Make use of a fallen hardwood tree on your property in and around Tralee

When your beloved hardwood tree falls due to old age, disease or storm it can be a very sad occasion. That once proud, beautiful hardwood tree is now a crumpled mess in your garden. Most people’s first reaction is to have the tree cut up for firewood, but that can be a real shame if the wood is suitable for turning.

Why not make use of that precious fallen tree and turn it into a memorable keepsake to cherish forever?

At a time when we are all waking up to the destructive things human beings are doing all around the world I am offering you a different option. Don't destroy that tree, give me a call and I will come and look at it. If it is any good, I will cut sections of it for my use and in return I will make you some piece(s) to keep to remind you of that once proud tree. You can then cut up the rest for firewood. Part of that tree will live on instead of being incinerated.

Turn a Fallen Tree into a Lasting Keepsake

A few people have taken me up on this offer with some understandable doubt at first, only to be delighted 12 months later with a beautiful bowl made from their own tree. Wood pieces made from trees from your home, garden, farm, or family land can become very memorable gifts for family and friends.

If you are anywhere near Tralee and you have a decent-sized hardwood tree down, give me a shout. If you live beyond Tralee, I have added instructions for preparing the wood below.

When the day comes, remember me!

If you’re curious about what actually happens to a fresh log before it becomes a bowl or a spindle creation, I’ve also written a simple guide on how I process green logs for woodturning, which shows the exact steps involved.

I have added a new section regarding Ash Dieback further down and a frequently asked section for clarity.

This beautiful Spalted Beech bowl was once destined to be cut up and used as firewood. What a waste that would have been. Instead, a section of the fallen tree was saved and turned into something lasting.

The bowl now resides in Spain, where it will always be a reminder of Ireland, the original tree, and the value of saving good wood when the opportunity is there.

irish-spalted-beech-bowl-made-by-david-condon

What I need to know about your tree, please send me;

What species it is
Some pictures of the tree, close up full length etc.
If is lying on grass, mud, hard surface or water
A rough diameter and length
Age of the tree if you know
How far it is from a drivable road surface

What Size is Useful to Make Something?

Most People are not familiar with measuring trees or using tape measures so I thought I might come up with an easier method for managing this. I often get messages for fallen trees that are not much wider than a person's thigh which is not much good for anything really. Method; give the trunk of the tree a hug, if your hands meet the tree is borderline useful. If your hands don't meet and there is a gap of about 12 inches the tree is very useful and if the gap is wider again then don't delay contacting me. Bigger trees mean more of a yield

Not Every Piece will Make it!

Woodturning from wood cut directly from the tree is not an exact science with determined outcomes. Trees can have rot, cracks, shakes, splits, knots and growth defects and you never fully know if a piece will make it to the dry stage or not. Drying cracks happen all the time no matter how careful you are during the drying process. The more wood I can take from your tree, the higher the chances of making you something decent from the wood.

Contact Me

Please use the site Contact page to supply me with details and you can also upload photos of the tree and any other relevant photos. Please supply the information in the bullet points above as good as you can.

You can also supply your phone number, address and Eircode if you wish.

Please do not ring or text me without first sending the information listed above. I am normally very busy and have no information I can refer back if only a voice call or text is made.

If the Wood is Cut before Coming to Me

I had a Customer bring a cut log to me in the last 12 months. A tree surgeon cut the log and misunderstood the instructions for preparing the log and removed the bark edges all around. The log was left unprotected in the air too. The wood predictably cracked almost straight away and continued to get worse.

I want to add basic instructions here for anyone preparing the wood before dropping it off to me.

Instructions for the Chainsaw Operator

Make sure the person using the chainsaw is sufficiently trained or capable as cutting logs this size can be dangerous!

Start the cut about a foot up from the Root Flare or Collar if the tree fell over and pulled up the roots. Support the tree underneath with wood packers or it will pinch the bar or drop to the ground. If the tree was cut down and left for a while, cut in from the best looking end. Again, try and put wood packers underneath to make it easier to cut and keep the chain from cutting soil or anything below.

Cut 4 inches off the end of the trunk to expose fresh uncracked wood. If the wood has any visible major cracks in the endgrain you should keep cutting inches until sound wood has been found. Small cracks around 1 to 2 inches can still be present and are okay to proceed with this as good wood. A major crack is anything 2 inches or more.

If the wood looks good all over the endgrain surface, measure 20 to 24 inches from that point and cut outside that measured line. This should be a good enough length for me to work with and should allow me waste material to move the bowl left or right within the cut log if needed. Do not cut the bark away!

If the log is small enough, get a black plastic bag and put the log into the bag as soon as possible and seal up. If the log is too big, you can wrap a few bags around the log and tape them together or get a sheet of plastic from a builder if you know anyone. Don't leave it exposed to the air or the wood will crack.

I have a Blog Post where I deal with greenwood from a Woodturner's perspective 'How to Process Logs for Woodturning' if anyone wants to read more about it.

Cutting Season for Woodturners

People may not know this but there is in fact a cutting season for woodturners. September to February is generally the best time for cutting as the sun is not hot and there is probably more moisture in the air. Cutting hardwood on warm sunny days with a fresh breeze is probably the worst thing a woodturner can do as the cracks can start immediately. If you have a fallen tree and would like me to make something from it, keep the full tree off the ground or grass by placing something under it if necessary and leave it in place. It's ok to leave a tree like this for about a year before it starts to degrade so don't worry.

