What to do with this Burl?<

If it is 10” in diameter, by cutting it in half, you are lucky to get two 4” bowl out of it. One big bowl would look really nice. Not sure what a lamp post would look like. Just a few ideas.

-- earthartandfoods.com

You will have to decide whether to go bowl or hollow form.
If bowl then I would split just like a log (lengthwise along the pith) giving you two 10” diameter blanks.
I would be tempted to go bowls and turn one base out (bark outside like most bowls) and one center base giving a natural edge bowl.

-- We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Albert Einstein

Send it to me – I’ll figure something out. ;o)

-- When I was a kid I wanted to be older . . . . . this CRAP is not what I expected ! RIP 09/08/2018

I did one of these branch burls a couple months ago. Cut off the extra off each end and put it between centers to see what was underneath. Think mine was a little bit longer than yours so it made a nice little bowling ball pin shaped vase. This was a cherry burl piece and turned out half decent.

Totally destroyed turning only burl ever harvested due to inexperience so I am best qualified person here to give advice. Would try to turn a hollow form vase with what you have there.

Looking at the picture would start cutting top showing the split cutting back until found good wood, and same with bottom. So can turn between center and mount in a chuck later.

I always start my bowls & hollow forms between center to remove bark before mounting in/on chuck or faceplate. Just gives me a better idea of what have to work with.

Good luck with it!

-- Bill

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I will be at my home in NC next weekend where the burl is and plan to begin turning something with it.
Nice work DaveDelo on that vase. You and others have given me some direction by considering a hollow form.
I appreciate the help and look forward to see if anyone else has a thought.
Thanks,
Dave

You can get a lot of pens out of that burl. Not sure what else to recommend.

Whatever you do I want to see it! Best of luck!

I’d turn one big bowl.

-- Paul Mayer, http://youtube.com/c/toolmetrix