Thread: Its plenty long but not wide enough

Looking at the cutting diagram Ian, I agree with you.

I still recon the fingers should be cut before the timber is cut into Feet / End blocks. JMO

Steve

Thanks for the feedback and comments.

I tried to buy some dark Walnut today but my local suppliers didn't have any, however I managed to get some really good looking wide Blackbean with fantastic grain patterning, so I will use that instead of the Wenge.

I know I had cut the Wenge as a rip cut and then routered across the grain and that move was the wrong orientation according to the destructions. In terms of wood strength, and for future reference, what is impact of routering across the grain, rather than routering with the grain?

Should routering across the grain be avoided and if I do it again, can I expect more problems?

Be a bit careful of the black bean. It can have a strong allergic effect on some people.
Arron

Originally Posted by Arron

Be a bit careful of the black bean. It can have a strong allergic effect on some people.
Arron

Aaron, thanks for the tip.

Somewhere along the line someone will be allergic to almost everything on this planet. According to this site,
Wood Allergens there are 373 woods known to cause health problems. From other sites I have quickly searched, Black Bean wood is really only a serious issue if its dust is breathed in, or someone with an allergy continually touches it, which can result in dermatitis.

MDF sounds like it is far more of a concern as according to a Tassie Government website, "is a probable human carcinogen."

Sorry, but I won't mess up my life worrying about every possible little thing that could possibly, or may, have some minor impact to someone at some future time. That may be very politically incorrect and if it is, so be it.

Originally Posted by TORB

I know I had cut the Wenge as a rip cut and then routered across the grain and that move was the wrong orientation according to the destructions. In terms of wood strength, and for future reference, what is impact of routering across the grain, rather than routering with the grain?

Should routering across the grain be avoided and if I do it again, can I expect more problems?

routing across the grain should be avoided.
In some timbers you will be successful, in others it will be a disaster

for your project, cross grain ripping risks the feet being ripped off the trivett by a sharp enough blow

Torb, I am one of the lucky people that is not allergic to anything except Black Bean.
My one and only exposure to it was back in the late '60s when the cabitnetmaker working along from me in a joinery shop was building a full set of Black Bean office furniture.
On the second day I could hardly breathe and had to move to another shop, it was not pleasant.
Oddly enough he was not affected.
This was in the days when nobody bothered with masks.
I would suggest a good quality mask when you are working with it just in case.

Colin.

Hi Colin,

Understand where you are coming from but its not a problem for me. I have eaten loads of black bean sauce with the only issue being indigestion (or in my youth) a hangover from not enough moderation.

Originally Posted by TORB

I have now come to the conclusion that, not to put to fine a point on it, the Wenge is stuffed!

The timber has tiny cracks all through it, and I think that's the problem. Edit

Torb, Do you have any idea as to how the wenge finished up like that? was it bought like that or has it gone like that since you bought it?

I am just wondering if there's a lesson in this that may benefit us all.

Doug

Dough,

I only bought it last week, so it came in that condition.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions guys; I could not have done it without you. The job is finally finished and I am reasonably happy with it. I did however decide to change the plan a bit due to the Wenge problem.

Here is the result.

Originally Posted by TORB

Thanks for all the help and suggestions guys; I could not have done it without you. The job is finally finished and I am reasonably happy with it. I did however decide to change the plan a bit due to the Wenge problem.

Here is the result.

Looks good Ric, what did you finish up using instead of the Wenge? I note you have used two different types of wood, I like the contrast.

Colin.

Thanks Colin. I had actually cut the end block out of the same Maple as the slats but when I had the problem with the Wenge, I tried the process with a scrap bit that was in the off cut bin. (I think it was Kwila.)

When I looked at the Kwila, I actually preferred it to the Maple, so used it for the feet instead.

The feet are Black Bean.

'nuff said.

Good result.