Thanks for the info about the birch. I had never seen one of the kuksa cups, pretty cool looking. When the snow melts, I'll see if there are any interesting burls and cut one out for you. I'll mail you one (if there are any) if you want to provide me with an address.

Again, thanks for the info. I may use a small bit of birch to create a pattern or somthing, but will look to the beetle killed white spruce in my back yard for the wood to build my kayak with.

> Birch is a bit denser than cedar, spruce, or redwood, but it is a
> beautiful wood. (And it's still lighter than most mahogany, oak, maple,
> and walnut)

> I think sawyers figure that wood dries at a rate of 1" per year. If
> you were to saw the tree into 1" planks, you'd have to let them
> air-dry for 6 months (1/2" drying from each side).

> The Lapps make a traditional drinking cup called a kuksa from birch
> burls--It has been used hundreds of years by the people of Lapland,
> Finland. It is still very popular among outdoors people. My brother
> brought me back one from his summer trip to Finland--I'd love to make
> another for my wife--let me know if you have any "interesting"
> burls in that tree you might sell me. I could also send you a sketch or
> dimensions if you'd like to try carving one. Birch has such beautiful
> grain patterns and the kuksa really highlights them.

> here are a couple more image links:
> http://www.lappia-tradehouse.fi/collection/kuva-5.jpg
> http://www.polarcraft.net/prod/2rl.jpg
> http://www.polarcraft.net/prod/1rl.jpg