Burls
                     BURLS: NATURE'S 
MASTERPIECE IN 
WOODWORKING
ONLY A HANDFUL OF MATERIALS CAN MATCH THE IMAGINATION AND 
CRAFTSMANSHIP SPIRIT THAT BURLS DO WHEN IT COMES TO WOODWORKING. 
THESE ARE NO LESS THAN NATURE'S MARVELOUS CREATIONS, THE SPIRALED 
AND UNDULATING PATTERNS IN THE WOOD THAT ARE HIDDEN INSIDE TREES. 
BURLS AND BURL WOOD ARE TREATED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL 
WOODS AT EXOTIC WOOD ZONE, AND CONSEQUENTLY THEY ARE GREATLY 
APPRECIATED BY ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, AND WOODWORKERS ALL OVER THE 
GLOBE.
WHAT ARE BURLS AND WHY DO 
THEY MATTER?
BURLS ARE UNUSUAL GROWTHS THAT FORM ON TREE TRUNKS, LIMBS, OR ROOTS WHEN A 
TREE UNDERGOES STRESS  FROM INJURY, DISEASE, OR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. UNLIKE 
REGULAR LUMBER WITH STRAIGHT GRAIN, BURL WOOD DEVELOPS COMPLEX PATTERNS OF 
SWIRLS, KNOTS, AND IRREGULAR LINES. THESE UNPREDICTABLE AND MESMERIZING GRAIN 
STRUCTURES MAKE BURLS HIGHLY PRIZED FOR CREATIVE BURL WOOD PROJECTS. 
THIS IMPRESSIVE TEXTURE IS NOT PURELY DECORATIVE, AND THAT INDICATES A NEW 
UNIQUE GROWTH PATTERN WHICH CANNOT BE REPRODUCED IN NORMAL LUMBER. TO THE 
WOODWORKERS, A GOOD BURL BECOMES A TREASURE TO THEM, WHICH CAN BE 
CHANGED INTO SOMETHING UNIQUE.
THE ALLURE OF BURLED WOOD
BURLED WOOD IS THE NAME GIVEN TO WOOD, WHICH IS OBTAINED STRAIGHT 
FROM BURLS AND IS PROCESSED FOR CUT AND THEN POLISHED TO FINALLY 
DISPLAY PATTERNS THAT LOOK LIKE TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS, GALAXIES, OR 
MODERN ART. THE STRIKING, NATURAL BEAUTY OF BURLED WOOD IS THE MAIN 
REASON IT IS TO BE FOUND IN BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND ORNAMENTAL 
APPLICATIONS.
BURLED WOOD IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM CONVENTIONAL WOOD IN THAT IT IS 
SIMPLY UNPREDICTABLE -- THE PERSONALITY OF THE SLAB OR BLOCK IN 
QUESTION IS ALWAYS UNIQUE. NO MATTER IF YOU ARE MAKING INLAY PARTS, 
VENEERS, OR COMPLETE PRODUCTS, THE INHERENT BEAUTY OF THE BURLED 
WOOD WILL MAKE EVERY DESIGN TO A HIGHER LEVEL.
BURL WOOD IN FURNITURE: A 
TOUCH OF ELEGANCE
ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING USES FOR BURLS AND BURLED WOOD IS IN BURL WOOD FURNITURE. 
THINK OF A COFFEE TABLE WHOSE TOP TABLE IS COVERED WITH UNDULATING GRAINS THAT REFLECT 
THE LIGHT, OR A CABINET DOOR-POST WHICH HAS ORNATE, NATURAL PATTERNING WHICH IS MADE THE 
CENTER OF A ROOM.
BURL WOOD HAS THE AURA OF DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT FURNITURE. SINCE PIECES OF BURL ARE 
DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER, THE RESULTING BURL WOOD FURNITURE IS NECESSARILY UNIQUE. THIS 
DISTINCTNESS IS WHY BURL WOOD FURNITURE IS EXPENSIVE -- IT IS NOT MERELY FURNITURE; IT IS A 
STATEMENT PIECE.
