Mary was saddened when a sudden Arizona storm blew down a mesquite tree in her yard. Not long ago, Mary’s husband Boyd had passed away, and that particular mesquite had always been his favorite tree. As Mary’s friend, Deb asked me if they sent me a log from Mary’s fallen tree, would I be able to make some small item from it for Mary to keep. I replied that I would certainly try and that I would be honored to help preserve a small part of Boyd’s favorite tree for Mary.
It would be my first time working with mesquite, and I was a bit concerned that the wood, having recently fallen, would be green and require some time for drying. Once I received the log and started breaking it down into smaller pieces, I learned that mesquite is a very dry wood, even alive. This was confirmed by a bit of research, with my moisture meter and by the fact that the wood soaked up both oil and film finishes like a sponge.
As this project turned out, I was able to make five small items out of that small mesquite log that arrived in my workshop via UPS. Deb presented Mary with a pen, a rustic bowl, a small box, a rustic bud vase and a card / photo holder. I received a lovely email from Mary, who has experienced nearly ninety trips around the Sun, expressing her appreciation for the special mesquite keepsakes.
Mary’s mesquite log, and the first time someone has ever shipped me a log
It took over an hour of hammer and chisel work just to remove the bark
The first bandsaw cut, breaking the log down into workable shapes
One end of the log split into two small bowl blanks, one as a backup in case the turning went awry
Various half rounds, flats and other sections whispered the secrets of what they would eventually become
Some small, thin flats said they wanted to be a mitered box
Cutting box joint miters on the chopsaw
Box parts prepared for assembly
Using wide painter’s tape as a hinge makes gluing up small miter joints quick and easy
Painter’s tape and rubber bands are enough clamping while the glue cures
Small box ready for some finish
A Big Ben pen kit and a couple of sets of mesquite blanks
Drilling the pen blanks on the drill press using the scroll chuck from the lathe with pen jaws installed
Prepping a bowl blank on the bandsaw speeds up the turning process on the lathe
Pen parts nearing their final diameters on the lathe
Six to eight coats of Aussie Oil friction finish and the pen parts are ready for assembly
A fitting pen kit for the mesquite wood that I thought took on a tobacco hue with the addition of some finish
Completed Big Ben Cigar Pen from Mary’s Mesquite Log
Bowl blank attached to the lathe with a worm screw clamped in the scroll chuck
Outside shape of the bowl finished and prepared to flip around and clamp with the 2″ expanding scroll chuck jaws
Turned bowl I’m calling “rustic” because part of the rim near the log pith blew out
Sanding the bowl on the lathe with an inertial sanding tool and compliant Velcro pad
Small bowl finished with walnut oil and beeswax
Drilling for three bud vase inserts
The angled end section of the log inspired the idea to attach a small ledge and make a photo holder
The Marietta Wood Works brand was applied to at least one of Mary’s keepsake items
A clear lacquer spray was used on the photo holder and the end grain of the log soaked up a bunch of coats like a sponge
Mahoney’s walnut oil finishes are food safe and easy to apply. His beeswax and oil finish provides a lustrous sheen, as well.
Mary’s Mesquite Log keepsakes, ready for Deb to deliver in person
Mary’s Rustic Mesquite bud vase has pride of place on Mary’s countertop
