Thread: Monkey puzzle tree scales?

I have been thinking of making my first set of scales, Does anybody have any nice pictures of some scales made from Araucaria araucana or monkey puzzle tree, monkey tail tree, Chilean pine, or pehuén wood?

I have been told that It is a nice decorative wood to use in woodwork?

I am just looking at options really.

The pics are for those who are unfamiliar with this tree/wood.

Thanks.

Seeing as how it is described as a type of pine (softwood) and is on the endangered species list, I think I would pass on it. Hardwoods suit scales better, IMO.

Regards,Neil

I don't know the specifics of that wood but generally speaking you need a reasonably hard wood that is also heavy and, preferably to my mind, also oily. It helps if the wood has a distinctive tight grain - otherwise the scales can look bland and colourless. That's why people go for exotic woods such as Cocobolo, rosewood, snake wood, burls etc - they all have distinctive grains or patterns. You can use a softer wood if it has the right finish on it but they are just too prone to damage in my opinion and dont have the right balance.

Ok, well thanks for the advice, the only reason I considered it, is because I have read that it was the hardest of the pine family, plus I can get it in abundance from a friend who is a tree surgeon/logger.
I will look into the woods listed above and see what I can get my hands on.

Thanks.

It could be interesting to give it a try if you already have it, I've seen some striking looking pots turned from monkey puzzle. You could look into getting it stabilised if the density is a problem.

You regularly see overgrown trees in front gardens and I imagine they just end up as sawdust as it probably makes rotten fire wood.

You could look into getting it stabilized to increase desirable properties.

How about looking into stabilisation if density is a problem?

Er, this hasn't been mentioned already, has it?

Just kidding, two Mikes!

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

...Er, this hasn't been mentioned already, has it?...

Indeed Mike beat me by about eight hours too. I have to get my glasses checked. Right after more coffee.

I was hoping for more of an argument about the use of an illegal to trade wood, but it appears that the second most successful place on earth for this tree to grow is the UK despite being endangered in South America. My logic would allow that if I was offered a pile of scraps from a tree surgeon's Surgery that they were hardly endangered any longer and suitable for playing in the shop. Especially if they aren't all that good as firewood.

Stabilized ????? Go on then, please explain?

Thanks.

Monkey puzzle tree is strong in the radial direction - that's why you see bowls and cups made from it. In the longitudinal direction it splits easy. So if you have one of the bowls in the picture above, you can beat on the side of the bowl and it will not split or dent, but if you hit it vertically on the rim, it will split from top to bottom.

Could it be used to make scales? I don't see why not.

Monkey puzzle trees are often planted as an ornamental tree. You are allowed to use the wood from those in the US (for the US readers questioning its endangered species listing).

Stabilizing is a technique used to ensure that the wood doesn't shrink, warp, dry crack, or otherwise break after you shape it. For something as small as razor scales I'd recommend soaking the carved scales in lacquer for 2 days, let it dry, then soak in lacquer for another 2 days. You can also purchase wood hardener that does the same thing. Essentially all of the wood fibers soak up the lacquer and when it dries they are glued together so they will not split apart, warp, shrink, or grow. The wood is then said to be stabilized because it is stable in shape and will not change shape.