Thread: Special Order-African Blackwood

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

This is what the customer wanted. It was ordered specifically.
It was nice being able to expand from ebony anyway. I've done too many ebony brushes lately.

gotta do what you have to do,But expand from Ebony? african blackwood is not even close in any way to Gabon ebony which is far superior.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

gotta do what you have to do,But expand from Ebony? african blackwood is not even close in any way to Gabon ebony which is far superior.

I actually like the wood. It was a fun change for me. Personally, I won't pay for wood and because of that, limit myself to what I can get for free. There is a large construction project locally that has a lot of ebony used in the finish carpentry (all different species). This wood would probably have never hit my lathe if it weren't for this project. I'm actually using this experience as a leg-up/motivation to turn a clarinet for my sister. She has always wanted a clarinet and they are traditionally turned from African blackwood. It has been a while since I have turned this wood and while more difficult than some woods, far from the most difficult, and I am not concerned about longevity in any way.

If the material is free,Than thats the best material for sure,I just have never been a fan of it,I find it to be soft and pithy.
Ebony I like because it needs no finish,Run it to 800 grit,polish with rottenstone and oil,a coat of ren-wax and it shines forever. love the brush.looks great.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

If the material is free,Than thats the best material for sure,I just have never been a fan of it,I find it to be soft and pithy.
Ebony I like because it needs no finish,Run it to 800 grit,polish with rottenstone and oil,a coat of ren-wax and it shines forever. love the brush.looks great.

I have never found African blackwood to be soft or pithy. It has always been very dense and oily. I would compare it directly to many ebonies that I have worked. The waste of this wood even took a high sheen as I was playing with it on the lathe. If my foot feels a little better later this week, I will find the waste block and sand it out and buff it to show you.

pixelfixed
is that your collection on the picture? Your production?

deighaingeal
great job! I love your work.

Yes,I turn them all.

Nice collection, not my style or handle size but still nice work. I guess everyone has different preferences and size of the hand. I prefer bigger brushes as they better fit in my hand and with "double stage" handle.

Ok, time for a little background on this brush!

It’s this years’ Christmas present for my son! Last here I gave him custom scales that Glen made to order, the year before was an 8/8 Friodur.

The African Blackwood was a gift from my good friend pinklather. I gave deighaingeal total artistic control, right down to the choice of brush size! I’m glad that I did as it looks gorgeous! I can’t wait to see it first hand!

This is a very special Christmas as it’s the last Christmas I will be able to share with my son for probably quite some time to come as he’s enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corp and is scheduled to ship out the 11th of March. He will turn 20 in boot camp.

Again Gerrit did a wonderful job just as I knew he would and I thank him!

deighaingeal
'Very handsome. I love it.

Pixelfixed, I picked & supplied the blackwood as my contribution to the gift it will become. I bought the blackwood 'cause its more oily, has a natural sheen - moreso than ebony. Blackwood has replaced alot of ebony for reasons of machineability. There was a PBS special on it - how most ebony wasn't surviving the normal lathe work required to make woodwinds. 'Don't know exactly what has changed w/ ebony - maybe like good burlwood for smoking pipes - the best is already gone. I'm going w/ blackwood for scales, and after seeing this - maybe commissioning the honorable deighaingeal for a brush.


Pixelfixed - just saw your collection. +1 on it being most handsome.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Ok, time for a little background on this brush!

It’s this years’ Christmas present for my son! Last here I gave him custom scales that Glen made to order, the year before was an 8/8 Friodur.

The African Blackwood was a gift from my good friend pinklather. I gave deighaingeal total artistic control, right down to the choice of brush size! I’m glad that I did as it looks gorgeous! I can’t wait to see it first hand!

This is a very special Christmas as it’s the last Christmas I will be able to share with my son for probably quite some time to come as he’s enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corp and is scheduled to ship out the 11th of March. He will turn 20 in boot camp.

Again Gerrit did a wonderful job just as I knew he would and I thank him!

Congrats to your son he will make a great marine and he will love that amazing brush. You sir are a amazing father to Connor he is very lucky to have you in his life