Thread: best types of wood to make scales ?

What are your experiences with different woods for making scales? What is the best stuff for not breaking, cracking or splitting?

What do you treat your wood with, if anything?

I have used Cocobolo, Zebra wood, Purple heart wood and Lacewood. I soak my wood in Danish Oil.

IME/IMO


#1 Lignum Vitae

#2 Cocobolo or of the same Rosewood family

#3 Ebony

Danish or Teak oil on these 3 is more then enough to keep them waterproof really just wax would probably do it

Any Hardwood can be used but the tighter the grain the better and the less "Finish" you need to apply..

The are dozen of exotics that work and personally I like these guys

Short Exotic Wood Blanks | Exotic Wood, Birdseye Maple, Curly Maple, Tiger Maple

Great CS, Fast shipping, Great selection and products, and most important they like us SR guys

Olive wood is also good and I recently bought some Pear that I'm looking forward to trying. As I'm in Australia I have used some of our native timbers like Huon Pine and Red Cedar - they are softish but a few coats of Danish oil and wax gives them a more durable finish. Stabilization with "Cactus Juice" or other proprietary resins can also be of use.

I like Ebony.
Rosewood is nice but it irritates me.
FULL PPE when I work with it.
Never used Lignum Vitae ... Might have to try that one!

Cocobolo/Rosewood/Ebony are the easiest for me.

I liked the harder oily woods for handles like mainaman said.. But...I found that most of them were a bit too aromatic to use in a small shop. I started to have some unpleasant reactions to them even with a respirator
I hope you guys have better luck.

The best wood comes from the acrylic tree.

I know

Originally Posted by onimaru55

The best wood comes from the acrylic tree.

I know

I have been trying to grow one of them for years but could never find the nuts. Seem like you have! Send me some, OK ?

Another vote for the extended rosewood family which also includes African blackwood. Very easy to live with if you don't have the allergies/sensitivity.