Sequoia Sempervirens is a light weight and straight grained wood with a natural red-brown tone (except for a band of white sapwood just under the thick bark). Redwood is soft, brittle, non-resinous and contains a high enough concentration of tannic acid to naturally inhibit most insects. Because of this characteristic Redwood is primarily used in the construction industry as the exterior layer for wooden buildings [ siding and shingles ] as well as for decks, fences and outdoor furniture . Interior uses are limited to the decorative because the soft wood will compress upon the lightest impact.

The difference between old growth and new growth is visible in the size of the grain . which records yearly growth. The distance between the annual rings is consistently small in ancient slow growing trees from a densely wooded area and produces a tight grain. Newer trees growing quickly in more open land produce a much wider grain similar to pines and firs. Redwood is so soft and brittle that it never curls off my lathe but always crumbles into a coarse sawdust (which is excellent for mulching parts of the garden).

This is a configuration of grain occurs primarily at the base of older trees. The grain swirls, curls, zigzags and contains the bird's-eyes that sprout into new trees. Only Coastal Redwood trees reproduce by sprouting from roots and stumps (in addition to seeds). Burl is difficult to harvest, massive, bulky and full of rocks. The best burls are manufactured into veneers . The burl that remains for sale locally is often slabbed horizontally, emphasizing the irregular edge of the tree's circumference.

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this page is not finished
i intend to post pictures
of redwood burl and birdseye

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