Norris Posted January 16, 2018 Report Share Posted January 16, 2018 Laurus nobilis or the Mediterranean Bay. Last weekend I cut down a 20' example and now have a number of substantial logs - certainly large enough for neck blanks/stringers. Is it likely to be any good? It seems to have a fairly tight grain, although fairly weighty. I can't find much information on t'Internet - a few people that have used it for turning, and a lot of links that refer to the Californian bay a.k.a. myrtle If it's any good for guitar building, what's the best way to store it? Should I paint the cut ends and will that help to avoid splitting as it dries out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 My last couple of builds had myrtle burl tops from the pacific northwest of the U.S. If yours is the same it is fine stuff and similar to big leaf maple in terms of workability and sound. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted January 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 No, it's a completely different species and not easy to find any information re. working it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 22 hours ago, Norris said: Laurus nobilis That name gave me this page in hobbithouse: http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/laurel.htm SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted January 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 1 hour ago, ScottR said: That name gave me this page in hobbithouse: http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/laurel.htm SR So there's another name for it - Grecian laurel Edit: It's actually the tree you get bay leaves from, the ones used in cooking. A neighbour pointed out that I have a fortune currently laying in my back garden - if they were dried, packaged and on a supermarket shelf! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 I think it would be a good experiment to save some of it. When you think of all the punky spalted stuff and porous burls that we build guitars out of just about any wood can be used (doesn't mean should). When I think of the commercial companies that use basswood for bodies.....that stuff is only half a step up from balsa wood. I'd paint the ends or dip them in paraffin and stack them so they get good airflow around them and see what you end up with in a year or so. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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