Koala Burl

[Sir Chiz]

Hi Folks.

Hi Iain. (not Lane) http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif

I just found this forum and hope that maybe somebody can help me.
I bought some turning stock (timber) called beige and red koala burl,(eucalyptus obliqua)
and I can't find any information on it,other than it's also called Messmate or Stringybark.
These burls are green so I'll rough turn and dry them.
What I would like to know is an oil base varnish suitable for a finish?
They appear to have some "figure" similar to American figured Maple.I like to use an oil-base finish on figured wood to enhance the figure.
From what I've read here so far,it sounds like Tasmanian Oak?

Thanks for any help.

Phil

------------------
I Love The Smell Of Sawdust In The Morning,
It Smells Like....Victory!

[This message has been edited by Sir Chiz (edited 07 March 2002).]

[Sir Chiz]

[This message has been edited by Sir Chiz (edited 08 March 2002).]

[ubeaut]

Phil - Most finishes used in Oz wouldn't be available in the USA you will need to source a finish for them over there.

Love your signature.........
"I Love The Smell Of Sawdust In The Morning,
It Smells Like....Victory!

Just a little word of warning, DON'T go smelling the shavings from the messmate it'll rip the lining off your nose and probably your lungs, your eyes will water, your nose will run and you will sneeze for a month. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/eek.gif

Beige and red koala..... http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/confused.gif Sounds like some enterprising timber seller is having a lend of you. I reckon it's a made up name to get you in. No self respecting Aussie would give a timber an name like that.

Cheers - Neil http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

PS If you really want a good finish try Shellawax (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/ubhome.htm) - It is available through Penn State Industries in PA. A new list of their resellers is available HERE (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/distribs.html) at the bottom of the page.

[Sir Chiz]

Neil,Thanks for the info.I always wear a mask and cover up when turning a new wood (timber).
Next time I go back to the Burl Store,I tell him I got the Official Word,no such thing as koala burl!! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif
Shellawax is available at local Woodcraft store,but it's $28 for little jar.I think I can live without it. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

I forgot to ask also about Sheoak,which I have turned with no apparent ill effects,
and I got a small piece of red Jarrah burl which I haven't turned yet.
Thanks again for your help.

Phil

PS. I got a kick out of reading about you guys discussing "Exotic" American Red Oak. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif
It's one of the cheapest woods here in the States. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
I Love The Smell Of Sawdust In The Morning,
It Smells Like....Victory!

[JackoH]

Welcome http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif:. Perhaps your supplier meant Koala Bear!!!!
If you like the smell of sawdust try Camphor Laurel(cinnamomum camphora)if you can get it. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif
Regards. John H.

[Sir Chiz]

Thanks John,Actually,the only sawdust I've made so far that I don't like is Sycamore...
Smells like nasty,dirty feet! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/eek.gif
Nice looking when quarter sawn,but Pee-YEW!
Actually,my "shop" is two doors from my bedroom,so I always wake up smelling sawdust!
Fortunately,my wife doesn't mind!! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

Phil.


------------------
I Love The Smell Of Sawdust In The Morning,
It Smells Like....Victory!

[Iain]

Koala Burl, I like that, reality is it probably comes from Wombat Wood or is that the Bunyip Burl??
Reminds me of that atrocious marketing campaign some years ago in Poverty Rock where they were selling Barossa Red Wine as Kangarouge....

[Sir Chiz]

Hi Iain,haven't seen you much around the Woodnet Forum lately.
I'll post a link,check it out,Honest,I'm not making it up!! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif
http://www.righteouswoods.net/beigekoala_burl.html

Chizler. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
I Love The Smell Of Sawdust In The Morning,
It Smells Like....Victory!

[Iain]

Little to contribute of late, nothing on topic for me except being shot down in flames when I say I think that Festool sanders are better than Porter Cable, I still stand by that.
But consider yourselves blessed that you do not have to endure Ozito, a wonderful range of tools that even idiots condemn.
I must admit though that they do make Black and Decker look good.
And the burls you refer to, to see them in the wild, they look like huge warts growing out the side of a tree, up to 3' across.
The loggers had a name for them which I won't repeat for fear of racism, especially in USA.

[ubeaut]

G'day again Phil - It was white oak we were discussing, not red. You reckon the price of Shellawax is high...... US White Oak is around $28 per super foot here. If I got a 6"x2" piece @ $28 and turned it into a small bowl it would only cost me around 20 cents US to finish it with Shellawax Cream, even at US$28 per jar. Buy a 250ml bottle of the Shellawax liquid to mix with the Cream and it could cost you as little as 5-10 cents for the smae job. On top of that you will have the best finish you have ever had and it will only take a few seconds to do. $28 is a small price to pay for perfection. Try it once and you'll wonder how you did live without it. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif

She Oak, very nice stuff if ever you get a chance try the WA Lace She Oak... Brilliant. The Jarrah burl should come up a beautiful deep burgandy/brown colour and look a treat. We have a gent here who specializes in large Jarrah Burl platters around 2'-3' in diameter they are amazing and the colour and figure is just wonderful.

