Good morning readers. Thanks for coming by.
Things have slowed down here a bit, but exciting things are still happening.
The freezer compartment never had a natural door, so it frosts up somewhat rapidly.
You’ve probably been through this, too. Defrosting it’s a challenge. Two days so far with it turned off and the door open. Slow going because the ambient temperature’s not getting much above freezing.
Someone in south Texas cut down a Texas Ebony tree and Gale managed to lay claim to part of it. He’s itching to begin working on it, but the bearings, both on his lathe and the sawmill went out suddenly and simultaneously.
He decided it’s time to upgrade his lathe anyway, so the old one’s got to be dissassembled and moved out and the new one assembled and installed.
We’re still waiting for the sawmill bearings to arrive from China or somewhere.
Meanwhile, the wobblyhead extensions still aren’t going to do the job on the Commie Toyota starter. I think the 4-Runner’s down for the count until I can pull that engine out of there and get to it. The nut-head rounded off more every time I applied torque. I dassn’t do anything to round it off more.
Otherwise it’s business as usual here. The cats and chickens send their regards.
Old Jules
So Far From Heaven 
That looks like the tree my son and I just cut down. I thought it was an oak, but it was really hard wood. Check out the blog I posted yesterday and let me know if you think it is the same kind of tree. Thanks.
Dizzy: It certainly looks to be Texas Ebony. Not dark enough to be persimmon and too big, and the color of the heartwood’s not red enough to be bois d’arc. Too bad it’s cut into such small slices. It would have been a good candidate for sawmilling. But if you still have the pieces you could probably interest a woodworker in whatever’s left, assuming it’s Texas Ebony. It’s a rare find, that one.
Depends on where you are, though as to whether it’s TE. Ebony doesn’t get that big very far north in Texas.
Good luck on that. Jules
This is the sort of news I like to hear.
John: Yeah, it’s a biggie. Thanks for the visit. Jules
Such beautiful wood…it’s a shame the tree had to come down. The heartwood is spectacular. Jules, is the wood very aromatic? I sell incense, and have never heard of this tree.
ejalvey: I haven’t been there when any of it was cut, but I’ll let you know. Some of those woods do have the potential for that use, but I suspect the rarity of Texas Ebony would make it hard to find. Once some sawdust or chips come off his working of it I’ll try burning some. But I might want to read a little if Gale doesn’t know whether it’s poisonous. Some woods are. Remind me if I forget to let you know. Jules
I’ve never heard of a Texas Ebony tree! I learn something new from your blog everytime. 🙂
–Old Jool
Jools: Glad you came for a read. Jules
TX Ebony is a new one on me, but then I’m new to TX in the last coupla years. Looks like some beautiful hardwood and should be fun for any number of purposes. With healthy tools, that is!
kathryningrid: Beautiful wood and it works well. Gracias, J
Wow. The wood is beautiful. Be sure to show us what comes of it.
Hank: Thanks for coming by. I’ll post on it when it’s changed into something. Gracias, J
Have fun!(And I think the post-PhD let-down is normal. It felt trirebly anticlimactic in my own case; the orals made a much deeper impression than my defense.)
I LOVE the smell of newly cut wood but only if it’s necessary. Sometimes I even go to Home Depot to the home reno department just to get a whiff of it.
LCTC!: It’s definitely better than the odor in the paint department. Gracias, Jules
I’ve been blogging on Word Press for a month now, and your blog has a very different perspective from just about everything else I’ve read here so far. This is a good thing, and makes for more interesting reading for me. Thanks!