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Need Peppermill wood types!!

Posts

Need Peppermill wood types!!

#1

Need Peppermill wood types!!

Chuck Ludwigsen

>Hi folks,

I was ask to make a salt and pepper mill set for someone and find myself in a bit of a bind.

I had picked up a piece of African Walnut that I thought would be good. First of all, this stuff wood set any smoke detector off when cutting or drilling. I was going at a slow, even pace and everything. I roughed one of them and started drilling the base, it generated so much heat, no matter what I did, that it cracked the wood.

So, this one is wastewood, I don't want them to be of different woods, so I need to go buy something else before next week.

Can y'all recommend other good, STABLE, woods for peppermills? Something that is naturally foodsafe and won't crack up like this did? By the way, the fumes this stuff gave off when it was smoking makes me think the Almighty was telling me not to use it. I think I'll listen to Him. My sinuses are inflamed and I WAS wearing a respirator.

Any help on wood types wood be appreciated. Medium to dark preferably. I have the Colco hardwoods store here that I'll check out based on your recommendations.

Thanks,

Chuck in Memphis, TN.

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

#2

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

Greg W. in NC

>Chuck,

I use a lot of maple (curly, big leaf, ambrosia, hard/rock, etc), ash, holly, olive wood and walnut. Cherry is also popular. Be sure your bit is sharp with any of them. Just be sure wood is dry, otherwise if it warps at all, then the tenon won't seat properly in the hole, and it will be tight.

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

#3

Plain old hardwoods work well

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Chuck,

I use Spalted Beech, Maple, Cherry, Walnut, and even Mahogany. All work well for this application.

I've have no problems drilling ever since I went with a very hefty 1" diameter twist bit I bought at Home Depot. While drilling, I use compressed air to blow out the chips, and help to keep the bit cool.

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

#4

Re: 1" twist bit?

Bruce McElhaney Spring Lake, MI

>Dominic, What is the name or brand of the 1" twist bit you got from Home Depot? I was at Home Depot the other day looking for the exact same thing. All I could find was auger, forster or paddlewheel bits in that size.

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

#5

Lowes

Tony - Memphis

>I found one at Lowe's the other day. Its a big chunk of metal!

Tony

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

#6

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

Tony - Memphis

>I bought a piece of claro walnut from Lee Valley that is really nice. Not crazy about the open grain, but it is a nice piece of wood. Has some nice curl too. I have purchased some nice turning blanks on Ebay too. I have a pepper mill kit at home waiting for me to get to it. IT'll be my first, so I may turn a test model out of poplar or some scrap maple.

Tony

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

#7

Re: Plain old hardwoods work well *LINK*

John U - Charlotte, NC

>...another source for 1" twist drill: Wholesale Tool - 1" taper shank drill bit.

www.wttool.com, search for item 0101-0370.


Wholesale Tool

Re: Need Peppermill wood types!!

#8

Re: 1" twist bit?

Nelson Brooks

>I use a 1in. brad point from Woodcraft and it does a great job, little expensive but has held up good.

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