A Staghorn Sumac Kind of Day
Okay, so grab your coffee—I’m still on my first cup, so bear with me. You know how sometimes you end up jumping into a project that you swear is a great idea, but then halfway through, you’re just staring at the mess and wondering what on earth you were thinking? That was me and that staghorn sumac the other day.
The Set-Up
Now, let me backtrack a bit. Staghorn sumac is this cool tree we have around here—a bit wild and unruly, but it gives off this beautiful red tint in the fall. I always thought, “Man, I really gotta make something out of that.” I’d seen folks on Facebook show off their woodturning skills, and then it hit me: why not give it a try?
I mean, I had my trusty old lathe sitting in the garage collecting dust. A Craftsman, nothing fancy, but hey, it’s done the job for a few projects. So, off I went, chainsaw in hand, ready to chop down the most crooked staghorn sumac tree you’ve ever seen.
Just imagine me out there in my old flannel, the leaves swirling around in the breeze. It felt like the perfect moment. I swear, when the blade sliced into that trunk, it smelled like sweet cinnamon—like someone was baking in the middle of the woods! I got a bit too excited and ended up bringing back more wood than I could handle.
A Messy Start
Back in the garage, I kicked on the lathe, and oh boy, did I underestimate that sumac. You’d expect the stuff to be soft, right? I mean, it looks like it’s just begging to be turned. But the thing is, staghorn sumac is a bit tricky. It’s not like working with maple or cherry. This wood fought me, and I’m not even kidding.
First off, the bark. I didn’t think much about it until I had bark flying everywhere, and I was dodging it like you’d dodge a flying bug—totally ridiculous! I’m pretty sure I lost a few more brain cells trying to figure out which way to turn the grain.
And let’s talk about shavings. Good grief, have you ever had wood shavings stuck in your hair? Because that went from “look at me, I’m a woodworker” to me being the village crazy person in no time. Should’ve seen my wife’s face when she walked into the garage. “What in the world happened to you?”
The Moment of Truth
So, I finally—I think after an hour of wrestling with this wood—got it to a point where I could turn it into something decent. I’d read somewhere that staghorn sumac can be beautiful when finished, and I thought, “You know, I’ll just push through this. It will all be worth it.”
And here’s where I almost gave up: the moment I decided to finish it. I’ve used all sorts of finishes in my day, but this time, I went for a Danish oil—because why not, right? I was practically sweating just thinking about whether it would soak in nicely or turn this beautiful piece into a splotchy disaster. The first coat went on like a dream, soaking in the rich wood grain, and I felt like Michaelangelo creating a masterpiece, right?
Then, one of those dreaded moments hit. I thought I’d let it dry overnight, and wouldn’t you know, I woke up to discover… I didn’t apply it evenly. There were patches everywhere. I laughed when I realized I’d just created an abstract art piece instead of something functional. It was hilarious—and kind of heartbreaking at the same time.
Lessons Learned, Wins Celebrated
But hey, that’s woodworking, right? You learn, you mess up, you pick yourself up. I sanded it down again and gave it another go. This time, it came out perfect. Like, seriously, I even shared a picture of it on social media, and people actually liked it. Made my day.
Honestly, one of the best part about working with staghorn sumac is that you don’t see it very often in furniture or decor. It’s kind of like a hidden gem, and I realized that what I made, albeit several attempts later, carried with it a little piece of my patience and perseverance. When you finally finish something like that—something that shared a bit of your journey—it feels good.
Wrapping It Up with Coffee
So, if you’re ever thinking about tackling a project with staghorn sumac or just jumping into woodworking in general, I’m here to tell you, just go for it! Don’t let the fear of messing up stop you. Honestly, the falls are just as important as the successes.
Take it from me: next time you’re tempted to cut down a weird little tree that you see on your way home from work, do it. Grab those tools, embrace the chaos, and just let yourself enjoy the process. Because at the end of the day, it’s more than just wood. It’s moments, memories, and maybe a little laughter, too.
