Mimosa

Mimosa?

Shawn - in ID

>Put that on the lathe and you'll get pretty wet...your supposed to drink mimosa. Sorry, haven't turned it, just couldn't resist the connection.

Re: Mimosa

Andrew Hilton

>I turned a bit of it at a regional fair this summer that someone brought for me. It's actually pretty nice stuff! At least the wood that I got.

Nice grain and color. Not tough on the tools. Kinda splintery but not bad. Takes a good shine. Grows like weeds in this area. This was fairly dry so I don't know about movement or cracking.

Mimosa is the only wood that bothers me.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>Hi Ralph,

I have turned a few pieces of mimosa and it is OK as far a turning wood goes. But for some reason when I start to turn it I have to have to put on a mask even with the dust collection on. No problem with cocobolo, silky oak or anything else that seems to bother a lot of people. It is a respiratory irritation. No problem with skin contact. Go figure. I have some pictures somewhere. I will try to find them if you are interested.

Dave Smith

Silktree takes my breathe away in Longview, WA.

SWMBO's alergic to it too

Phil Joines, Krum, Tx

>

Re: Mimosa

Glenn Hodges

>Ralph, in the past I have turned a lot of mimosa. It had dark color, medium hardness, and I do not remember any reaction to the dust. My customers like it.

Nashville, Ga.

Re: Mimosa

Don Orr

>I agree with Dave. Real pretty wood, great grain and color. It's also the only wood (so far) that irritates me a little in my nose while turning. It is also called silkwood tree. I think the wood is beautiful. I got mine from my father-in-laws' yard in Queens, NY. It was dead when I took it down so it was fairly dry. Mine actually is a little tough on tools. Freshly turned before sanding I can see fine granules of what seems to be silica or sand. Very abrasive. However, when polished up nicely, the wood has a striking, almost iridescent glow. (Chatoyance?)

Give it a try and good luck. Be safe, Don

Re: Mimosa

Chris Wright

>Hi Ralph,

I turned alot of Mimosa last year. A tree at my wife's work split itself in 1/2 at a rotted crotch and her boss called me to come get the trunk.

Mimosa is a Japanese ornamental tree, considered an invasive alien plant here in the states. When topped, the tree can sprout up to 4 feet in a single year. This provides for huge separation in the growth rings, creating some really cool heartwood to sapwood divisions. It turns like butter when wet, but has a tendancy for tearout. Sands easily and when sanded to a high grit it shines nicely. Here are some pictures of items I turned from that tree.

have fun,

Chris

second picture

Chris Wright

>Here's the other picture of a mimosa bowl.

Re: second picture *LINK*

RevDoug

>thanks for sharing Chris. its good to see you're working at the lathe again.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug


Wood Spun Round