Hackberry Bowl Blank Hk-443 4.5" x 11" x 11.5" 9.7 lbs. This is a half-log bowl blank of slightly spalted Texas Hackberry. It has very pretty grain that is mostly straight to slightly curving. The colors are a cool gray-brown, with a bit of subtle zone spalting that darkens regions of the blank. This block has all of its bark -- it's a little loose and would need securing with CA glue if you want to keep it all. This block also has some interesting knot and included-branch features that will be fun to work with in a turned bowl. There are knot-related voids that you might consider filling with epoxy. Hackberry is not a very hard wood and tends to be fibrous, so sharp tools are most effective. Hackberry can be a beautiful wood and is well suited for decorative turnings. However, I recommend that you do not choose Hackberry for any projects requiring heavy use (such as utility bowls, knife handles, game calls, etc.) unless you have plans on some type of "hardening" procedure. I also recommend that you take light cuts with sharp tools to avoid the tear-out problems common with spalted woods. This blank does have some log-end cracks that you will likely want to fill or reinforce with CA glue prior to turning. We've sealed it well, but Hackberry is a bit crack-prone while drying. CA glue or epoxy will be needed to reinforce or fill cracks prior to turning. This is a GREEN to partially air-dried bowl blank, meaning that it still retains a lot of its original moisture from when it was a living tree. It has been well-sealed on end-grain surfaces with Anchor Seal and is in the process of slowly drying. It has been heat-treated to eliminate any gnawing critters. It was measured at ~25% MC in May 2022. If you need a current moisture content, please message us and we'll check its status for you. Please scroll through the photos to see all of them, if you wish -- there are more than the 3 that first display on the page. About the Tree This Texas-grown Hackberry tree was removed from a Brangus cattle ranch in Pattison, Texas in 2021. Hackberry is a common fenceline tree in Texas, and it tends to disrupt the fence as it grows. This particular tree was removed by the rancher when it interfered with his fenceline. It was saved from the rancher's burn pile and carefully sealed and dried. It was milled in early 2022, and it is now ready for a trip to your shop for the next stage in its life. We hope you will turn it into a cherished keepsake. |