Think I've used up all my expletives for one day.

Cheers - Neil http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

PS Maybe you could try a mail order from PSI for the Shellawax Cream I think they sell it for around $18.50

[Iain]

To second what Neil says, I have a 250mm jar that I bought over two years ago. I have since turned a lot of pens and keyring thingies [b]AND[b] made up a wall unit and polished
the
whole thing with Shellawax.
The jar now has about a 1/4" drop and is barely noticable.
I wonder how Nel remains in business as usage is sparse, it's truly an amazing product.

[Sir Chiz]

OK!OK!OK!Leggo of my arm! Sheesh,I come asking for a little help,and I get Mugged! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif
I'll try it.
Where is "PSI"? Here in the States?

$28 for white oak! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/eek.gif Maybe we could work a deal for some Koala Burls. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

Thanks again.

Phil



------------------
I Love The Smell Of Sawdust In The Morning,
It Smells Like....Victory!

[Iain]

PSI...Penn State Industries
Hopefully you will have more idea of their whereabouts.
A quick cut and paste:
MI - Ionia
NUFFSAID WOODWORKING
2510 West Main Street Ionia MI 48846
Phone: 616 527 2147

MI - Grand Rapids
WOOD SOURCE, INC
2715-29th Sreet SE, Grand Rapids MI 49512
Phone: 616-285-0600 Fax: 616-285-0172

MO - Pittsburg
THE WOODEN POST
HC79-BOX 3369 Pittsburg MO 65724
Phone: 417-852-7126

NC - Tyron
PACKARD WOODWORKS
646 North Trade Street Tryon NC 28782
Phone: 800-683-8876 Fax: 828-859-5551

NE - Lincoln
HARDWOOD HEAVEN
3822 South 14th Street Lincoln NE 68502
Phone: 402-423-5993 Fax: 402 423 6337

OH - Hartville
HARTVILLE TOOL
940 West Maple Street Hartville OH 44632
Phone: 330-877-4685 Fax: 330-877-4682

PA - Philadelphia
PENN STATE INDUSTRIES (RETAIL ONLY)
2800 Comly Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154
Customer Svc & Orders Toll-Free: (800) 377-7297 Tech Support Toll-Free: (800) 656-4767
Local phone: 215 676-7609 Fax: 215 676-7603
Web Site: www.pennstateind.com (http://www.pennstateind.com)
E-mail: [email protected]
Retail suppliers of Shellawax,
Shellawax Cream & EEE-Ultra Shine.

UT - Provo
CRAFT SUPPLIES - US
1287 East, 1120 South, Provo Utah 84606
Phone: 800-551-8876 Fax: 801-377-7742

TX - Lubbock
ACACIA HARDWOODS INC.
4614 FM 1585 Lubbock, TX 79424
Phone: 806-794-5099 Fax:806-794-3955

WV - Parkersberg
WOODCRAFT SUPPLIES CORP
1177 Rosemar Rd Parkersberg WV 26102
Phone: 800-225-1153 Fax: 304-428-8271

WA - Sumner
SUMNER WOODWORKER STORE
908 Cherry Avenue Sumner WA 98390
Phone: 253-891-9413 Fax: 253-891-1753

[ubeaut]

http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/eek.gif Strewth Ian - Bucking for the position of Sales Manager are ya. 'Twoulda been easier postin the http://www.ubeaut.com.au/distribs.html .

Well done anyway. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

Sorry Phil - we did give you a bit of a working over didn't we. Ah well, stuff happens. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

Cheers - Neil

[This message has been edited by ubeaut (edited 10 March 2002).]

[Sir Chiz]

Thanks again,Iain,Neil and John.
I'll get some Shellawax today and let you what I think. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif
It sounds like it has a long shelf-life so it may be worth the investment,been using Hut Crystal Coat,but it only last 5-6 months.
The Jarrah I have is small,I'd like to turn a box with it when it's dried.
At the link below is some pictures of three of my turnings,I'm learning. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

Phil.
http://www.righteouswoods.net/clients_page28.html

------------------
I Love The Smell Of Sawdust In The Morning,
It Smells Like....Victory!

[Jeff]

Oh, wow, when I see a good figure I like to rub a bit of oil on to accent her too.

KOALA BURL? Wanna buy a bridge? I suggest you take yer supplier some equally rare and exotic wood for him to export. Let's say, hmmm, how about a little alder renamed as Bloodman Best Burl!

Anyway, you Ozies ought to look around the harbor where the freighters come in....lots and lots of white (and red) oak is used for dunnage on the cargo barges. I get timbers up to full dimension 6" square and 8' long from a port I will decline to specify.

Sheoak...isn't that the female oak true...the one without nuts?



------------------
"Always cutting corners...!"