Leyland Cypress Thoughts

[252chevyboyz]

Just cut a few Leyland Cypress trees on my property and got some nice solid pieces out of it. Before I go to the trouble of cutting it down on the table saw what are everyone's thoughts on it. Maybe for use as natural handles after a few coats of linseed oil and if it's worth the trouble to stabilize?

Here are a few pics of the pieces I got:

Also here are a few pics of some oak I got that I would love to get some advice on. Is it worth pursuing?

Thanks for reading and thank you for any help in advance
-Rick

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[Brock Cutlery]

That burlish log looks pretty interesting. If you can get some good solid cuts out of it I'd stabilize that and give it a try if you like the grain. I have no idea how cypress does though for handle wood.

 

[252chevyboyz]

The oak I will probably put on the table saw and see if I can get a couple good cuts. I have never heard or seen Cypress as handle material. Just thought I'd run it by the experts in the community before investing a lot of time on it

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[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Cypress and cedar don't make good handles. Too soft and other problems. The oak is good.

 

[252chevyboyz]

Cypress and cedar don't make good handles. Too soft and other problems. The oak is good.

Thank you for the info on the cypress. Always good to hear from someone with more experience than myself and learn along the way. I will see what I can get on the oak on the table saw. Would linseed oil be the best to test the oak without stabilizing it?

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[252chevyboyz]

Didn't want to start a whole new thread just wanted to get everyone's opinion.

I decided to fell this dead tree on the river property this afternoon the old way. Thought about some knife scales since it was hard as telephone pole at the base. I believe it is an old gum tree that died many many years ago. What does everyone think on this?

Also got some red oak that I fell the other day. Got some out of the heart and where branches were growing apart. Any ideas or thoughts on this oak? I do have to cut some of the weak/decayed wood though.

Thanks for any help and opinions on this
-Rick

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[252chevyboyz]

Does the oak look fairly decent for cutting down into blocks?

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[Burl Source]

That oak crotch looks good.
I say cut some oversized blocks, let them dry, then send them to k&g to be stabilized.

 

[Hengelo_77]

plus the sentimental value of the wood comming from your property is priceless

I have some wood here at home that isn't spectacular but has value to me personaly

 

[252chevyboyz]

@burlsource @Hengelo_77 thanks for the replies y'all. My apologies for the late reply back. I will be trying to cut them down into blocks here in the next week and seeing what I have to work with. The Oak will be probably the sole pieces I work on

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[Frank Niro]

I think a simple answer is if the wood - grain, color - looks good to you well sure it can be worth your while to use it. The thing is it has to be near 100% dry before it should be used or sent to be stabilized. I see some of your pictures and figure there are many nice handles in those woods.
Frank

 

[Callum.D]

Make sure to seal the ends to prevent cracking if you plan to let them dry

 

[252chevyboyz]

@Callum.D what would be a preferred way to seal the ends?

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[C_Claycomb]

Most common sealing methods I have seen and used are hot paraffin wax dip, which I don't like, and water resistant PVA glue, which seems to work well and is easy to apply. I just slosh it on and coat back about an inch up the bark.

Cypress tends to be fairly rot resistant. I have used Leylandii logs for the treads of steps in the garden, no gravel or membrane, just straight on the earth, and they have lasted at least as well if not better than the pressure treated spruce we get sold here for outdoor projects. That gum tree sounds like it might be similar or better, if only because the local microbes don't like foreign food!