Milling Lumber at La Collina

A large (50" dia.) Sycamore log about to be milled. This was one of four large logs "rescued" from the side of a highway after utility crews had cut the tree down.

A lot of work is involved before our wood is ready to move into the shop to be turned into a bowl, cutting board or piece of furniture.

All of our wood is locally and sustainably sourced. I work with trees which are removed by homeowners, trees taken down by utility crews, or trees which have fallen during storms. Most of these are local species: Apple, Cherry, Maple, Ash (currently being decimated by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer) and Walnut.

Wood which is destined to become bowls is cut thick and its edges are sealed with a waxy emulsion to inhibit drying. I stack these chunks in a cool dark spot until I am ready to work with them. This "green" wood (with a high moisture content) is easier to work with on the lathe.

Walnut and Maple Bowl blanks

Wood to be made into cutting boards, utensils and furniture is cut into boards of varying thicknesses and is stacked away to dry. Small spacers or "stickers" are placed between each board in the stack to permit air circulation and even drying. Weight is added to the top of the stack to keep the boards from twisting as they dry. The rule of thumb is to allow one year of drying time for each inch of wood thickness.

Maple cross sections ("cookies") ready for drying

Live edge Cherry boards, stickered for drying

Check out this short video, which documents La Collina Team's work milling and "stickering" about 2,000 board feet of Black Walnut and Cherry logs.

The La Collina team pitches in to mill and sticker Walnut and Cherry boards.

I currently have a large supply of both slow-dried wood and sealed logs to be cut for bowls when time permits. I am looking forward to working with this wood during the cooler months of the year.