Thread: Stocking Up on Wood Blanks

I love the oily hardwoods for exactly this reason -- they basically beg to not be finished with anything other than some high grit sandpaper. With that said, a CA finish on them really makes the grain pop but is so so SOO much more work.

Originally Posted by ppetresen

I love the oily hardwoods for exactly this reason -- they basically beg to not be finished with anything other than some high grit sandpaper. With that said, a CA finish on them really makes the grain pop but is so so SOO much more work.

Yeah, I hear ya-those internal oils are practically a built-in finish. Way back in the Brushmaker archives is a pair of B/W Ebony brushes with a CA finish that are beautiful, but I do want to experiment around with more friction polishes.

I love how this one came out, that's a gorgeous piece of wood!
Have what might be a stupid question, but, here goes...
Is that a pic of you drilling with a forstner bit while the other end is only on a live center?

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Attachment 322257

I'm not sure I've ever seen that done. I get things round between centers, but then put the base in a chuck before i bore anything out.

Regarding the stabilizing, i have only a little experience with that myself, but I would think perhaps in a word like this the resin would mostly soak into the light wood, and kind of balance out the two densities... Maybe?

Originally Posted by Kavik79

I love how this one came out, that's a gorgeous piece of wood!
Have what might be a stupid question, but, here goes...
Is that a pic of you drilling with a forstner bit while the other end is only on a live center?

I'm not sure I've ever seen that done. I get things round between centers, but then put the base in a chuck before i bore anything out.

Regarding the stabilizing, i have only a little experience with that myself, but I would think perhaps in a word like this the resin would mostly soak into the light wood, and kind of balance out the two densities... Maybe?

Kavik-You are partly correct. The left side is on a spur-drive center, not a live center (though I had a hard time getting the spurs to drive deep enough to drive reliably in such hard wood). Though I haven't done enough shaving brushes yet to have firm procedures that I always do (I'm still learning, in other words), for my first few I did that way: the left side on a spur drive, and the right being drilled with a forstner bit on a chuck after rounding on the live center.

Now that I have a couple of different size jaw sets for my Nova G3 chuck (20mm and 50mm), I have been chucking them into the jaws to drive and hold the piece, especially on that super-hard desert ironwood brush I recently turned-there's a reason they call it ironwood lol!. No way was I going to get a spur drive to dig into that. I then used a parting tool to square and clean up most of the bottom before sawing off the last little nub, then finishing the bottom by hand.

I'm sure there's a better way; I just haven't figured it out yet. In other news, I am now turning pens from both DI and the other tool-killer, Lignum Vitae. Both finish beautifully, but take about twice as long to process a piece as softer woods.

Things are looking good A. Aron.

I would presume that the drill press is working well especially for the pens

I'm certainly far from an expert myself, but i like the idea of chucking before boring MUCH better. In my mind it seems way more secure, safer, and better guaranteed to be centered.

You sure do make some bold choices in materials for someone still figuring things out... I like it lol

Originally Posted by Kavik79

I'm certainly far from an expert myself, but i like the idea of chucking before boring MUCH better. In my mind it seems way more secure, safer, and better guaranteed to be centered.

You sure do make some bold choices in materials for someone still figuring things out... I like it lol

Upon further thought, I think you're exactly right, Kavik: chuck it square from the beginning, then bore it and finish all on the same chuck will no doubt keep things centered. I had had that exact issue after switching from the initial spur drive to the chuck jaws, and yep, got some wobble I had to turn down and re-center.

And Roy, yeah, that WEN drill press drills like a champ. I started checking my pen blanks with a small square on the platform with a drill press vise, and now get dead-centered, clean holes right on the laser cross-hairs. Damn thing sounds like a freight train, though, lol!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

And Roy, yeah, that WEN drill press drills like a champ. I started checking my pen blanks with a small square on the platform with a drill press vise, and now get dead-centered, clean holes right on the laser cross-hairs. Damn thing sounds like a freight train, though, lol!

Yes I'll admit that they could be a lot quieter but at least the noise isn't from the damn thing not having tight tolerances like my old Harbor Freight did. I rattled and shook something fierce.

The new Grizzly Benchtop Bandsaw is so much quieter than the Skil. I really wish I'd have found the Grizzly first but that's the way it goes. I'm hoping my son in law can use it or know of someone who can. I don't don't do Craig's List etc but my oldest daughter does so hopefully if the son in law can't find it a home she can.