Q on cleaning burl

[griffithpark]

I recently acquired this piece of Red Gum burl. In case it's not clear, it's like a pile of thick ribbon. I'll use it as the base for sculpture. Since Red Gum is from your side of the globe, How would you clean it? What is it likely to look like after cleaning? I could just leave it alone. I'm using it to represent a coral head.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I'd simply use an awl to pick out the worst of it, then brass brushes and a lot of elbow grease. I'd use a sand blaster but as I don't have one... :roll:

[rsser]

Try a high pressure water blaster.

That will be an interesting piece to turn ;-}

btw AFAIK you have a US tree called red gum too.

[Lumber Bunker]

sand blaster if you want to remove the out layer of grey... to reveal the red
high pressure water to clean.

and thats a sneeky tool gloat in there too. At least it comes from the right side to the world too, big HNT fans here.

Good Luck

[reeves]

maybe start by usinga conroessor to clean the dirt, then water spray to clean it a little more after thatm i fyou like whats happening go harder like Ern says and use high pressure, beyond that soak in water for a few days and scrub it with a brush..steam clean it maybe...

have fun

[griffithpark]

I haven't cleaned a burl before and this one's unique enough I don't want to mess it up. I have three of HNT's planes: the 60 deg smoother and the two spokeshaves. I also like Colen Clenton's work. I like supporting the smaller makers of quality tools.

[dennford]

Definately sand blasting - that is what one compny that pecialises in burl furniture here in Perth do.

Denn

[DJ’s Timber]

I would say sand blasting but the way you are holding that burl suggests to me that it's fairly light which would mean that it's fragile so would proceed with caution and blast a small section first lightly to see how it goes, a Redgum burl of that size is normally fairly heavy. I think sand blasting would be kinder then water blasting.

If it's light, fairly open and fissured as I think it might be, I would stay away from water blasting it as it will probably ruin it or soak up too much water.