Thread: Bethlehem Olive Wood group buy

Hi Russell

Received my blanks today. They are beautiful.

Can't wait to turn them into pens.

Thanks again for organizing the group buy! Your a champ!

PS I also ordered some olive from RTBCO so I can make some boxes to put them in. Air drying the pen blanks, while I wait for the timber from RTBCO. Got to mill the logs and let them air dry out before I can make the boxes.

Timberbits.

Originally Posted by BoomerangInfo

Glad to hear they arrived Dave. You should have no troubles with any of the standard kits at the size they are. All of the blanks I use are around this size (19mm) and I've had no problems doing Churchills even at that size, as long as you drill straight.

Russell.

Hi Russell,

You're right - the only reason I'd have trouble would be if I stuffed it up

I saw a note in another forum on setting up a very simple drilling jig, which I will try - my current setup leaves a bit to be desired!

Thanks again for the group by - I second Trevor - it was very well run!

Cheers,
Dave

The eagle has landed. They arrived this morning and look great. Felt heavier than previous ones purchased and also a little damp. Not sure whether they are completely dry but by the time I get to turning them they will be for sure. Greatly ran group buy Russell. You should be congratulated. The smoothness and speediness that was achieved is a real credit to you. Hope to show a completed pen as soon as I can work out how to get my atttchments to attach. Well done again.
Kim

Hi everyone,

I suspect that the BOW blanks recently purchase through the group forum and many other ordered direct by other members, are green blanks, as I believe was something on their web side confirming just that, which makes sense. I don't believe anyone has dry olive wood in any commercial quantities, anywhere. Of all timbers, olive is one of the few that take a considerable amount of time. A recent document that I received from the biggest olive wood supplier in Europe, base in Italy, as just conformed to me that their modern kilns are only capable to dry properly, 1cm of timber thickness (olive) per month 24/7, most are cut in 1/2" and 1" for timber flooring, and furniture panels (doors, drawers, etc) some 2" slabs are casionally dried on their kilns from special orders, one is a intriguing size to most, 1' cube, but certainly not to me as I know exactly why they are bought this way. There a "few" overseas importers that have also the answer, but I'm not ready to start anything, yet, so this will do.

Would be possible for Russell or anyone with the right equipment to get these 2 readings for me, on any of very recently received BOW pen blanks, please. One is the moisture content, the other is the weight of each blank. Another interesting test done by using a normal small timber lighting match, light it and immediately put it flat in one of the blanks face, not the end-grain, and see what happen, does it burn (match) to the end, or something else happens!. Anyone that decides to try this, I would very interested in seeing the close up pics. Don't worry, you are not going to burn/lose your blank.

I just WILL feel sorry for those that went out of their way to get a real piece of olive from the old trees still alive in the holy land, and later on finding out that yes, it was packed in the holy country, but the olive has come from, not places but countries, thousands of miles away, that is going to be a very sad day for a lot of people, believe me!

I'm glad that I've never had anything to do with such "practices", nor I ever will, and that is a promise. The problem is that anyone selling olive wood at the moment, can and probably will be claiming to have come (origin) from places where the product value is hight and irresistible for so many honest religious people that will believe what they will be told. And that I have a big problem with...!

I've recently done some research on this same subject, and I can tell you, what has been said, insinuated, assumed, and in some cases evidenciated , is totally mind blowing and an eye opener indeed. Forums all around the world, have been debating this "Practice/reality" for a few years, particularly since 2003 with the "entry" of one of the big players still today. Go, and have a read for yourself, and make your own conclusions if you dare...!

Cheers
RBTCO

Originally Posted by shazzkim

The eagle has landed. They arrived this morning and look great. Felt heavier than previous ones purchased and also a little damp. Not sure whether they are completely dry but by the time I get to turning them they will be for sure. Greatly ran group buy Russell. You should be congratulated. The smoothness and speediness that was achieved is a real credit to you. Hope to show a completed pen as soon as I can work out how to get my atttchments to attach. Well done again.
Kim

Thanks all.

Yes the wood did seem rather moist when I turned it too, which is also I guess why it turned so fast. Hopefully it won't be a long term problem. I'd imagine given it's nature, it probably always stays a little moister than other timbers anyway.

I have no way of measuring actual moisture content. I did weigh the blanks however and the avergae seemed to be about 53-54 grams. Range was about 48 - 60g. Interesting, the more figured the wood, the tendency it had to be in the higher weight range.

Russell.

