I have a friend who wants me to build him another table. The proportions of
the table would amount to a relatively large coffee table. It will actually
be used for writing, but due to a back problem, he is most comfortable
sitting on the floor, which is why the table height will be about 14". We
looked at lumber today, and he is really enamoured with making the top from
padauk and the base from Gaboon ebony. He's aware that just the lumber to
make the base will run somewhere around $800-900. Around here, Gaboon ebony
is $112/BF. My question is: assuming money is not the greatest concern, is
there anything inherently nuts about making a table base from ebony?
todd
I need to wear a respirator when working with ebony. It's the only wood
I have problems with and I don't have any other allergies.
RB
todd wrote:
> "Norm Dresner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>"Victor Frost" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>Definitely will be sturdy enough. Envious that you know people with
>>
> that
>
>>>much money to spend. Dream job. Bet it will be great. Looks like a
>>
> great
>
>>>idea to me.
>>
>>I can't remember if ebony is an oily wood or not. If it is, you'll have
>
> to
>
>>select any glues you use carefully.
>>
>> Norm
>
>
> My copy of "The Complete Manual of Woodworking" does not denote ebony as an
> oily wood, although it does mention that the workability is difficult. Does
> anyone have experience working ebony and know the kinds of things to watch
> for?
>
> todd
>
>
I used padauk to make my front door a couple of years ago. I used
urethane (Gorilla glue or equivalent) and have had no problems.
RB
todd wrote:
> I have a friend who wants me to build him another table. The proportions of
> the table would amount to a relatively large coffee table. It will actually
> be used for writing, but due to a back problem, he is most comfortable
> sitting on the floor, which is why the table height will be about 14". We
> looked at lumber today, and he is really enamoured with making the top from
> padauk and the base from Gaboon ebony. He's aware that just the lumber to
> make the base will run somewhere around $800-900. Around here, Gaboon ebony
> is $112/BF. My question is: assuming money is not the greatest concern, is
> there anything inherently nuts about making a table base from ebony?
>
> todd
>
>
If you've never used Gorilla glue practice a bit first. It will expand
and flow out on your work over a period of perhaps 30 minutes if too
much is applied. In some situations I apply masking tape if I'm
concerned about glue flowing out onto the work.
Remember that the chemical reaction associated with the curing of
urethane requires water. I usually very slightly, emphasis on slightly,
dampen the surfaces to be joined.
RB
Todd Fatheree wrote:
> I received another suggestion for Gorilla Glue from Steve Knight, so that's
> what I'll be going with. Thanks for the input.
>
> todd
>
> "RB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I used padauk to make my front door a couple of years ago. I used
>>urethane (Gorilla glue or equivalent) and have had no problems.
>>
>>RB
>>
>>todd wrote:
>>
>>>I have a friend who wants me to build him another table. The
>>
> proportions of
>
>>>the table would amount to a relatively large coffee table. It will
>>
> actually
>
>>>be used for writing, but due to a back problem, he is most comfortable
>>>sitting on the floor, which is why the table height will be about 14".
>>
> We
>
>>>looked at lumber today, and he is really enamoured with making the top
>>
> from
>
>>>padauk and the base from Gaboon ebony. He's aware that just the lumber
>>
> to
>
>>>make the base will run somewhere around $800-900. Around here, Gaboon
>>
> ebony
>
>>>is $112/BF. My question is: assuming money is not the greatest concern,
>>
> is
>
>>>there anything inherently nuts about making a table base from ebony?
>>>
>>>todd
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
"Victor Frost" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Definitely will be sturdy enough. Envious that you know people with that
> much money to spend. Dream job. Bet it will be great. Looks like a great
> idea to me.
My friend isn't what I'd call wealthy, but what he has, he doesn't mind
spending the money on. He has some specific design concerns here, so he's
willing to spend the money to get exactly what he wants.
todd
"Victor Frost" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Definitely will be sturdy enough. Envious that you know people with that
> much money to spend. Dream job. Bet it will be great. Looks like a great
> idea to me.
I can't remember if ebony is an oily wood or not. If it is, you'll have to
select any glues you use carefully.
Norm
"Norm Dresner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Victor Frost" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Definitely will be sturdy enough. Envious that you know people with
that
> > much money to spend. Dream job. Bet it will be great. Looks like a
great
> > idea to me.
>
> I can't remember if ebony is an oily wood or not. If it is, you'll have
to
> select any glues you use carefully.
>
> Norm
My copy of "The Complete Manual of Woodworking" does not denote ebony as an
oily wood, although it does mention that the workability is difficult. Does
anyone have experience working ebony and know the kinds of things to watch
for?
todd
RB <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:
> If you've never used Gorilla glue practice a bit first. It will
> expand and flow out on your work over a period of perhaps 30 minutes
> if too much is applied. In some situations I apply masking tape if
> I'm concerned about glue flowing out onto the work.
