I finally have some time to open up the butternut logs that I bought. It is getting very hard to find butternut logs as the are all dying from the butternut canker. The logs look really bad on the outside as the bark and sapwood layer is gone. When I opened them up the wood was beautiful and solid and wormhole free. The ends of course are checked but that occurs on all logs and only goes in a few inched from both ends. I really love cutting butternut and it cuts like butter and smells so good it is a shame that eventually they will all be gone. They are doing research and trying to find why a few are resistant to the canker. Perhaps they will eventually be able to use that to bring the tree back. It is just really a great carving wood and looks so good with just an oil finish.

It is finally springtime, the long winter is over and it is time to get some basswood. I love to visit sawmills and this one was no exception. It is a well run sawmill, that really produces beautiful hardwood lumber as well as other products. I got the whole tour and enjoyed watching the operation first hand. On this trip i also picked up some great basswood logs that will yield some great carving stock once it is sawn and dried. I really do enjoy the lumber making process and am always looking for ways to do it better.