New Tabletops from a Fallen Sycamore Tree

About three years ago, a beautiful sycamore tree on my property, approximately 150 years old, was hit by lightning. The rather bad strike caused a crack along the entire length of the tree's trunk. I called my good friend and arborist Ralph Robbins, who is the founder and vice president of SavATree, a wonderful tree-service company. Ralph explained to me that when a tree is hit by lightning, the tremendous heat causes all the sap to turn into steam, shocking the entire system. Trees can survive a lightning strike, so we decided to help the sycamore as much as possible. Ralph had it treated with a special stimulating fertilizer followed by regular feedings. Unfortunately, the lovely old sycamore was too compromised to make it and was recently cut down.

But, what to do with all that wood? Sycamore is a very dense, hard wood, and I thought the large round cross sections would make gorgeous tabletops. Ralph said he had an idea. SavATree had been looking into buying something called an Alaskan mill, a large kind of chain saw used to mill logs into planks and slabs. This would be a good experiment for his company. So the other day, the process began. A total of a dozen rounds were sawed, and they are now drying indoors before they will be taken to a wood mill for sanding, staining, and finishing. I can't wait to see and to also show you what the finished tabletops will look like.

This is a photo of the sycamore's sister tree, which was planted across the field. It, too, was hit by lightning in the same storm:

You can see the crack caused by the lightning. So far this tree seems to be surviving:

One of my owl houses is perched on this tree:

Large sections of sycamore trunk:

Here’s Ralph pointing to the crack caused by the lightning:

Dane Buell, director of safety and training at SavATree, driving a lifting machine called a MultiOne:

Lifting a round of sycamore that weighs about 2,500 pounds:

Jonathan Meres, certified arborist, displaying the Alaskan mill:

Jonathan and Dane smoothing out the top:

Adjusting the cutting guide to a five-inch thickness:

Sawing through for the first tabletop:

A view of the sawed cross section:

Dane thinks this unusual marking may have been caused by a nail hammered into the tree trunk many years ago. The red oval shape is actually part of the wood grain:

Comments

[Carolyn]

Great pictures.....as always. Can't wait to see the tabletops.

Carolyn

[pattivan]

So glad you mentioned Sav-A-Tree - we started using them last year and they have done wonders with the many trees on my properties in Manasass, VA - can't say enough wonderful things about them! Can't wait to see the finished tabletops - way to be "Green", too!

[Isabella]

very cool, please update the blog on the tables

[Kathy]

Martha,
What beautiful trees! The cross-sections of the old sycamore will make wonderful tabletops. Thanks for showing us the whole process step by step. I, too, can't wait to see the finished product.
How did you make the owl house? When he was very young my nephew was frightened when he heard owls. Now he is fascinated by them. I know he would like to make some houses like the one in your photograph.
Kathy

[robin ball]

Yes a refresher on owl and bat boxes would be great! Martha you are always a hoot! :) Montana Fan.

[Andrew Ritchie]

Martha, I think it's tremendous that you go to such lengths to save a precious tree. Even amid all the many trees on your property, you know that each one is important in its own way. When one cannot be saved, you use it for other creative purposes. I think that's brilliant.

I'm so disheartened by the prevalance of clear-cutting in North American society: clearing large swaths of beautiful old trees to make way for development and mines and shopping malls. When we get to the point of seeing trees as a bothersome nuisance, standing in the way of 'progress', I think we lose something of ourselves.

I hope people see the value of your efforts to save even ONE tree, to replant when one is cut down and to use even fallen trees for other uses. I hope they learn from your care and devotion to nature.

Hugs to you (and your trees!)
Andrew in Canada

[Margie]

Well, I know someone could have used the fallen tree for jumping horses over. Why could they not just cut the log length wise and make planks for a floor, table etc.?

[Barb]

Waste not, want not. It's unfortunate that beautiful tree was hit by lightening, but what a wonderful thing to do with all that lovely wood. Can't wait to see the tables.

[Trish]

I appreciate that you tried to save the tree even though it couldn't be done. I'm so glad that you have found a use for the wood though. How great is that to be the first "experiment" for the Alaskan mill. I just know those tabletops will be beautiful; will their home be in your Boxwood room? I can't wait to find out! Trish

[Susie]

Hello Martha,

Just a comment to let you know that the first site I go to each morning, even before news, etc. is your blog. I find it so interesting with different subjects each day and the photos are so nice. Thank you.

Sincerely

Susie

[Make and Takes]

Wow. What a project. It is amazing to see the inside of a tree and see it's life history!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, WOW! What a cool blog! I love anything that has to do with wood. I remember last year when you lost so many trees during a wind storm and had the wood cut into planks that you used to build your new chicken coops. That was fantastic also. I can't wait to see the new tables. You need to rename your farm "Save & Recycle a Tree Farm"! Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[Jean]

My next door neighbor is a famous woodturner. Nan Bushley is well known, teaches woodturning and creates beautiful vases and bowls. I would love for Martha to contact her for a unique work of art to preserve the beauty of the tree.

[Angie VanDaele]

I have a cross-section of a Burr Oak about the same diameter and 30 inches tall. My grandfather added 3 solid legs and made a butcher's block of it in 1919. I have it in my kitchen today. It is not only beautiful but useful!

[Mrs Branham]

Dear Martha:

I have been enjoying your blog so much. I especially love seeing how things work around your farm and home. I have always wondered how you can do it all, and who helps you to accomplish it!

Well, I would like to ask a favor... Here in the bloggy world we sometimes have the chance to play little games where we write about a particular topic and then pass it along to other bloggers. Anywho, I am certain that you won't have the time, but I just couldn't resist tagging you for this particular "meme". I thought if you did answer it your answers would be so interesting! I hope this doesn't seem inappropriate.

