Want Some Persimmon Wood

[willarda]

No splits at all. The slab was sawn about 1" above the pith and 1" below the pith. IOW, the slab was perfectly quarter sawn, which is the most stable configuration for wood in general. You may be thinking about halving the log through the pith, in which case the lumber will have QS, rift and flatsawn sections and they will move differently as the log dries out and you will in fact get splits.

 

[Jeff]

I bought a QS section of persimmon from him for making plane boxing. The piece was 2+ inches thick (right through the pith) and >24" wide and 5' tall.

Persimmon trees are usually on the small side and a big one could be about 12" diameter (37" circumference). A 24" wide slab is rare. Are we really talking about persimmon wood?

...and this from the land of the giant persimmon trees in NC...

I have plenty of persimmon!! I usually saw about 30000 ft a year.

I say no way and balderdash!

 

[willarda]

I am trying to make sense of your reply, doesn't seem too straightforward. I am not an expert on wood identification. However, this is what I have going for me on this subject:
1. The wood has the appearance of what I have read about regarding persimmon. I should note that persimmon is in the same genus as ebony (Diospyros) but is a light colored wood. There is no central core of black wood as in ebony.
2. The wood was purchased from an individual who makes part of his living cutting and selling flitch cut logs to discerning buyers. and is presumably conversant in identifying trees (this log came off his land)
3. This individual is a nationally recognized woodworker and runs a prestigious woodworking program at Cedar Ridge High School.
So, in general, I would suggest that you loosen up a bit.

 

[Jeff]

So, in general, I would suggest that you loosen up a bit.

Bill, no problem. I was simply noting that a 24" wide slab of persimmon wood is rare indeed so I questioned its identity. No mea culpa from me for being so impertinent!

That flitch from Mr. Yow's property was approaching state record size for a persimmon. Calculate the circumference of the tree from its 24" diameter at 4.5 feet from the ground (DBH=diameter at breast height) and compare that to the current records.

http://ncforestservice.gov/Urban/nc_champion_big_trees_overview.htm

http://www.wood-database.com/persimmon/

3. This individual is a nationally recognized woodworker and runs a prestigious woodworking program at Cedar Ridge High School.

Keith Yow is a rare type of teacher and he and his students have excelled at it...

http://www.finewoodworking.com/2006/08/10/woodshop-teacher-of-the-year