Wood Properties of Sassafras

Wood Properties of Sassafras

SASSAFRAS, also called Ague Tree, (species Sassafras albidum), North American tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae), the aromatic leaf, bark, and root of which are used as a flavoring, as a traditional home medicine, and as a tea.  The roots yield about 2 percent oil of sassafras, once the characteristic ingredient of root beer.

The tree is native to sandy soils from Maine to Ontario and Iowa and south to Florida and Texas.  It is usually small but may attain a height of 65 feet (20 m)  or more.  It has furrowed bark, bright green twigs, and small clusters of yellow flowers followed by dark blue berries.  Sassafras has three distinctive forms of leaves, often on the same twig: three-lobed, two-lobed (or mitten-shaped), and entire.

Sassafras, one of the few economically important genera of the family, has two species in eastern Asia and one in eastern North America; oil of sassafras was once used medicinally, and Native Americans made a tea from the bark and twigs.  The family is of great importance in the tropics for its valuable lumber, derived from many different species.  Some of the wood remains fragrant for decades after it is cut.

Reader’s Comments

I received two very kind comments from my friends, Danial Sloane and Bill MacDougall last week that I want to share:

1.  “Another great chatter Bob I will be putting the report on oils and such in my storage folder for reference. Enjoy your break all the best to you and your family….Danial”

2.  “Bob, great job on these articles, thanks for all the extra work you do for us carvers out here in the real world, love all your work too!

Bill MacDougall Amherst, New York”

Thank you for your thoughtful words, Danial and Bill.  They mean so much, and I’m always happy to hear that my readers are enjoying Wood Chip Chatter and finding it helpful.

I received a question from Rick about how to make glasses for caricatures.  Rick writes:

“Hi Bob,

I don’t see eye glasses included very often on characters but I have some I would like to try that all need eye glasses and not sure how to approach this.  I would greatly appreciate any ideas.

Attached are a couple of Peter Rabbit pics following Doug Linkers recent video.  A fun carve. 

Thanks

Rick Carver”

That was a good video Doug did on carving the Easter rabbit and you did a terrific of carving yours, Rick!  A pair of glasses would look great on him but you’re right, you don’t often find carvers adding glasses to their caricatures.  I did an article for WCI a while back that showed how to make glasses.  I’ll pull some information from my notes and put it in the next blog.  I’m sure a lot of folks would like to know how it’s done. 

Photo Shop

“Photo Shop” is the section of Wood Chip Chatter where carvers can send in photos of their wood carvings for display. It’s your chance to show off your work…sort of a show and tell. The photos will only be displayed and no comments or critiques will be made.  For critiques on your carvings send them in to the “Carver’s Corner.”  Send your photos to carverbobk@woodchipchatter.com.

Our first two entries to the Photo Shop this week come from Kathy Savage, an excellent carver who sent in photos of the fireman she carved for her nephew.  She saw it in a book and thought he would like it.  I’m sure he did!

Kathy’s second carving is a terrific mama fox with her pup, which was a graduation gift for another nephew.  I think I would like to be one of Kathy’s nephews!

Our next two entries come from Terry Grimm.  Terry just finished this Easter decoration and has sent in some Work-In-Progress (WIP) photos along with his finished carving:

Peter Rabbit came out very dapper looking. Nice job, and thanks for the WIP photos.

Terry’s next entry is a comical fisherman caricature he calls “Gone Fishing.”

Thank you very much to Kathy Savage and Terry Grimm for your entries to the Photo Shop this week.  Photo Shop photos are always greatly appreciated.

News & Announcements

Lancaster County Woodcarvers Zoom Meeting

(Informal meeting – Open to all)

Tuesday, May 3th, 2022 at 7PM

Zoom meeting: 417 966 8402

The International Association of Woodcarvers has upcoming Zoom meetings on the following Saturdays at 3PM EST with special guest presenters.  Check them out…

Zoom:  310-460-3575

Schedule:

4/30 – Open Forum Meeting

5/7 – Ken Kuhar

5/14 – Dana Kababik – Carving Junkies

5/21 – Dillon Goodson

NOTE:  Beginning in June, through August meetings will be held only once per month.  These will still be live presentations or demonstrations.  The dates for these meetings are yet to be announced.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOODCARVERS

COME JOIN US!!!

Keep a sharp edge, and keep on carvin’!

Funny Bone

Whatever you do, always give 100%. 

Unless you’re giving blood.