Using lilac and buckthorn

[Kevin6Q]

My day job is landscaping and today we pruned up some huge lilacs and have been cutting buckthorn. I have a few 6" diameter logs to mill into blanks for making some turkey calls; scratchboxes and tongue calls. Anyone have any experience with these woods?

[M,Yingling]

I had some great lookin lilac had all the purples and strips in it ,,mine destroyed its self well drying seal heavy and dry slowly

[callmakerman]

I've turned lilac for strikers and it worked real well but I left the log whole. This stuff really likes to split as it dries so good luck.

[Kevin6Q]

Do you think it will be less prone to crack if I mill it first or allow it to dry as a log before milling? I'll seas the ends with wax in the morning.

[callmakerman]

I could be wrong but it may be the nature of the beast to split when drying. Most lilac does have a twist to it and this may be a factor in the end result. I would seal the ends and leave it for at least 6 months if you can. I'm not an expert on this wood by any means just giving my results.

[Kevin6Q]

Thanks for the help and advice. Since this is all an experiment and I can get more wood if need be and to increase the  density of the learning experience I am going to mill some and let some dry in log form. I'll keep you posted as to the progress towards a call or the woodstove.

[Crawdad]

Kevin, I have used Lilac for Duck & Trumpet calls, it is very beautiful wood but doesn't like the drying process. If you ever get more than you need I will gladly buy some from you. Good luck with drying.

[callmakerman]

Kevin, I have used Lilac for Duck & Trumpet calls, it is very beautiful wood but doesn't like the drying process. If you ever get more than you need I will gladly buy some from you. Good luck with drying.

I would buy some as well. Like I said before it really does make a nice striker if you can get the right piece of wood.

[M,Yingling]

I would say get it cut up and get the pith out of the wood cut the blanks over sized and would seal more then just the ends ,,,, remined me of plum wood drying and that I do seal the whole blank but about an inch of center,, if u have blanks that are going to be round I have had good success drying plum blanks after rounding well they are wet  again go over sized they are going to warp and twist a bit well drying ,,,DNA soak would help also but may want test piece make sure don't kill colors