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[JK Lewis]

You may remember how hopeless I was first time round, 34 clefts I think from Tree 1. Bringing in professional support has paid huge dividends with Tree 2. Here's a nice photo of most of the clefts, there's another 15-18 in a kiln elsewhere. Watch this space for more in the near future, if you have any questions just ask. Happy New Year CBF-ers!

[Kulli]

What were the biggest learnings?

[JK Lewis]

What were the biggest learnings?

Hi Kulli,

Mainly about how to split each round sympathetically, in order to protect the sap wood and maximise the yield of clefts. We learned how to consider each round before doing anything, to determine how best to split them down into clefts and how to use the right tools and different types of wedges. No sledgehammers or heavy tools required at all, it is all about planning and then hitting the right wedge in the right place. Fascinating to watch and then try.

We also learned about different types of cuttings you can take from the top of the tree, either for replanting directly or for creating 'tods'. Tods are willow sticks really, which are planted simply for the purpose of growing new shoots, which can then be planted. I am going to plant some cuttings in the spring, and try to grow new willows - bit of a longer term project!

[Number4]

Now this is good forum content...
Good stuff JK

[jamesisapayne]

Great stuff Justin, good to see everything is coming along well - what weight are these clefts now?

[Andythomo21]

Now this is good forum content...
Good stuff JK

Agreed.  Love these kind of threads.

[play-yourself-in]

This is a great thread. Thanks for posting.  Sorry about my ignorance, but how tall is the tree that will produce that many clefts?  Do you know the tree will produce good clefts from outside signs?

[JK Lewis]

This is a great thread. Thanks for posting.  Sorry about my ignorance, but how tall is the tree that will produce that many clefts?  Do you know the tree will produce good clefts from outside signs?

Hi mate,

The trees I can get are unusual, in that they were planted in the normal way back in 1987, but were neglected after the great storm. They've therefore grown for around twice as long as commercially farmed willows and are much taller and bigger than usual.

All the trees are around 20 metres tall I guess - I will be checking this now you've asked, thanks for the thought. The ones I fell are 75 - 85 inches circumference at base. I usually get about 10 rounds, and a good splitter can get 8 clefts per round. But, as these trees have grown up a little wild, there tend to be various knots and branches up the trunk. This does reduce the yield a bit.

The remaining clefts are good, with nice consistent grain structure. But there is a considerable heartwood, i think this is common in willow as it ages, probably why commercial trees are felled at 15-18 years. If you like 2-tone bats, these clefts are for you!

Cheers, Justin

[JK Lewis]

Great stuff Justin, good to see everything is coming along well - what weight are these clefts now?

Hi James,

These have all been kiln dried, so standard cleft weight. Possibly slightly heavier on average due to the heartwood content, bit only by a couple ounces I guess.

Cheers Justin

[JK Lewis]

This is a great thread. Thanks for posting.  Sorry about my ignorance, but how tall is the tree that will produce that many clefts?  Do you know the tree will produce good clefts from outside signs?

Evening @play-yourself-in . Just to follow up, I can confirm now that the trees are 25m tall. I took another one down today and measured it up for you!

Cheers, Justin

[simonmay5]

Enjoyed watching your Facebook videos today looks like your doing a great job looked like you had some nice trees as well

[Number4]

JK,

I think your idea on a previous thread about making it a forum event when you next fell a tree with a view to a cleft at the end of the experience. Great idea. Keep up the good work

[JK Lewis]

JK,

I think your idea on a previous thread about making it a forum event when you next fell a tree with a view to a cleft at the end of the experience. Great idea. Keep up the good work

Sounds good. I'll have a look at timing for later in 2018. Watch this space.

[JK Lewis]

Enjoyed watching your Facebook videos today looks like your doing a great job looked like you had some nice trees as well

Thanks and yeah, I really take a lot of pleasure from it. Always happy to share.

[edge]

Keep up the good work Justin, really been enjoying watching the progress both here and on Facebook. I'm sure I can speak for a lot of forum members when I say we wish we could get this far involved in batman ourselves!