Next step? Acquire enough wood to build said boat. It helps if you have a cousin who has white oak in his forest and can somehow be talked into parting with a tree big enough to make a boat. Photo 1 -John & Cousin John selecting the tree and start cutting it down. Photo 2 - Tree does not make a clean break but hangs up on other trees. It helps if cousin in question has a ladder and a tow truck and can convince you the tree won't fall if you climb that ladder and secure a tow rope around the tree. This determines just how badly you want to build said boat. Patty visualizes widowhood. Photo 3 - In spite of the tow rope almost turning over the tow truck with cousin's wife, Judy, the tree remains uncooperative. Photo 4 - If at first you don't succeed, pull from the other direction. Walla - down it goes. No widows this time out. Photo 5 - What are the chances of the tree landing and balancing exactly on the stump? Tree is cut into 12 foot lengths. Photo 6 - Tow truck again proves handy in pulling those logs out of the woods. Photo 7 - Invite Andrew & his sawmill over to make a few passes through the log. Sweat! sweat! sweat! = a 90 degree day with 90% humidity. Photo 8 - It helps if cousin has heavy duty trailer to carry planks to Rambo. When Rambo refuses to accept planks longer than 12 foot, bring out the saw once again and cut them off. Sweat! To say deodorant failed long ago does not have to be verbalized. Photo 9 - Load planks into Rambo. Will he or will he not make it back to New York at the end of the weekend or will he have collapsed in a rusty heap by the time he's asked to roll out on Sunday? Stay tuned...
How a cousin builds a table...
First, it helps to be a fine woodworker with a friend who thinks of you when they take down a big black walnut tree in their yards. (It also helps to have some big boy toys such as a tow truck, dump truck, heavy duty trailer and backhoe...) Call in Andrew with his sawmill. Have Robbie drop by just as you're loading the log and have your cousin stick around. Photo 1 - log goes on sawmill. Photo 2 - Andrew, John, Robbie, John and "The Log"... Photo 3 - Log is too big for mill so parts of it have to be trimmed off. Did I mention SWEAT?! Photo 4 - End up with nice black walnut planks that will dry in workshop for a couple of years. We'll have a bit of wait to see that table but, trust me, it will be worth it!
