Words and Photos by Jeffrey Schulz

In the winter of 2023, Southern California witnessed some of its heaviest rains in recent memory, causing flooding and land movement. Highly saturated grounds often give way to large trees which have weathered the elements for hundreds of years. When one such oak falls just up the road, past the Y, behind the cemetery in the Arbolada, it is of interest to a green woodworker, and word spreads amongst the woodsmen. It requires a visit.

The bark of the oak appears straight, meaning there is little twist. And large portions uninterrupted by branches or knots mean there may be some pieces in there that may be favorable for furniture. Long pieces of oak with continuous grain, still containing a considerable moisture content, are often great for steam-bending. And working the parts wet, or green as we say, means the rivings, which are split from the log, follow the grain and will work nicely — carving and sculpting between the growth rings of the tree. The grain of wood must always be considered, but working while wet resists much splintering and tearing out.

Crafting a chair from a tree or a simple log might seem hard to imagine. In its simplest form, we can sit on a log, as we can sit on many things. However, the real magic happens when we dissect that tree, take its parts and arrange them thoughtfully. The design possibilities for a chair are vast and continually evolving. When an oak tree no longer stands, it leaves behind the gift of its potential. It's a reminder that we often overlook the tree as a mere object in our daily lives, yet we can create from it a multitude of other objects, each with its purpose, which we may not always fully appreciate.

What if we appreciated it for where it came from? What if we got to know the craftsman and even understood the tree itself, which once stood in your yard or community and still lingers, even after it has fallen? Often, people admire wood primarily for its beautiful or exotic grain, and that's entirely valid. However, we should also appreciate wood for its structural strength and durability. The remarkable thing about wood, especially from a robust oak tree, is that its existence doesn't cease with its fall. It can be repurposed into various objects that continue to serve human purposes, thereby extending its life in a meaningful way. Wood remains responsive to its environment, expanding and contracting with the changing seasons, much like our bodies. To ensure it lasts, we must treat wood with care, just as we do with our bodies, so it can continue to be a valuable resource.

When looking at a log's end grain, two rings represent one year of growth. One tight, hard ring signifies drier, slow growth. While the wider, softer ring represents the wet season when the tree is taking in considerably greater amounts of moisture and growing. When the maker manipulates the wood to be joined with grains meeting in various orientations, the parts to be joined must be dried. This ensures a secure fit but does not exclude the possibility of growth or movement in wet or dry environments, respectively. The pieces are oriented in such a way as to allow for possible expansion and contraction and to avoid damaging the piece. We know wood will expand and contract greatest in the tangential plane; therefore, components are oriented perpendicular to their mating grain, so the expansion occurs into the long grain and does not split the wood.

A chair can be crafted in any style — from rustic to elegant, adorned or simple, tailored to your preferences and requirements. Handmade chairs are crafted with a specific purpose or setting in mind. Whether for contemplation, playing music, milking goats, or sharing meals with family, a chair's roots lie in an oak tree that once provided shade and now continues to provide a place to rest.

If you want to get in touch with Jeffrey, you can find him at JAWSWOODWORKING.COM