Arghhhh!

[Big J]

Found myself this evening fighting to secure an Elm butt that was promised to us from a privately owned communal garden in Edinburgh. A friend felled it, we were due to mill it this week and the committee has decided that they want to carve a bench from it, rather than it be milled. This is a 16ft 3.5ft diameter faultless elm butt with the darkest, richest red colour you've ever seen. The very thought of it being turned into a bloody chainsaw carved bench (no disrespect, but chainsaw carving should be restricted to logs not suitable for sawmilling) makes my blood boil.

 

Best idea I can think of it to offer them a bench from one of the slabs instead. Any other ideas would be hugely appreciated. It needs to be impressed upon them that such Elms are a real rarity now, and those that we have standing are all that is left. The current stock of younger trees will never make that size.

[Woodworks]

Offer them a another butt that would be fine for chainsaw carving a seat from maybe a knotty oak not suitable for planking and point out to them it would last longer than elm.

 

Good luck with your negotiations

[Brick100]

Your idea is the best option.

[KYPE]

Offer to make them two benches made from your own Elm board stock or one from there own log + £ . Wee bit more cash £££ to them may help , to secure the log. They cant see the true value of the timber + history. City garden groups always the same, nightmare to deal with!!. Good luck.

[Goaty]

Offer a percentage of value to charity in their behalf and a lump for them to carve up.

[Pat Ferrett]

Sounds like they have you on the run and your playing into there hands by praising the timber.

 

Best to walk away and hope they change their minds.

[WorcsWuss]

Sounds like they have you on the run and your playing into there hands by praising the timber.

 

Best to walk away and hope they change their minds.

 

I very much doubt they're that smart Jammy... I suspect they will just have an [understandable] sentimental attachment to the tree.....

 

The short lifespan of an outdoor bench made from the wood will probably be your best selling point, and as suggested, the offer of a more suitable butt....

 

Get your most sincere smile on Jonathan and sell it to them!

[Grass hopper]

Go in late at night with the truck and that will be that , best of luck.

[slackbladder]

I think the idea of a large garden bench with arms is the best and will last longer than the carved butt

[Gnome]

tell them they make coffins out of elm and that they will end up sitting on a death bench. the old ones don't like that sort of thing especially as winter takes a few of them.

joking aside I think a substitute bench or combination of benches would probably go down better. Something with the name of the place carved in?