Thread: Amboyna burl and African blackwood

Originally Posted by JDM61

Sweet!!!!! Is the amboyna stabilized or natural?

Funny you ask that. My first go at this handle, I screwed up the first one, I stabilized the Amboyna or at least I tried to. I noticed very little weight gain of the material after I was finished doing it which means the penetration of the stabilizing fluid was very minimal. I think Amboyna/Paduak is one of those woods that's bordering on too oily and acidic to stabilize. So I resorted back to what I've done in the past with this handle, and vacuum treated it with a Marine Teakwood oil. Then applied 3 more coats over a course of a week using 0000 steel wool in between coats. Then polished it with Tripoli and then white diamond.

The first stick of amboyna that I bought was a huge 3 x 3 x 24 block that was VERY dense, had been drying for some time and had no voids anywhere, miracle of miracles. What I like about unstabilized amboyna is that you can "adjust" the shade to you liking with oil finish products.

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

Funny you ask that. My first go at this handle, I screwed up the first one, I stabilized the Amboyna or at least I tried to. I noticed very little weight gain of the material after I was finished doing it which means the penetration of the stabilizing fluid was very minimal. I think Amboyna/Paduak is one of those woods that's bordering on too oily and acidic to stabilize. So I resorted back to what I've done in the past with this handle, and vacuum treated it with a Marine Teakwood oil. Then applied 3 more coats over a course of a week using 0000 steel wool in between coats. Then polished it with Tripoli and then white diamond.

Originally Posted by JDM61

The first stick of amboyna that I bought was a huge 3 x 3 x 24 block that was VERY dense, had been drying for some time and had no voids anywhere, miracle of miracles. What I like about unstabilized amboyna is that you can "adjust" the shade to you liking with oil finish products.

Yes. Oil makes Amboyna burl come alive. Gives it a very rich look. I just wish it wasn't so expensive.

Unfortunately, most of the pretty stuff is pricey because, well, it is pretty. If they are pretty, durable and rare like amboyna or crazy Honduran rosewood burl, MO' money.

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

Yes. Oil makes Amboyna burl come alive. Gives it a very rich look. I just wish it wasn't so expensive.

Beautiful! I want, I want!!!!