I drilled some Thuya Burl this evening. I was almost scared at how soft it is. Is this stuff really that soft?? If so am I going to have chip/tear outs?? I have 6 blanks & only drilled two. This stuff makes some very nice calls so with a request for it I decided to drill up a couple pens & see what they look like. :eyebrow:
Guess I should ask where Thuya stands on the oily scale too.
Check with Yotehntr. He uses a hardner on some of his some wood. He might be willing to share his secrets. :shrug:
Thanks Joe. I'll check in with him if he doesn't reply. Hardening won't be a problem actually. I was just surprised at how soft it was. It drilled nice chips up out so I don't think it is punky. Sure is gonna be fun shutting the lathe down for a looksee on this stuff. :eyebrow:
Hey Hammer, I've been pulling min wax wood hardener into spalted wood with a old refigerator compressor and a mason jar. If you decide to do it only pull it once. It makes it a pain if you do if you do it a few times... to hard and gums sandpaper up.
Thanks yotehntr. Not sure I'll need to go that far unless this stuff was supposed to be hard. I would say it had the hardness of poplar. Is this the correct hardness for it??
All the thuya burl I have turned calls from is very hard stuff, like coco or bloodwood.
:shrug: I've never turned any.
It makes nice pens as well. Here is one that I turned a while back.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii57/armyturner/Thuyaburl.jpg)
Yep, you're right Army, it does turn nice pens. Very nice work. :congrats:
Thanks 9th. I'll have to take it slow & easy. Thats a very nice pen armyturner. :congrats: I hope mine turns out that nice. :biggrin: I'm using a very similar kit as the one you show. Should be a looker. :eyebrow:
Well she turned nice. :biggrin: I'll have a couple pics this evening I hope. :eyebrow:
Not THIS evening ya wont :innocentwhistle: :doh2:
:laf: :laf:
Then how about right now??!! :biggrin:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/grs204/Brightwood%20Turnings/ThuyaBurl002.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/grs204/Brightwood%20Turnings/ThuyaBurl003.jpg)
That one looks great. What are you using for a finish?
Thanks army!! :biggrin: Right now I'm using a friction polish & Huts PPP polish. Then a hand buff 2 coats of carnauba wax. Can't wait to get a buffing system. :eyebrow:
You ever try a CA finish? That is the only thing that I use on my pens anymore.
Nice Glen, Real nice. :eyebrownod:
Now....about those finishes......I am an old school Tru Oil guy. What the heck are ya talking about? :shrug:
I've tried the CA finish a time or two army. I always ended up with ridges in the finish. I'm going to turn some poplar round & finish sand it so I can practice on something other than a nice pen. I like the CA finish. I just need more practice with it. You seem to have it mastered tho. :wink:
Thanks Al!!! CA finish is just a super glue finish. armyturner can elaborate better on it than I can. I'm afraid I might lead you the wrong way since I don't use it much. Friction finishes are applied to the turning with the lathe spinning full out. The heat generated sets the finish to the project & it only takes a few minutes to apply. It is not as durable as a CA finish tho. Look around here for a tutorial by AL (THO Gamecalls) on the CA finish. You just might like what you read in it. :wink: