yard to Dining Table

[DavidCBaker]

My soon has a 100+ year old, 115' tall pecan tree that had to come down, in the front yard. That thing was massive. Not knowing anything about pecan, I suggested that we do something to create some memories and build some furniture out of it. I say "not knowing..." because I will never build anything out of pecan in my life again.

Anyway, portable sawmill came and we let it dry outside for two years. Then I went and picked it up and used my helical Powermatic 209HH to plane it. We dimensioned with a 75 track saw. It was about 5 long days of work, spread over two months. Built a bench, too.

Not only is pecan heavy (concrete with bark), but the grain is totally non-linear. I went through a lot of blades getting this done. You can see some pictures at this link:
https://www.burlforest.com/pecan-tablebench-from-tree-on-property

 

[rvieceli]

Very nice

 

[greg mann]

Looks like the effort paid off. Nice memories will be the reward.

 

[dltflt]

Beautiful table.

 

[mike_aa]

I like the way you matched the grain when you glued up the top.  You've got a good eye!

Could you give more info on the base?  What is the flat plate on the floor next to one of the legs?

Very nice!  Thanks for sharing! 

Mike A.

 

[Oldwood]

Beautiful work David. I am sure in a short time you will forget all the trouble the wood caused you and just enjoy the gorgeous grain and colour of it.

Pecan is one of a few woods that made me wish I owned a thickness sander, even with a Byrd head in the planer. 

 

[DavidCBaker]

I like the way you matched the grain when you glued up the top.  You've got a good eye!

Could you give more info on the base?  What is the flat plate on the floor next to one of the legs?

Very nice!  Thanks for sharing! 

Mike A.

Mike, that part that looks like a metal plate is actually a 110v outlet in the floor. It just happens to be in a weird place and looks like it's part of the leg. The legs were ordered off Etsy. They are sturdy, but poorly made. They had four holes in the plate that connects to the underside of the table. NO ACCOUNTING for expansion/contraction. I had to create a slot on one side of each.

 

[DavidCBaker]

Beautiful work David. I am sure in a short time you will forget all the trouble the wood caused you and just enjoy the gorgeous grain and colour of it.

Pecan is one of a few woods that made me wish I owned a thickness sander, even with a Byrd head in the planer.

I have a ton of pecan left, if any of you want it. Just come and take it all. There are probably 10 more slabs, each 2-3" thick. Nashville area.

 

[Oldwood]

Beautiful work David. I am sure in a short time you will forget all the trouble the wood caused you and just enjoy the gorgeous grain and colour of it.

Pecan is one of a few woods that made me wish I owned a thickness sander, even with a Byrd head in the planer.

I have a ton of pecan left, if any of you want it. Just come and take it all. There are probably 10 more slabs, each 2-3" thick. Nashville area.

You don't sound like a man that is going to give that lumber another chance

If I was in your neck of the woods, I would be in trouble. I have a bad habit of hoarding lumber that I am sure I will find a use for in the future.

 

[jcrowe1950]

My soon has a 100+ year old, 115' tall pecan tree that had to come down, in the front yard. That thing was massive. Not knowing anything about pecan, I suggested that we do something to create some memories and build some furniture out of it. I say "not knowing..." because I will never build anything out of pecan in my life again.

Anyway, portable sawmill came and we let it dry outside for two years. Then I went and picked it up and used my helical Powermatic 209HH to plane it. We dimensioned with a 75 track saw. It was about 5 long days of work, spread over two months. Built a bench, too.

Not only is pecan heavy (concrete with bark), but the grain is totally non-linear. I went through a lot of blades getting this done. You can see some pictures at this link:
https://www.burlforest.com/pecan-tablebench-from-tree-on-property

Boy Howdy, pecan is a bear like its cousin, hickory. My sawyer will not touch either one......

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Boy Howdy, pecan is a bear like its cousin, hickory. My sawyer will not touch either one......

I have never messed with pecan, but have definitely wrestled with hickory more than a few times. It can be quite a handful, splitting and splintering along with moving around after cutting when the tension is released.

 

[mattbyington]

[member=8542]David[/member] absolutely beautiful!!! Nice work!!

Matt

 

[DavidCBaker]

[member=8542]David[/member] absolutely beautiful!!! Nice work!!

Matt

Thanks, Matt. Especially nice coming from a woodworker who is brave, organized, fastidious, and operates in a shame-inducing (to me) operating room like environment.

 

[mattbyington]

[member=8542]David[/member] man you are way too nice to me. I am just a dude in a garage trying to glue pieces of wood together. I'll take the compliment I guess, thank you sir, keep on trucking!

Matt