Thread: Aussie woods for combs?

In PNG where most combs and virtually all bows are made from wood, black bean is the timber of choice for both.

Cheers

Graeme

Thanks!

Blackbean, is it like these samples here?

It makes sense a wood good for bows would be also good for combs.

Kippis,

Samu

Be careful with Blackbean if you decide to use it Samu. It can be quite toxic when if you breathe in the dust.

Hello,

Ok, I'll have to check it out. Thanks for advice, artme.

I have made a couple of wooden combs using a dovetail ripsaw, and for comb spike shaping I have used knife tips as scrapers. I'll make there a slight burr with a burnisher, if needed. Usually there is need for both left and right hand burrs, so I need two knives. Of course, why not to make an arrowhead-shaped scraper as well.

With these simple tools, there does not evolve that much of fine dust either, which is really good for me (I'm a bit allergic to fine wood dust).

Hairdressers' combs are nice small projects. Does not take much wood either. And they will really give you a nice amount of practice with handsaw, too.

Kippis,

Samu

Originally Posted by sumu

Thanks!

Blackbean, is it like these samples here?

It makes sense a wood good for bows would be also good for combs.

Kippis,

Samu

The dark one is as I remember it, Samu, tho it often had some very pale wood - almost thin black & white stripes.

I am surprised by Artme's warning as the PNG'ns routinely ate the beans from the tree, and also sanded new bows using an oyster shell or a broken bottle - I never saw any ill effects, but I never worked with the timber.

Cheers

Graeme

Thanks, I'll check it out if our local fine wood distributor has it in stock.

About artme's warning and your response to it, I think both are truly fair play.

I mean, if someone has an fair impression something might be hazardous, there is all the right to say so, no matter what. And there is the same thing with counterarguments as well, especially with such a first-hand evidence.

Thanks guys.

Kippis,

Samu

Originally Posted by sumu

Thanks, I'll check it out if our local fine wood distributor has it in stock.

About artme's warning and your response to it, I think both are truly fair play.

I mean, if someone has an fair impression something might be hazardous, there is all the right to say so, no matter what. And there is the same thing with counterarguments as well, especially with such a first-hand evidence.

Thanks guys.

Kippis,

Samu

Good attitude. People used to think cigarettes were safe!

Cheers

Graeme

Just a note about my warning.

Many years back an uncle of mine restored the family Pianola. The last pice he did was done with Black Bean. It caused his nose to bleed.

The Man.Arts teacher at my last school had a similar episode.

There are numerous warnings about the toxicity of this timber in the literature.

Google toxic Australian timbers.