Set Aside Crotch

One area where you will have a higher probability of finding a beautiful pattern is in crotch wood. Crotch wood is found where two main trunk lines, or a trunk and a large limb, join to form a “Y”. The intersection is where two different grain patterns merge, often forming a swirling effect within the grain pattern of the crotch.

Crotch wood can be used for several applications where this highly figured grain pattern can be showcased:

Table top: A slab table is a great way to showcase a beautiful piece of crotch wood. This allows a large surface area to remain intact, and provides maximum visibility for the grain pattern in the crotch.

Turned bowl: Bowl turners love to find a piece of crotch wood to turn into a bowl. The bowl is a special project for using crotch wood because it captures such a large diameter of the crotch, showcasing the grain pattern from around the perimeter rather than simply a cross-section as you would see in a table top.

Decorative wall art: Some woodworkers use crotch wood to create art pieces that can be hung on a wall like a painting. This is a great way to honor a piece of crotch.

Whether you have a chainsaw mill, bandsaw mill, or simply a bandsaw in your shop, you will want to explore the possibility of incorporating crotch wood into your woodworking.