Thanks for considering it, and here's the link to the instructions and my answers:
http://mrsbranham.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-can-i-get-carded-if-i-dont-drink.html

Sincerely,
Mrs Branham

[Wendy]

The table tops are gonna look gorgeous! It's a real shame that the tree died but great to see that it's put to good use.

[Michele]

Dear Martha,

I enjoyed reading your post about the trees. I always enjoy what you have to say because it's always interesting and always teaches something new. The post also made me feel a bit sad for the trees.

regards,
michele

[Marcia Valdes]

Dear Martha: So delighted to see what you have saved from that old Sycamore tree..Want to see the results...All those years giving shade and beauty to your garden...Thank you for sharing the photos...

Sincerely, Marcia

[Pam]

We have a huge oak tree in our front yard that was hit by lighting this summer. It also has the crack down from top to bottom. There was even a hole in the ground at the base of the tree. We are waiting for spring to see if it makes it. With the horrible drought we suffered here in Georgia the grand old tree had a rough summer. We have a saw mill here on the farm but I sure hope we don't have to use it on our oak tree. Thanks for the article and photos.

[Paula M.]

Martha,
How galant of you to try and save this magnificent tree! I know you love them since that is your signature at Bedford. Amazing how the same storm struck it's sister tree too. Storms are so damaging.
Our next door neighbor had a huge 150+ year old maple tree. It housed many birds and shaded our whole back yard (this tree was the property marker back in the 1800's!). How I loved that tree. I even remember during an ice storm seeing it's canopy covered in ice and I quickly grabbed my camera to capture the crystals glistening in the sun!
It unfortunately too was the victim of a lightening strike. The neighbor probably thought I was nuts, because the day they took it down, I had tears in my eyes. I even took a small branch that had a hole in it to make a natural birdhouse with it!
On our property we have lost a tree also. We lost a beautiful Bradford pear tree from a hurricane and a friend of mine made a beautiful frame and box from the wood. Again, I cried knowing my beloved tree was still with me but in my home! (I've since then lost my friend which even makes the frame more precious!)Thanks for sharing and thanks for caring for trees. I salute you.
Paula :)

[Tina Smith]

I'm so excited to have you on my blog side column~ I'll be able to read you everyday! Your the best! Tina from East Texas!!

[nancy s.]

we also lost a huge 350 year old tree(hemlock) years ago. We had it dried indoors and made into a tabletop. When we brought it inside it slowly developed a crack, starting at the edge and going all the way into near center of peice of wood. maybe you should consider kiln drying. our table is beautiful however, even with the crack.

[Robin Holtson]

Hi, Martha:
We were hit (tree, house) by lightening last fall. What a great idea for these magnificant old trees. Can you recommend a company that could turn downed trees into outdoor furniture?
All the best,
Robin

[Aby King]

This doesn't relate to the trees, which by the way I think it's a terrific idea what you are doing with the one that was cut down.
My post has to do with your show on Friday, Loved the show on Friday Martha.
Way to go Martha! in standing for marriage and living together only until then!!!
Liked also the quinoa muffins, quinoa's a great food! It's also more digestible if soaked in water with 2T whey or 1T lime juice overnight. Then cooked and use normally, it's delicious this way and also one of the BEST foods for nursing mothers as it's a very powerful stimulant for the production of human milk.
(Reference in the book "Nurishing Traditions" by Sally Falcon.
thanks for the show!

[amy]

Reuse and recyle! Can't wait to see those tables.

[MaryLilLamb]

Your blog is always interesting. Here southern part of California we see mostly buildings, houses, strip malls and mega malls.... For a change I just saw on your blog something very uncommon here. More power to you. I can't wait to see the table tops.

[Marylou from Pa.]

Martha-this is the first time I have read your blog. What a great website. I found your Sycamour site most fascinating. We had a huge oak on our property when I was young and just wish we had thought to make some kind of table top, etc. from the wood. A most wonderful idea. Cannot wait to see them.

[Ann]

My my - I can't imagine how expensive it must have been to have that tree removed.

[meri puccio]

i was told by my ukrainian friend that in ukraine they use the wood from a "stricken" tree for musical instruments....? would you know if this is, indeed, true?

[JANICE]

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ON OUR BLOG. QUITE INTERESTING. IS THE WOOD DENSE ENOUGH FOR A CUTTING BLOCK? I HAVE A LARGE ANTIQUE CUTTING BLOCK WHICH MY HUSBAND BOUGHT A FEW YEARS AGO. THIS BLOCK IS APPROXIMATELY 30 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND WE BELIEVE IT IS MAPLE. JUST ANOTHER THOUGHT FOR USAGE OF THIS WOOD.

[tim dhuyvetter]

Dear Martha,
I enjoyed this story about recovering the Sycamore tree, it's a beautiful thing to continue the life of a tree that once graced the landscape and now your home. I have recovered many trees over the years, usually a stump from a doomed orchard (walnut is my favorite) cleared for housing. Once sawed into blanks and dried, it is perfect for turnings, boxes, tables, veneers, etc. I would like to suggest that if you have additional sections of the tree (or for future reference), you consider having the tree cut into boards. The Alaskan mill is great for cross-cutting the logs as Ralph has done but there are many small private mill-workers in your area who have portable band-saw mills (on a trailer) that can cut up your tree, stack, sticker and cover your now beautiful lumber! Although wood rounds are pretty, the real character and beauty of the tree is usually revealed more intensely rip-sawed along the axis. Especially near the root or at a major limb branching. Now you've got some real wood to make things with! The big problem encountered with tree rounds is the uneven drying and (usually) eventual cracking. This is almost unavoidable. Soaking the wood in PEG can help.
Just let me know the next time you have a tree that needs to be recovered and I'm there!
Yours,
Tim and Bonnie Dhuyvetter