Wood ID

Re: Wood ID

Hi Ellis:

No help on the wood type, but I really like both the wood grain and the form.  What did you apply for finish it has a nice sheen, but not too much?

Cheers.  Be safe and stay well.

Barry W. Larson

Calgary, Alberta, Canada eh!

Marblewood

Agree, Marblewood

Could be a made up name from, what was his name, Jim King, RIP? He was shipping that up to Woodcraft Stores from South America.

Re: 3rd vote for Marblewood

Re: Wood ID

Thanks Barry. It is one coat of Bush Oil. Gonna give it one more and then rub it out with a cloth.

Ellis

Quadra Island, eh!

Re: Marblewood

Yes, that was my working theory and you've confirmed it. Since then I've consulted the Wood Database and learned a lot more about it. Should have gone there first. As a turning wood, this stuff is quite hard and dense, but creamy, if that makes sense. I had to sharpen my cobalt tips and Glaser CPM V15 more than once to get a bite.

Thanks for the quick insights. I don't know how I managed to miss marblewood in all the years I've been woodworking.

Ellis

Re: Wood ID

Definitely looks like Marblewood to me. I turned a bowl from it and have another turning block sitting not far from where I am. (Yes, that's right, I store some wood in my living room.)

Re: Wood ID

Dang I like that wood, as well as the shape, which doesn’t compete with wood. I have to wonder what causes that “mineral streaking” if that what it’s called. I does not seem to relate with the annual rings. 

Re: Wood ID

Not that the coloring is any of my doing, but I was real happy with the way the bowl came out. Won't fall over, but it has a shallow round bottom. Sort of a woodturned weeble, in that it will wobble but won't fall down. Went to a good friend for his birthday. He and his wife have several of my turnings. The other piece of Marblewood that I have is not as big, so I'm still guessing what shape it should get. I do like the wood.

I don't know what causes the coloring, but I guess it's pretty regular as it is associated with the genus, not something like curly or birdseye.

Bush Oil

Ellis,  Happy to see you using Bush Oil.  I do too. I put on a soaking coat of Watco Danish first, because it's a lot thinner in viscosity, and then a couple coats of Bush Oil to complete the job.  One coat of Bush Oil is worth 4 coats of Watco Danish in terms of the resin content.  For those not familiar with it, Bush Oil is not easy to find -- you pretty much have to get it from the owner directly -- but it's a great product.  It is obviously not just oil -- it's a proprietary blend of the typical woodturners' finish components including both oils and varnish resins.  

my only use of marblewood...

...to date is for a handle.  (It's closely related to Tigre Caspi.)  This one is on one of my hollowing torque arresters welded for me by CA Savoy (RIP).  According to the Wood Database, the specific gravity at 12% MC is 1.00, which means it may sink in water.  It's a nice, solid handle with a Hosaluk insert.  How do you like my twist-tie "laser"?  ;-)  It's not obvious from the photo, but it's actually a modified octagon -- four flats and four curved sides.  Turned from a "turning square".  Makes for a nice grip.  

Re: my only use of marblewood...

Gary, I also have the same hollowing tool made by C.A, The twist tie "laser" is something new to me. Did you invent it? Very clever.

Re: Wood ID

Ellis, I didn't mean to stray from your post.

Aside from the type of wood, it's a beautiful vessel! How thin are the walls? Do you use any kind of restraining JIg? Do you use a laser?

Re: Wood ID

Sorry I didn't notice your reply, Eliot. Thanks for the kind words. The walls are a pretty uniform 3/16", and no, I don't use a laser or a mechanical tool holder -- just hand and eye, the workmanship of risk.

Ellis