Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Shack Plans

Over the past few weeks I've been fighting to keep the UV rays and rain off the burl with tarps and straps, boards, a ladder, a stool, and anything else I can find. I've looked into those portable temporary carports, just tried to find any possible affordable way to get it protected.

Finally, I realized that the burl would have to be protected with a shack that suits it. A log structure, not plastic or vinyl.

That's when I remembered one of my visitors, Pete Murfitt. He told me he builds portable bandsaw mills, and would be setting up and sawing logs with his latest model. So, I gave him a call.

Pete thought a burl shack was a great idea and immediately offered to help me out. He said he has some joinery skills with logs and invited me to his mill site. I left his shop today excited that the burl shack is going to be built. Pete is not only skilled with joinery, he's a welder, a builder, a logger, a mill operator and a nice guy. He drafted up exactly what I had in mind, figured out how everything would be connected, and worked out a materials list in minutes.

The frame will be 14 feet X 14 feet, with a four sided hip roof. It's designed to dismantle and stay with the burl if I ever move it. The panels will be built with time, but for now at least the burl will have a roof, thanks to Pete.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Giant Birdseye Maple Burl




This is the photo that I sent in to the newspaper. I would like to thank the Cowichan Valley Citizen for the article called "6000-pound burl unearthed". I was actually just trying to find out how much it would cost to put this ad in the newspaper. The lady I talked to (Shirley) said "It sounds like a story"

Since their story I've had the pleasure of meeting more than a couple hundred very nice people. All them very encouraging and supportive. I've had several offers for help. The Cowichan Valley is full of good people, I'm honoured to live amongst them.

The Victoria Times Colonist published a story of their own called "Giant burl object of Duncan mans love", and the A-channel in Victoria had it on the 5:00 pm news.