We have an ambition to make a Woodworker's Show in 2009 or 2010 a themed show where all the work presented is made from one good tree or number of trees harvested and prepared locally.
If that trees gotta go...
Storm Felled Trees:
Port Townsend is in the middle of the storm season. If the winds bring down a tree on your property please let us know. We're prepared to work with a fallen tree and turn as much of it as possible into lumber.
We will come to your property, assess the tree and if it is suitable we will use a chain saw mill to cut boards from the tree. We'll haul away the boards and cut any remaining lumber into blocks for firewood.
Other Trees:
You may need to take a tree down because it endangers your property or your neighbour's property, Or the tree is on the prime part of the lot that is about to be cleared for your new home.
We will work with your tree company to identify the parts of the tree we'd like to turn into lumber. We're also prepared to pay for the additional time i takes to get those cuts from the tree. Most tree work hard and fast to give you the best value for your money - we need them to slow down a little and, probably, make a different sequence of cuts and drops.
What sort / size of Tree?
We're not too fussy about the species of tree. But we do need the tree to be a decent size - 20"+ in diameter (around 65" in girth) about 4 ft from the ground. But in general the bigger the better.
The tree doesn't have to be straight - we'd love to get some long curved edge boards (they'd make fantastic tables or benches).
What's in it for me?
We're not quite sure how to answer this one yet....
We could give you the pick of the boards to be made into furniture by one of the group - you'd still pay for the construction - just not the materials.
If the tree was the tree that drives the themed show we'd acknowledge you as a sponsor of the show.
Perhaps the simple pleasure of knowing that the tree will provide beautiful furniture or art for other folks in the Port Townsend area.
On the issue of liability - we are happy to sign a waiver or release to indemnify you while we work on your property.
Contacting the SplinterGroup
Call Steve Habersetzer (360) 385- 2135. Steve is our resident expert with the band saw mill and with deep experience in harvesting wood for furniture.
Background on Gotta Tree
At the Furniture Society (2007) Conference in Victoria, East Coast furniture designer and maker Tom Hucker challenged the attendees to consider using more than just those straight perfect boards that come from the trunk of a tree.
Traditional furniture grade lumber accounts for about 10% of the total biomass (trunk, limbs, twigs, bark, roots and leaves) of a good tree. Construction lumber accounts for maybe 40% of a softwood tree. Much of the remaining parts of the trees are reused as plywood, chipboard, chips for pulp mills, and bark chips or compost for your garden.
This idea of using all of a tree resonated deeply with members of SplinterGroup, organizers of the annual Port Townsend Woodworkers Show.
"As global warming taps us all on the shoulder, we are faced with stark reality that the environmental and energy costs of milling, drying, and shipping wood are huge”, said Tim Lawson one of the six member of the SplinterGroup. "Using local, solar dried wood would cut out a lot of the cumulative costs."
The SplinterGoup is looking for trees that have got to go. When there is no alternative to felling a tree, removing that grove of trees or chipping up that storm felled tree, please call the Splintergroup. We will work with you and your tree company to reuse as much of the tree as possible.
The SplinterGroup wants to challenge local woodworkers, boat builders and artists to use locally harvested wood to build unique works of art from all parts of a tree or grove of trees. We want to encourage to responsible use of trees destined to be felled to make way for a new house or avoid damage from old large and tired trees.
"We will build a solar kiln of recycled glass doors, recycled plywood and environmentally sound insulation on the back 40 of my property”, said Steve Habersetzer who specializes in environment friendly woodworking.
“Our plan is to have local woodworkers, artists and sculptors all creating new work from different parts of the same tree for a show in 2009 or 2010. Every part from milled boards to roots, bark, branches and leaves will be available”, said Seth Rolland.
"The use of locally harvested material enhances the meaning associated with ownership of hand crafted furniture, boats, homes and so forth." said Michael Hamilton.