BURL WOOD CUT FROM LIVE EDGE TABLES AND LUXURIOUS CABINETS WITH FINE VENEER SURFACES, 
ADDS TO THE ARTISTIC FLAIR AND WARMTH OF THE FURNITURE DESIGN. THE ARTISANS VIEW IT AS THE 
OPENING OF THE DOOR TO THE BOUNDLESS CREATIVITY OF THE TRADITIONAL WOOD DESIGN.
CREATIVE BURL WOOD 
PROJECTS FOR EVERY ARTISAN
THE DIVERSITY OF BURL WOOD EXTENDS FAR BEYOND FURNITURE. BURL WOOD PROJECTS SPAN A WIDE 
RANGE OF CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS:
• BURL BOWL TURNING: WOODTURNERS ARE FOND OF BURL BLANKS AS THEY ARE USED TO SPIN BEAUTIFUL, 
NATURAL, BOWL-TURNING. THEIR GRAIN PATTERNS ALSO PROVIDE ANY PARTICULAR BOWL WITH A RICH AND 
ORGANIC APPEARANCE. 
• DECORATIVE OBJECTS: CARVED BOXES, PEPPER MILLS, AND ARTISTIC SCULPTURES BENEFIT FROM THE NATURAL 
VARIATION FOUND IN BURL WOOD. 
• WOOD VENEERS AND INLAYS: ONE CAN USE THIN CUTS OF BURL IN THE FORM OF VENEER DECORATED ON 
LUXURY ITEMS SUCH AS JEWELRY BOXES OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 
• ABILITY TO TAKE CUSTOM HANDLES OR ACCENTS: THE THICK BILBILY AND EYE APPEAL OF THE GRAIN MAKES 
BURL THE PERFECT MATERIAL TO USE IN HOBBY PROJECTS (KNIFE HANDLES, PEN BLANKS, ETC). 
THESE PROJECTS SHOWCASE BURL WOOD'S ADAPTABILITY. WHETHER YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL ARTISAN OR 
A HOBBYIST, BURL WOOD PROJECTS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS CREATIVITY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP.
CHOOSING AND USING BURL WOOD
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH SUCCESSFUL WOODWORKING, IT IS ALSO NECESSARY TO 
CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE BURL. EXOTIC WOOD ZONE OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF 
PREMIUM BURL WOOD SPECIES -- FROM RED MALLEE TO CHECHEN BURL -- EACH WITH 
DISTINCTIVE COLOR, TEXTURE, AND GRAIN COMPLEXITY. 
WHEN WORKING WITH BURL WOOD, REMEMBER:
• WAIT IRREGULARITIES: NATURAL SCRUTINY OR SLITS CAN PASS BY - PORTION OF 
BURLY NATURE. 
• PLAN YOUR PROJECT: BECAUSE BURLED WOOD IS UNIQUE, ALWAYS SKETCH YOUR 
DESIGN TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE GRAIN PATTERNS.
• FINALIZE: FINISH AND SANDING: ADEQUATE SANDING AND FINISHING OF THE WOOD 
WOULD INCREASE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE WOOD AND MAKE IT LAST.
CONCLUSION: THE ENDURING 
APPEAL OF BURLS
BURLS SHALL NOT BE THOUGHT OF AS MERELY WOOD; THEY ARE NATURE'S 
ABSTRACT ART MADE BY TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCE. THE AESTHETIC OF THESE 
PIECES PROVIDED THROUGH THE USE OF BURL WOOD HAS NO COMPARISON, 
AS IT COMBINES THE BEAUTY OF NATURE WITH THAT OF THE HUMAN SKILL OF 
CRAFTING. THE MORE WOODWORKERS GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THE 
POSSIBILITIES OF BURL WOOD, THE MORE BURLS ARE TO BE REGARDED AS 
SOURCES OF CREATIVITY AND ADMIRATION IN THE WOODWORKING 
COMMUNITY.