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Thread: Simmon wood

  1. #1
    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Simmon wood

    Took a break yesterday and cut up a simmon tree. A storm blew it down on a friends property on Sugar Loaf Mtn in Nelson Co. Thought I'd start settin back some for different style fingerboards and maybe bridges. Now to finish cutting to rough sized billets and reseal. Then wait.....Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    It was about 16 inches at the butt end. I cut some long enough for upright bass fingerboards just in case.

  3. #3
    Registered User sunburst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    It's like a rain forest here in Nelson County this year. I still have some downed trees to clean up.
    Looks interesting, Dave.

  4. #4
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    pm sent David.

    j.
    www.condino.com

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Random question, but which Nelson County?

  6. #6
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Virginia.
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Ahh, I was gonna say, there is a Nelson County Kentucky about 30 minutes from me.

  8. #8
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    What is Simmon wood? Do you mean persimmon?
    Bill Snyder

  9. #9
    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Yep, its persimmon. good and hard.

  10. #10
    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Good score! Sticker it well.
    .
    ph

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    Paul Hostetter, luthier
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  11. #11

    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Quote Originally Posted by ChristopherB View Post
    Ahh, I was gonna say, there is a Nelson County Kentucky about 30 minutes from me.
    Me too I thought Nelson county Kentucky, Bardstown area. By the way, my fretless banjo that was stolen from me had a Persimmon fingerboard, hard as nails and great to slide on.

  12. #12
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Great, now I have that song in my head. On another note, some friends of mine have been building banjo rims from this wood with success. Nice haul!
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  13. #13
    Registered User mtucker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Quote Originally Posted by grandcanyonminstrel View Post
    pm sent David.

    j.
    i detect 42" boarding is drawing you near the light....follow the light!

  14. #14
    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Charles, Is your friend doing wrapped plys or block rims? I had thought of banjo rims as well. I went back to the chainsaw. My bandsaw with 4 teeth per inch don't like this wood green.

  15. #15
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Block rims I believe.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  16. #16
    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    That's how I will if I get that far. I've heard a lot of Tony Pass birch rims that sounded fine on resonator banjos. Mine will probably be open backed. Its gonna be awhile before I have to worry about it anyhow.

  17. #17
    Bridger Products
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Has anyone used persimmon for mandolin bridges? Results?

    Vern

  18. #18
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Well it is "white Ebony", I think it wolud look pretty cool.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  19. #19

    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Decided to bump this thread. Last Friday night, went to a fiddle contest. Winning fiddler had a senior aged man playing rhythm guitar. After the awards, I complimented the guitarist on his playing and the sound of his guitar. He claimed to have made the guitar out of persimmon, his words, "Persimmon, the American ebony."

    Anyone else tried making an instrument from persimmon?

    Lee

  20. #20
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    It's a rare persimmon tree that is big enough for a guitar. I'd like to see that one. It must have been quite a percussive instrument. Bet it was nice.
    Bill
    IM(NS)HO

  21. #21
    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    From another luthier's forum:

    .
    ph

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    Paul Hostetter, luthier
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  22. #22
    Mandolicious fishtownmike's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    I haven't used persimmon yet but have been thinking about it. I just am not to thrilled about it's color for fingerboards. Has anyone used this dyed black to mimic ebony? If so what type of dye did you use. I'm guessing alcohol based to not interfere in gluing. Any thoughts?...Mike

  23. #23
    Registered User Tom Cherubini's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    How long will you season it before using it?
    So chi sono.

  24. #24
    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    Most wood will air dry at a depth of about an inch a year. So a 2 inch board would be close in a year.

  25. #25
    Registered User Tom Cherubini's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simmon wood

    My nephew builds antique reproductions that The Philadelphia Art Museum sells, and he too buys logs. He has an interesting way of reducing the size and thickness of the lumber he needs. Often, instead of sawing boards from the log, he splits the log down, thereby assuring himself that he has the straightest grain possible that doesn't bleed out to a surface (if he happens to need that feature). I think he uses it for furniture legs, tops, seats and fronts.
    He makes all his own tools, doesn't use any power tools except a lathe, and writes a column for Popular Woodworking magazine.
    Here's a link for anybody who's interested.
    http://www.popularwoodworking.com/wo...ysteries-blogs

    Interesting stuff. And a very interesting guy!

    TC/
    So chi sono.

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