I just bought a few b.f. of shorts from Lee Valley's warehouse sale.
The wood seems covered with wax, though now that I read a bit on the
internet it appears this may actually be oil from the wood...or not.
Can I plane this wood on my [DW 734]? will the surface wax/oil gum up my
knives?
It looks like it may only be good for turning - or can I dress it and use it
as an accent with other woods (maple or birch)?
Graham Gilbert wrote:
> I just bought a few b.f. of shorts from Lee Valley's warehouse sale.
>
> The wood seems covered with wax, though now that I read a bit on the
> internet it appears this may actually be oil from the wood...or not.
>
> Can I plane this wood on my [DW 734]? will the surface wax/oil gum
> up my knives?
>
> It looks like it may only be good for turning - or can I dress it
> and use it as an accent with other woods (maple or birch)?
As others said (more or less), it is wood: use it like any other wood.
It is the world's *heaviest* wood though. Also, don't be surprised if
it turns sky blue when you finish it. Or a bilious green. The color
is only temporary and after a day or two it will change to a nice
brown.
--
dadiOH
____________________________
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...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:24:57 GMT, "Graham Gilbert"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I just bought a few b.f. of shorts from Lee Valley's warehouse sale.
>
>The wood seems covered with wax, though now that I read a bit on the
>internet it appears this may actually be oil from the wood...or not.
>
>Can I plane this wood on my [DW 734]? will the surface wax/oil gum up my
>knives?
>
>It looks like it may only be good for turning - or can I dress it and use it
>as an accent with other woods (maple or birch)?
>
Howdy,
It is likely that the material you see is wax... (that is,
not from the wood.)
I have often seen pieces that were dipped in wax for a few
inches on each end to decrease the chance of checking. I
would guess that Lee Valley, or their supplier, just went
wild with the wax.
It would certainly seem to me that you could dress it and
use it in any way you might want, though I personally have
not used it that way.
All the best,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
On Feb 24, 5:02 pm, Kenneth <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:24:57 GMT, "Graham Gilbert"
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >I just bought a few b.f. of shorts from Lee Valley's warehouse sale.
>
> >The wood seems covered with wax, though now that I read a bit on the
> >internet it appears this may actually be oil from the wood...or not.
>
> >Can I plane this wood on my [DW 734]? will the surface wax/oil gum up my
> >knives?
>
> >It looks like it may only be good for turning - or can I dress it and use it
> >as an accent with other woods (maple or birch)?
>
> Howdy,
>
> It is likely that the material you see is wax... (that is,
> not from the wood.)
>
> I have often seen pieces that were dipped in wax for a few
> inches on each end to decrease the chance of checking. I
> would guess that Lee Valley, or their supplier, just went
> wild with the wax.
>
>
Bowl blanks are often dipped in wax.
--
FF
Graham Gilbert wrote:
> I just bought a few b.f. of shorts from Lee Valley's warehouse sale.
>
> The wood seems covered with wax, though now that I read a bit on the
> internet it appears this may actually be oil from the wood...or not.
>
> Can I plane this wood on my [DW 734]? will the surface wax/oil gum
> up
> my knives?
>
> It looks like it may only be good for turning - or can I dress it
> and
> use it as an accent with other woods (maple or birch)?
The middle box here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39383723@N00/336793880/in/set-72157594445381450/
is lignum vitae. Planes fine--do a _lot_ of it and you'll dull steel
knives but a short or three should be no problem. While it's oily,
it's not _that_ oily, what you see on the surface is wax. The natural
oil is a pretty good lubricant which is why the Navy uses it for the
shaft bearings on aircraft carriers. You can use it as an accent, but
I'd advise using an epoxy rather than a PVA glue, and bond the
surfaces fresh-cut.
Stuff will polish to a near-mirror finish using just its natural oil.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:24:57 GMT, "Graham Gilbert"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I just bought a few b.f. of shorts from Lee Valley's warehouse sale.
>
>The wood seems covered with wax, though now that I read a bit on the
>internet it appears this may actually be oil from the wood...or not.
>
>Can I plane this wood on my [DW 734]? will the surface wax/oil gum up my
>knives?
>
>It looks like it may only be good for turning - or can I dress it and use it
>as an accent with other woods (maple or birch)?
>
It *is* covered in wax. This is to prevent splits and checking.
Sure, go ahead and plane it. I got a small piece once and it planed
just fine. Definitely pay attention to grain direction or you'll get
plenty of tear out.