Diagram showing how I use different sections of a hardwood log for woodturning. The image below shows the end view of the cut log, including areas suitable for bowl blanks, spindle blanks, blank slabs and quarter sawn material. Bowl blanks can be oriented in either direction, as shown, and once properly dried they should be stable.

Watch How I Cut Small Logs for Woodturning

The video below shows how I cut and prepare logs for woodturning. It may help explain why I ask for longer sections of hardwood, why the pith matters, and why logs should not be cut into short firewood lengths too soon.

If woodturning is something you are interested in, my Woodturning Guides & Articles page has a wide range of beginner-friendly posts and practical guides you can read.

Ash Dieback and Irish Ash Trees

Ash dieback is now a serious problem for ash trees across Ireland. It is caused by the fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, and Teagasc says it is now prevalent through most of the island of Ireland and is likely to cause the death of the majority of ash trees over the next two decades.

Ash has always been a beautiful and important Irish hardwood, and I would like to save and use as much suitable ash as I can while it is still available. If you have an ash tree that has fallen, been cut down, or needs to be removed, please get in touch before it is cut into firewood.

Not every ash log will be suitable for woodturning, especially if it is badly rotten, badly cracked, or difficult to access, but larger clean sections can sometimes be turned into bowls, ring holders, spindle pieces, or other keepsakes. Even if the tree has come down because of disease, there may still be usable wood inside.

If you are near Tralee or elsewhere in Kerry and have a fallen or recently cut ash tree, please send photos, the rough size, location, and access details through my Contact page.

Can Ash Dieback Wood Still Be Used for Woodturning?

In many cases, yes, some ash affected by ash dieback may still be usable for woodturning, depending on the condition of the trunk. The important thing is whether the wood is sound enough inside. If the tree is badly rotten, split, soft, or unsafe to access, it may not be suitable. But if there are clean sections of trunk available, I may be able to use part of the tree before the rest is cut for firewood.

For me, the sooner I know about the tree, the better. Freshly cut ash can crack quickly if it is left exposed to sun and wind, so please contact me before the log is cut into short firewood lengths.

Hardwood Trees I Am Interested In

I am mainly interested in good-sized Irish hardwood trees, especially:

● Ash
● Beech
● Oak
● Sycamore
● Elm, if available
● Cherry
● Walnut
● Spalted hardwood, if still solid enough

Ash is of particular interest because of ash dieback, but I am always interested in suitable fallen hardwood if it is large enough, accessible, and still in usable condition. It is also my most favourite wood to turn.

Please Contact Me Before Cutting the Log

If possible, please contact me before the tree is cut into shorter lengths. Firewood-sized logs are usually too short for me to use properly. For bowls and larger woodturned pieces, I normally need longer sections so I can work around cracks, defects, pith, and movement in the wood.

I also like to take possession of the wood immediately after cutting to reduce the risk of cracking

A tree surgeon or chainsaw operator may be thinking in terms of firewood, but a woodturner needs the wood cut differently.

Fallen Tree Woodturning FAQ

Can you collect a fallen tree from my garden?

If you are near Tralee, I may be able to call and look at the tree, depending on size, access, species, and condition. I do not remove full trees as a tree surgery service, but I may take suitable sections for woodturning. I can cut sections from the tree and leave the rest for you to make firewood.

Do you pay for fallen trees?

In most cases, this is not a timber-buying service. If the wood is suitable, I may take sections for my own use and make a keepsake piece from the tree where agreed. Each situation depends on the tree, access, distance, and the amount of usable wood. For most people, this arrangement is far more beneficial than a monetary transaction.

What size tree is useful for woodturning?

As a rough guide, if you hug the trunk and your hands easily meet, the tree may be too small or only borderline useful. If your hands do not meet and there is a good gap, it is much more likely to be useful for bowls or larger pieces.

Can ash affected by ash dieback be used?

Sometimes, yes. The tree must still have sound usable wood inside. If the ash is badly rotten, cracked, or unsafe to work around, it may not be suitable. Freshly cut sections are usually best.

Should I cut the tree into firewood first?

No, not if you would like me to look at it for woodturning. Firewood lengths are often too short. Please contact me before cutting if possible.

How quickly should I contact you?

As soon as possible. Freshly cut hardwood can crack quickly, especially in warm, dry, or windy weather.

As You Are Here, More Pages to Explore

● Wooden Salad Bowls – Browse hand-turned Irish hardwood salad bowls made for everyday use.
● Household Openers – Explore my range of Irish wood bottle openers for home and gifting.
● Serving Boards – View beautifully crafted serving boards showcasing local Irish hardwood.
● Household & Homeware – Discover useful Irish wood gifts designed for daily living.
● Crafter’s Haven – Visit my craft-supplies section for ribbon, bags, bows and more.
● Christmas Ribbons – Shop festive ribbon options to add colour and charm to your gifts.

● Woodturning Tuition – Learn woodturning with private, beginner-friendly sessions in Tralee.

Thank you for visiting, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like any guidance in choosing the perfect gift or piece for your home!