Thread: Tas Myrtle resawing

I did exactly what you're talking about a while back for the bookmatched, raised panel on a Blackwood box.

It's hard by Tasmanian standards, but fairly average compared to mainland woods. I think you should be fine on all but the most dull bandsaw blade.

Bimetal? No problem.

Carbide? Fuhgeddaboudit.

Are you going for a bookmatch? If it's figured, it can be hard to plane without tearout if you're going against the grain over figuring. I suggest a razor edge, a close cap iron, a tight mouth, and a light cut. It scrapes well. Don't be afraid to sand a bit.

Post pics.

Cheers,
Luke

Thanks Luke, that is reassuring.
The grain isn't too wild so it sounds like it will be okay.
It's just heavy which gave me the impression that is very hard.

Regards
Keith

I havent worked with much myrtle over the years, but I am currently working with it right now for my current commission. By a long way, it would have to be one of the easiest materials I have worked with. It planes easily, chisels/chops without collapsing, machines with nice shavings rather than splintery chunks. I love it.

Thanks Kuffy,
I am completely reassured. I will proceed with confidence.

Regards
Keith

Keep the updates going here guys. By total coincidence I just finished a project (first box with drawers, for #1 son. will post elsewhere when i get the camera charged up) and my wife suggested a chess board for #2 son. After vainly trying to match two contrasting timbers for more or less equal shrinkage rates I found i had some really dark myrtle as an offcut at Matthews in Melbourne and also some lovely pale figured Myrtle off Jason in Tassie.

Going to attempt solid board, not end grain though.

Any wisdom you guys post will be eagerly sucked up here in gold country.

By the way Kuffy, I agree, it is wonderful to work with, though the figured stuff was hell to keep the bandsaw straight, wanted to wander all over.

Even the figured myrtle seems fine with the thicknesser too, go figure (yeah, I know, lame pun there)

The myrtle I have would have been good for a chess board. Its all figured/quilted. And I have a mix of heartwood and sapwood. The heartwood is a light pink, and the sapwood is a blond/pale salmon colour.

I can't wait to get back into the shed to try the myrtle I have. It's a nice salmon pink with fairly tame grain, too short for the thicknesser so will have to hand plane.
Will have to wait until I recover from yesterday's gall bladder operation though.

Regards
Keith

Get well quick Keith, all the best.

My wife has had her gall bladder out. now she can eat a pie but I can't (the pastry!)

Thanks Bendigo Bob, I am interested in what I can and can't eat. Probably no change I hope.
What type of woodwork are you doing Bob? I floundered around for ages, and have settled on small items like boxes etc.

Regards
Keith

Mainly doing the same now Keith. Been retired for two years and yes, like you say, floundered around a lot. Did a few 'around the house' projects (pergola/arbour, picket fence) that were needed but couldn't get focused for a long time. Knew I loved working with wood but I think all the gear i had assembled over the years but never used intimidated me a bit. Only this week I kicked myself into gear and finished a project for my eldest son I've been working on and then whipped into some tiny boxes just to get some time in doing it. Got one completed pretty much int he morning yesterday then surprised myself today by making two in between hosting some guys in an informal men's shed we run at my place. (love the little boxes, can give them away as they cost nothing to make. I scavenge off-cuts from Matthews Specialty Timbers down in Melbourne whenever I'm in the area. Even a 9" bit of 4x1 is easily split in two to make a small box carcase with mating corners all round, cool feeling seeing the end product too)

Now, food - Cheryl reckons that all the things that were verboten before the gall bladder extraction are now fine, so after clearance from the doc, give them a go