Official Luthiers Forum!
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/

Thuya burl
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=53529
Page 1 of 1

Author:  Andy Bounsall [ Fri Sep 18, 2020 6:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Thuya burl

Anyone have experience using thuya burl for an acoustic bridge or fretboard? I’ve got a couple of really nice, appropriately sized chunks that I’m contemplating combining with quilted mahogany and engelmann spruce. I think it’d look fab!

Author:  Chris Pile [ Fri Sep 18, 2020 7:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

I've never even heard of it, but it sure looks nice.

Author:  Colin North [ Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

Must admit I'd be cautious about using any burl for a bridge. Grain all over the place/voids and quite highly stressed.

Author:  Clay S. [ Sat Sep 19, 2020 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

I agree with Colin, I would hesitate to use burl for a bridge- much of the gluing surface would be end grain and the wood itself doesn't hold together that well in many cases.
For a fretboard it might work O.K., but you may have to glue in the frets and you may get uneven wear on the playing surface. I have never used it for these applications, so it is only speculation on my part.

Author:  rbuddy [ Sat Sep 19, 2020 10:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

I bought some out of curiosity to use as tool handles/knife scales/grips, etc. After working some, it just didn't seem to have the integrity and toughness I was looking for. I think it is beautiful wood, smells great and would be good for ornamental purposes but I'd be hesitant to use it where strength and durability is important.

Brian

Author:  Andy Bounsall [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 8:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

Colin, Clay, Brian...Thanks for your feedback. All these are the kinds of things that I was thinking about as well. It’s such a pretty wood. Guess I was hoping people would respond, “Oh yeah, I use it for that all the time with no issues at all”. Alas, that’s not happening. I’ll look for opportunities to use it in a decorative manner. Inlays, fretboard binding, rosette, etc.

Author:  Clay S. [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

You could try hardening the surface with CA. That might make it work for a fingerboard

Author:  Tim Mullin [ Sun Sep 20, 2020 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

I presume you mean burl-figured wood from “Thuja”, either western redcedar or eastern white cedar. Pretty low density and will probably move like crazy. I’d happily stabilize with CA and use for decorative purposes, e.g., rosettes, tie blocks, head plates, but I wouldn’t dream of using it for fingerboard or bridges.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Author:  Colin North [ Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

Quote:
I presume you mean burl-figured wood from “Thuja”, either western redcedar or eastern white cedar. Pretty low density and will probably move like crazy. I’d happily stabilize with CA and use for decorative purposes, e.g., rosettes, tie blocks, head plates, but I wouldn’t dream of using it for fingerboard or bridges.


Don't think so -

https://www.wood-database.com/thuya/

Author:  Andy Bounsall [ Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

Colin North wrote:
Quote:
I presume you mean burl-figured wood from “Thuja”, either western redcedar or eastern white cedar. Pretty low density and will probably move like crazy. I’d happily stabilize with CA and use for decorative purposes, e.g., rosettes, tie blocks, head plates, but I wouldn’t dream of using it for fingerboard or bridges.


Don't think so -

https://www.wood-database.com/thuya/

Yes Colin. That’s it.

Author:  Tim Mullin [ Mon Sep 21, 2020 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thuya burl

Colin North wrote:
Quote:
I presume you mean burl-figured wood from “Thuja”, either western redcedar or eastern white cedar. Pretty low density and will probably move like crazy. I’d happily stabilize with CA and use for decorative purposes, e.g., rosettes, tie blocks, head plates, but I wouldn’t dream of using it for fingerboard or bridges.


Don't think so -

https://www.wood-database.com/thuya/

Yep, I had both feet “in the potato” on the species, but I still wouldn’t use Thuya, or any other burl, for bridges or fingerboards, where dimensional stability is important.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/