Bog Oak

[dann]

Ive found sevral logs of bog Oak dragged up by a local farmer, has anyone worked it before, if so is it worth salvaging?

 

[marcros]

I would be interested in the answers. As I understand it it is difficult to salvage, and needs some specialist techniques to stabilize and preserve it- much the same as when they raise shipwrecks from the sea. There is a company that specialises in big oak- I can't remember the name but it will be obvious on google.

 

[Hivenhoe]

Ive found sevral logs of bog Oak dragged up by a local farmer, has anyone worked it before, if so is it worth salvaging?

Noexperience but this may help http://www.androichead.com/irish/guide-to-bog-oak-carving-english/

 

[Rhossydd]

I think the simple answer is yes, it is worth trying to save. Quite how you manage that I can't really answer, I'd guess a lot depends on it's current state. If it's just come out of the ground it will need very careful slow drying.
You might also find that a specialist dealer might be interested in buying it straight from you.

I tried turning some a long time ago and it was a nightmare to work, and pretty expensive. I've still got one or two small blanks around, but they look badly split now.

 

[custard]

It's worth having a go at drying your bog oak, after all what have you got to lose, but don't expect to be left with anything other than small useable fragments suitable for drawer pulls or turning odds and ends.

The bog oak guru is Hamish Low who has devised complex and lengthy kilning processes that have allowed him to salvage very large bog oak boards, which command similar prices to AAA Macassar Ebony at over £1000 a cubic foot. I've seen Hamish mill some large East Anglian bog oak logs and if I get the chance later I'll post some pictures.

 

[Rhossydd]

after all what have you got to lose

Destroying something possibly worth £1k/cuft into worthless scrap ?

Given the difficulties of drying it, selling it on to a specialist dealer might make both financial sense and save some rare wood for good use.

 

[custard]

after all what have you got to lose

Destroying something possibly worth £1k/cuft into worthless scrap ?

Given the difficulties of drying it, selling it on to a specialist dealer might make both financial sense and save some rare wood for good use.

Most of the bog oak that gets dug up gets burnt by the farmers. Furthermore, it's only a small percentage of the bog logs that Hamish goes out to inspect that he deems worthwhile drying via his lengthy process, and even then it needs to be identified as top quality material pretty soon after coming out of the ground to stand a chance of being salvaged.

 

[custard]

Here's some prime oak logs dug up in the fens, as you can see despite being thousands of years old there's little if any rot, most bog logs are actually heavily rotted.

 

[custard]

Here's a log being loaded onto a mobile sawmill,

And this is the milling process,

In the foreground of this photo you can see some sawn boards which will then be kilned,

If you think your logs are of comparable quality then PM me and I'll put you in touch with Hamish.

 

[dann]

Here's a log being loaded onto a mobile sawmill,



And this is the milling process,



In the foreground of this photo you can see some sawn boards which will then be kilned,



If you think your logs are of comparable quality then PM me and I'll put you in touch with Hamish.

Cheers for the info but my logs are much smaller than that !

 

[Rhossydd]

Smaller bits may still be treasured by turners.

Try posting some photos so people can get an idea of what you've got available and can then give better advice.