Rosewood Log

[Scally]

Yes, I know, it is a log.

I get some strange requests from friends.

A lady had Dave Jones make her a Morris style rocker and she wanted a foot rest to match.

This is my effort, so far.

It is a piece of rosewood. Heavily weathered and partly burnt.

I used the arbortec to remove the loose and sharp pieces.

Then ran it through the bandsaw to get the height and a gentle angle for a footrest.

A bit more with the arbortec then I used a wire disc on an angle grinder to removes the burnt area and more loose material.

The front was then hand wire brushed to show more of the grain.

Hardly a work of art but so far my friend thinks it is just what she wants.

About as simple as it gets.

[tea lady]

Hope she pays you enough for some new shoes! Nice lump o' wood.Nicely caressed.

[underfoot]

Yes, I know, it is a log.
About as simple as it gets.

Hey Scally,
just a thought (and still keeping it simple)
how about a crip polished chamfer at either end as a contrast to the natural texture,
it's still a log, but you've imposed yerself on it,
also , have you ever tried ebonising that stuff, then cutting back through to highlight the colour?
or you could just tell me to bugger off

[Scally]

Hey!!
I love those shoes.

Sure John, the polished crip(?) looks good and a nice contrast.
I need to create a recess on the ends to make it easier to pick up and move.

I am not sure what you mean by cutting through ebonising.
Will vineger and rusty nails ebonise rosewood?

It doesn't really grab me but I might try it on an offcut and see how it looks.

Natural edges don't normally appeal to me much but this log is growing on me .

I am surprised anyone would even comment so thanks for the comments - except about my shoes.

[underfoot]

Sure John, the polished crip(?) looks good and a nice contrast.
umm, crip as in 'crisp'
I am not sure what you mean by cutting through ebonising.
Will vineger and rusty nails ebonise rosewood?
.

way back, when I sold at markets I used to do a lot of ebonised rosewood bases,
the wood goes completely black, then I would sand the high spots to bring up the colour,
surprisingly it seemed to make the bases appear less 'heavy',
can't find many pics (pre digital)

[tea lady]

Sorry! My shoes are just as bad......I mean comfortable.

[Scally]

It has taken a while but I think it looks OK.

I tried all your suggestions.

I tried to pain Black Japan stain into the deeper recesses then sanded it off the high spots.
Pretty crude but it adds a lot of character.

The log was shortened a bit then 60 degree bevels cut on each end. The cut was made part way through on the tablesaw. It had to be finished with a handsaw. Then sanded with a rotex down to #240 grit.

It has one coat of Danish oil and the colours really jumped.

After a few more coast the polished end should get a nice gloss.

I am happy to take it to the lady now.

Thanks for all the ideas.

[NCArcher]

Very nice Scally,
I'd be happy to rest my weary feet on that.
The combination of black recesses and Danish oil has really enhanced the colour.

[movay_2008]

I started work on a scentless rosewood staff the other day. I cut it from a trunk and could get a few more from it possibly. This way I can get the fade from the yellower colour nearer the sapwood into the pink. I have a lot of hand-sanding to do tonight and need to find a clear crystal to glue in where the ear is where the ear is. The scentless Rw seems a lot paler, but it really glows. Here is the base of the trunk which scares the hell out of me to touch. Its fifty years in a shed. I got it last week. I want to go back and buy more of his white beech. I could buy a lot of his wood.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...pictureid=1027

[Scally]

Thanks NC.
I am a bit relieved that it looks OK. The thought of an old log on a loungeroom floor surrounded by nice timber furniture had me worried.

It might be too bright and red for my friends furniture but can be toned down.

I like your sticks Movay. A lot of interesting shapes.
I find rosewood hard and brittle. What did you use to do your carving.

[movay_2008]

I'm cramped for time to do this so I used a 4inch arbortech pro and kutzal extreme grinding disc, and then the tungsten arbortech minigrinder. I was going to pull the spoke shave out from under the house to do it, but hopefully I'll use it for the next one.

Yes, Rosewood is a bit hard, but it cuts clean. This is handy for Auistralian timber properties:

http://www.timber.org.au/resources/Revised%20P1.pdf

Was geared up to cut some quartz crystal to inlay into the staff, but a strong storm hit and blacked us out. There will be a bit of timber lying around in the morning.

[movay_2008]

I meant shaving horse

http://www.greenwoodworking.com/shorse.htm

[Wongo]

Of course it is art. Just ask Underfoot's "fans".

I find it inspiring.

(OK Wongo, get over it. )

[Frank&Earnest]

Welcome among the knife wielders, Wongo.

Yes, you seem to be still smarting for getting the wrong end of the stick about Underfoot's "sticks" and should indeed get over it.

Let us set aside the smart ????? comments, at which I think I am at least as proficient as you are , and discuss this pacately.

- the point of the sticks was not to produce a "work of art", U. said himself that it is a funny technique taught to school kids, fiddly but not difficult. It only proved that it is not essential to use a thicknesser to get something meaningful out of a pallet.

- as I see it, neither Scally nor U. would bother arguing that the footrest is "art". Now it is a well crafted object with a practical use where the decorative work of the craftsman is visible, while maintaining the rustic appeal of the natural form. Similarly, look at the examples of small sculptures U. made to sell to the populace: I am sure he will agree himself that they are not Louvre material, but are pleasant decorative objects that the man in the street like me could buy, and definitely one step above the flying ducks on the wall, wouldn't you agree?

In any case, given that you value craftmanship highly, what is your beef with U.? Regardless of its artistic value, his work is of the highest technical standard, wouldn't you agree?

You asked.

[Wongo]

Yes, you seem to be still smarting for getting the wrong end of the stick about Underfoot's "sticks" and should indeed get over it.

That is not true. Go back and read what I said.