>
> Remember that the chemical reaction associated with the curing of
> urethane requires water. I usually very slightly, emphasis on
> slightly, dampen the surfaces to be joined.
>
> RB
>
And wear latex/nitrile gloves, to keep this stuff off of your skin. It
stays for a week, before wearing off.
Otherwise, good stuff!
Patriarch
You'll need a forklift to move it. :)
"Norm Dresner" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Victor Frost" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Definitely will be sturdy enough. Envious that you know people with that
> > much money to spend. Dream job. Bet it will be great. Looks like a great
> > idea to me.
>
> I can't remember if ebony is an oily wood or not. If it is, you'll have to
> select any glues you use carefully.
>
> Norm
I received another suggestion for Gorilla Glue from Steve Knight, so that's
what I'll be going with. Thanks for the input.
todd
"RB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I used padauk to make my front door a couple of years ago. I used
> urethane (Gorilla glue or equivalent) and have had no problems.
>
> RB
>
> todd wrote:
> > I have a friend who wants me to build him another table. The
proportions of
> > the table would amount to a relatively large coffee table. It will
actually
> > be used for writing, but due to a back problem, he is most comfortable
> > sitting on the floor, which is why the table height will be about 14".
We
> > looked at lumber today, and he is really enamoured with making the top
from
> > padauk and the base from Gaboon ebony. He's aware that just the lumber
to
> > make the base will run somewhere around $800-900. Around here, Gaboon
ebony
> > is $112/BF. My question is: assuming money is not the greatest concern,
is
> > there anything inherently nuts about making a table base from ebony?
> >
> > todd
> >
> >
>
I haven't used a lot of ebony, but I have made a few pens on the lathe.
Ebony doesn't like heat - it will cause it to crack. When I make pens, I
have to go real slow especially with the sanding and drilling to avoid heat
build-up or I'll surely get a cracked pen.
Buy all your ebony at one place and one time. There are sublte shades of
black to dark brown - try to get it all out of the same tree.
Ebony may not be an "oily wood", but paduk sure is. I've had the best luck
with epoxy.
Double check your finish on some scrap (always good advice). Some woods
inhibit the drying of oil finishes (I don't know about oil and either ebony
or paduk).
"todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a friend who wants me to build him another table. The proportions
of
> the table would amount to a relatively large coffee table. It will
actually
> be used for writing, but due to a back problem, he is most comfortable
> sitting on the floor, which is why the table height will be about 14". We
> looked at lumber today, and he is really enamoured with making the top
from
> padauk and the base from Gaboon ebony. He's aware that just the lumber to
> make the base will run somewhere around $800-900. Around here, Gaboon
ebony
> is $112/BF. My question is: assuming money is not the greatest concern,
is
> there anything inherently nuts about making a table base from ebony?
>
> todd
>
>
"Jeff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You'll need a forklift to move it. :)
Well, you've got that right. I just added up the numbers, and the table
(not including the two drawers, will be right around 100 lbs. This is for a
60"Lx33"Wx14"H table. When it's all said and done, probably 2/3 of the
weight will be in the top.
todd
On Mon, 10 May 2004 23:20:54 -0400, RB <[email protected]> wrote:
>I need to wear a respirator when working with ebony. It's the only wood
>I have problems with and I don't have any other allergies.
padouk makes some of the finest dust of most tropicals. it was a real battle to
get my dc to get it and keep it out of the air. so watch out.
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.
Todd,
Here's a few of my secret sources for exotics! I'm sure you can do much
better with about any of these sights. I'd bet by at least 1/2 ! Don't tell
anyone now, this is a secret! lol I've done business with all of them over
the years with much satisfaction.
http://www.gilmerwood.com/ , http://www.anexotichardwood.com/ ,
http://www.eisenbran.com/ , http://www.righteouswoods.net/
--
just more hot air! 8^)
Sherm
aka "cuesmith" in yahoo
Sherm Custom Billiard Cues by,
Sherman Adamson
3352 Nine Mile Rd., Cincinnati Ohio 45255
Shop (513)553-2172, Cell (513)509-9152
http://www.shermcue.com Over 20 years experience
almost a decade in "The American Cuemakers Association"
"todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a friend who wants me to build him another table. The proportions
of
> the table would amount to a relatively large coffee table. It will
actually
> be used for writing, but due to a back problem, he is most comfortable
> sitting on the floor, which is why the table height will be about 14". We
> looked at lumber today, and he is really enamoured with making the top
from
> padauk and the base from Gaboon ebony. He's aware that just the lumber to
> make the base will run somewhere around $800-900. Around here, Gaboon
ebony
> is $112/BF. My question is: assuming money is not the greatest concern,
is
> there anything inherently nuts about making a table base from ebony?
>
> todd
>
>