Cabbage palmetto derives its name from the taste of its leaf buds.

Around the world, the palm tree family numbers more than 2,000 species. Most of them grow in tropical lands and are best known for the products they yield, such as oil, nuts, dates, and sugar, rather than their odd wood. Its non-grainy compaction of very hard fibers is not like wood at all.

The cabbage palmetto (Sabal palmetto) of South Carolina and Florida is a palm, also, but a far cry from its graceful tropical cousins. Cabbage palmetto is rather small and plain, barely reaching 50' tall and a 24" diameter. Nevertheless, the tree contributed mightily to our history.

When General William Moultrie defended Charleston Harbor against the British fleet on June 28, 1776, he and his patriot army of South Carolinians were protected by a stockade built of cabbage palm logs. Today, that occasion is commemorated on the state seal of South Carolina, prominently embellished with the image of a cabbage palm.

Beyond its historical value, the cabbage palm does have some commercial value. Its main claim to fame is the tender leaf bud at the top of the trunk that, when cooked, takes on a cabbage-like flavor. You'll find it canned and labeled “heart of palm” in some supermarkets. The tree’s wood has little value, though, except as fence posts and poles. And cross sections of cabbage palm are occasionally worked into lustrous tabletops for the tourist trade.

Some other palm species, such as Southeast Asia's sugar palm, exhibit greater versatility. Its trunk is tapped and the liquid boiled down to a tasty sugar. When harvested young, its fruit provides sustenance, too. The outer portions of the sugar palm’s trunk are made into tool handles. Other fibrous parts become rope.

Written by Peter J. Stephano
Illustration: Brian Jensen
'WOOD' Online

Joe Maierbacker put together an inlay kit that he had purchased.  It was of the United States and it had all types of different woods.

Henry Davis brought in pictures taken at Christmas party for everyone to look at.  He also made a band saw box.  He showed how he had cut out the ½ circles on the ends of the lid.  He showed the jig he made for his band saw to cut out these ½ circles.  He lined the inside with felt.

Maurice Ryan showed a Cherry candleholder, which he had gotten the wood for it from Tom Gillard's scrap pile.  He also brought in a husband and wife carving that he had purchase when they were in Texas.  He showed a Mallet made of Red Oak that he had turned in High School.  He also showed a mallet that was Ruth’s Great Grandfather’s.

Bob Reese brought in a box that he made when he was about 15.  It was carved and he made it for the girl next door that later became his wife.  He also showed a Walnut CandleHolder that he made recently.

Ross Roepke brought in a cabinet that goes with the bed he made for his grand daughter.  The back he made floating since he made it from solid wood and did not want it to split.  It is made out of Mahogany.  It was ¼ sawed, which is also called Striped Mahogany.

Bob Leonard thanked the club for giving him the award at the Christmas party.  He brought in a pumpkin he made from eastern gall rust.  He also showed a bird and snake made from corkscrew.  He also showed a base with carved animals, outhouse and a farmer that was folk art he did about 25 years ago.  He brought a Knife made of local woods and a sheath for it also made of local woods.

Hugh Hurst showed a natural edge bowl he turned out of Sassafras.

Phil Bishop showed a Walnut table he made ages ago.

Loyd Ackerman brought in a Maple bowl that he made.  He also brought in a table made of curly maple, which he sanded, to 320 grit and than used Deft Oil on it.  About 4 to 5 coats sanding in between coats.  The front he lamented using a vacuum press and polyurethane glue.  He thanked the club for is award given at the Christmas party.

Billy May showed the Santa Claus that he carved.

Doyle McConnell showed the Cherry bassinets that in made in Nov. 1986 and it has brass tags on it for each baby that has used it.  9 grandchildren and 2 friend’s children have used it.  He said it is now ready for the great grand children.

Bill Davis went to Arrowmont in Gatlinburg and attended a router seminar while his wife attended a stain-glass seminar.  He learned how to make 6 different kinds of boxes made with a router.  He showed several of these boxes.  He also went to a woodturning seminar in Nashville and he showed a Maple, Bradford Pear, Cherry and Walnut bowls that he turned.  He power sanded a couple of the bowls.  He also showed a round box that he made with his router.

Tom Gillard brought in some of his old inlayed belt buckles and a couple of the sailboats that he makes.

Tom Cowan brought in a very large poplar bowl.

• Reliant 1/2 HP mortising machine with bits $150. My sister's husband has had to quit woodworking and she's selling his mortising machine. I hasn't been used much. Try it out!
• My sister's dovetail jig. $45. This is a Hartville Jig with 1/2 template and instructions. It sells new for $99 Go to this site for a details: Hartville Tools

Dont forget to check the forum page for more items that are FOR SALE

As it turns out George doesn't have a need for the Tormek system.  It was mentioned at the party and at the December meeting that if this was the case the club would buy back the system and auction it off in the future, well the future is near.  At the February meeting the Tormek will be auctioned.  Here are some of the detail for you to think about.

The Tormek Super Grind System and accessories can be seen on page 90 of the January 2004 "Woodcrafts" Catalog.
                                                                                                                                                     click above

Items can still be donated, as this is a year round effort on the part of the Company.  Just get your donation to Tom Gillard and he will forward it on to Oldham.  Thanks again and Happy New Year.

Ever wondered why the cherry tabletop of your prized drop leaf split? Probably the same reason my turned vase no longer holds water — improperly dried or constructed without allowance for shrinkage. Phil Bishop and Tom Cowan teamed up to give us the rundown on wood drying and the effects of shrinkage on wood projects (potential disaster!). Thanks to both of you. There will be fewer pieces of kindling for my fireplace now that I can foil mother nature as she attempts to rip my treasures apart.