Thread: Olive wood help!

I want to make a set of scales from olive wood. I have obtained a couple of pieces of olive wood but have a couple of questions.
First I know I have to make sure its dry but how long do I wait? Should I cut blanks from my piece and then let it dry or do you dry it
first and then proceed to cut blanks?

fast forward some how should I finish olive wood CA? wax? does anyone just use spray on polyuretane?

thanks

If you have raw timber, I think seasoning takes some time.
Some info in the link below but if you can explain what state yours is in maybe some of the timber pro's can chime in

seasoning

I have a plum tree limb in the garage, and I am curing it a year per inch of thickness.

If you do a google search on seasoning wood you will find several methods other than waiting a year. They involve among other things microwaving and soaking in alcohol. Keep in mind, olive wood is very oily so make sure you use a finish that is compatible.

I only used a bit of antiques wax for olive wood scales.
It is a rather oily wood so it doesn't need much protection.

Cut it into blocks not blanks, for razor scales I would do 1.5 x 1.5 x 6.5 inches coat the ends with Candle wax then allow these to dry,,

Better then 50% of AU is a desert so it should go pretty fast

You can read about the Oven test, in the link Oz posted but I bet there are some AU woodworkers that can tell you even faster how long it should take I would check with a place like Woodcrafters up here not sure about down under

Originally Posted by paladin

If you do a google search on seasoning wood you will find several methods other than waiting a year. They involve among other things microwaving and soaking in alcohol. Keep in mind, olive wood is very oily so make sure you use a finish that is compatible.

Be very careful with the microwave program,you could have a major explosion (been there, done that

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I bet there are some AU woodworkers that can tell you even faster how long it should take

There's a thought. Woodwork Forums - Powered by vBulletin

Originally Posted by paladin

If you do a google search on seasoning wood you will find several methods other than waiting a year. They involve among other things microwaving and soaking in alcohol. Keep in mind, olive wood is very oily so make sure you use a finish that is compatible.

Dammit.......

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Cut it into blocks not blanks, for razor scales I would do 1.5 x 1.5 x 6.5 inches coat the ends with Candle wax then allow these to dry,,

Would suck to have the blank be unusable after all the work because it twisted and/or curved in the seasoning process!