Thread: Has anyone used Black Palm for scales?

I hate how the fingerprints show up now that I have posted them. Obviously I'm no photographer...

Here's the other ones:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...tml#post538884

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

Okay. This is the snakewood I was thinking of, which I have used before and is used to make instrument bows.... rather different material. That stuff you got does look VERY porous.

Ok, looked at the link and I posted the pics of another SR that I rescaled in this batch, it's in leopardwood. The link you showed me is the same stuff I did the Swedish blade in: http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...tml#post538884

Is this the same stuff you were talking about?

I've been looking at Black Palm myself for work, I love the way it looks. Anyone know if it would tear using a hole saw on it?

Originally Posted by TheBaron

I've been looking at Black Palm myself for work, I love the way it looks. Anyone know if it would tear using a hole saw on it?

Probably so due to the low TPI of most hole-saws. If you do try it, I'd spin it fast & advance slowly. Sounds like almost burning thru, but that's what I would do if I were to try to hole saw some. I'd also try to apply my finish first, then re-apply after the work is done so that the finish would help to hold the fibers together some. Heck, try it, it's super unique!

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Probably so due to the low TPI of most hole-saws. If you do try it, I'd spin it fast & advance slowly. Sounds like almost burning thru, but that's what I would do if I were to try to hole saw some. I'd also try to apply my finish first, then re-apply after the work is done so that the finish would help to hold the fibers together some. Heck, try it, it's super unique!

aye, looks like it would make a pretty brush handle but I know that's one of the woods that explodes on a lathe. seemed like a good candidate for the hole saw method. Think I'll make that black palm my next brush handle.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Ok, looked at the link and I posted the pics of another SR that I rescaled in this batch, it's in leopardwood. The link you showed me is the same stuff I did the Swedish blade in: http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...tml#post538884

Is this the same stuff you were talking about?

Not quite the same stuff... I'll have to get some good pictures of one of my pieces of Suriname snakewood.... it's very distinctive.

EDIT: All those scales and blades look nice, BTW. I especially like the black palm, and the way you've shaped them. CA finish?

Thanks. Yes, CA finish on all three. Pretty dang deep on the black palm outside. As long as you sand down the high spots, I'm sure you could just keep on layering coats. I'm still learning with it. Went thru almost a box of finger cots/condoms. It's hard to not show a layer or finger sweep with it drying so dang fast, but boy what a tough finish. I just took them to 2K grit & didn't even polish them. I think that I'll put a coat or two of renissance wax on them. The design is a simple one with the end rounded out with a sanding drum. I like the design enough that I think I will keep on doing my own SR rescales with it...but who knows what tomorrow may bring...

On the snakewood, I'm not sure what I got to be honest. I liked the way it looked & had to have it. I have to say that it is quite unique, I've never seen it before. That's why I gave such a chunk of change for it. I don't think that I would want to use it on much anything unless I used an epoxy finish or CA. The hard part reminds me of amber/sap, as it doesn't appear to have a grain in it. I'm wondering if it's the "heart" of some kind of wood. I just don't know.

Originally Posted by TheBaron

aye, looks like it would make a pretty brush handle but I know that's one of the woods that explodes on a lathe. seemed like a good candidate for the hole saw method. Think I'll make that black palm my next brush handle.

I think it would make a real cool brush handle. You would probably be one of the first to have one...

In woodworking books you always read the analogy that the make up of wood is like a bundle of straws. Black-palm or any palm is just that, it is a bundle of straw like strands. You must really pay attention to which way the grain is running and use sharp tools. It is not a hard wood to work just different. It is fiberous, kind of like bamboo.

Charlie