One of the joys of woodturning is the variety available to the turner. One of the most unique variables out there is when a tree produces a burl. I am lucky enough to have obtained some and am always on the lookout for more.

Burls occur on trees as a response to some sort of stress, like a fungal infection or injury. They look like big bumps on the tree, but hide a prize just waiting to be uncovered.

The other day on a hike with my 8 and 5 year old sons I found a cherry burl on the ground next to the trail. Further down the trail with said burl on my shoulder a volunteer removing buckthorn in the park we visited offered to make the burl more manageable by cutting it off the dead branch.

After some small talk and answering his question to why a grown man is out collecting interesting looking sticks, he informed me that he just throws burls on to the burn pile. I thanked him for the help and wiped the tears from my eyes as me and the boys finished the hike.

If you ever have the opportunity to save a burl from the pyre please do so. like the old saying goes; “don’t be a burl burner, or a pine floater.”

Here are a few pictures of the varieties available to a constant turner, especially one that doesn’t burn the burl.