My blanks were between about 50g and 58g, though the sizes varied by up to 1mm.

attached are two photos. The first it the match test on a 53g blank.

The second is the same test on the 58g blank. When burning with the match, I could see the flame licking the timber much more, which makes me think there was a lot more oil in that one than the first.

Cheers,
Dave

I tested a piece of BOW from a different source ,but most likely the same supplier for both. The weight of the one I have had for some months ,was 53 grams, I tested with a 4 prong digital moisture meter (which I have no idea of what its calibrated for) and both Russels and the older one I had previously, tested at 10- 12 % ,on this machine . eg both the same as near as I can tell, I tested some other woods to try and get some reference and some were higher and a few lower, so it would seem that it is not going to dry out a lot more than it is already, maybe leave one in the sun for a few days and see if that makes a diffence ,or try short bursts in a microwave and weigh situation. I have turned a few of these recently and the wood seems stable enough. My 2 bob's worth lol. cheers ~John

Russell,

The blanks arrived today, thanks very much for the time and effort to organise the buy.

regards

Mike

just weighed the blanks I recieved in the group buy and they were between 49 and 51 for seven of them and two were 47grams. I then weighed some from another supplier who sells them as dry and they came out at 51 for the three that I grabbed. I then realized that the "dry" ones were 1/2 an inch longer but still the same weight. They feel dry, they sound dry, they turn dry, thumbnails can't mark them and they even smell dry. You know what..... I reckon they are dry and have been ever since I've had them.

Now in no way shape or form am I being critical to you Russell, as the job you have done is top notch and the blanks are even better but I'm just trying to show that some people do stock dry and ready to turn BOW...

I reckon that might be three bobs worth!!!
Kim

Originally Posted by Ozkaban

My blanks were between about 50g and 58g, though the sizes varied by up to 1mm.

attached are two photos. The first it the match test on a 53g blank.

The second is the same test on the 58g blank. When burning with the match, I could see the flame licking the timber much more, which makes me think there was a lot more oil in that one than the first.

Cheers,
Dave

Dave, thanks for doing the test for me, and before I forget, what is the exact size of the last lot of BOW blanks received? anyone, please!

OK, I didn't thing that this test was common knowledge, as was one of those precious lessons that I've learn from a older master working specifically and exclusively with olive wood. The interpretation of the test is some how obvious, but not at first, there is you can have a pieces of olive with similar oil contents, but one is dryer than the other, both still feel heavy tough. What happens is, when water is present in "abundance" in the olive wood, the oils cant react to the match flame, therefore there is no supply able to escape of the easy burn olive oil from that piece with the higher moisture %. On the other hand, and as you witness, if water in not present or in very low quantities, normally 10 -12 % the flame does bring the oils to the surface, making combustion quite easy and "sparky", burning slightly the timber surface. So there you have it...!

I haven't try yet microwaving timbers for drying purposes but, something is telling me that olive wood should react well to a slow , intermittent and rotating gentle cooking. The problem will be not allowing the oils to reach boiling point otherwise, the timber will become as dry as the Simpson desert, but no fibers to keep the timber cells together, becoming like a piece of burn bread toast.

Oh, I forgot to mention that, as much as I love the smell of the olive wood being cut/worked, too much of it and you will know about it. I've been ripping the olive with the band-saw without a dust mush, as the timber is still green so not too dusty but, what makes the nice smell, taste's really bad "sawer" and the acids make you cry a little and you sneeze like a mad man, when it really gets inside places it shouldn't. but don't worry, ain't won't Kill you, by the contrary, look at all those old fellows still working (carving, etc.) olive wood in those little work-sheds, no blowers no suckers, little ventilation, and they seat there all day every day, breading tones of the fine dusts, and they all die of old age, I mean "old age". Maybe is the water...?

Does anyone has a couple of days free, to give me a hand with some ripping and some milling some large olive logs before the weather turns to wet?
Or I'm getting too slow, or the days are getting smaller, bugger if I know...!

Time to go and try to have a little sleep...!

Cheers
RBTCO

russell the blanks arrived today there are tops am gunna treasure these and be very careful in turning these oh and will do up a thank you bag on weekend will send you some mackay cedar, burdiken plum and will see what else i can dig up as a thanks
thanks troy

robutacion I measured the blanks and mine all seem around 19mm x 20mm .
I hope that helps cheers John !

Originally Posted by gawdelpus

robutacion I measured the blanks and mine all seem around 19mm x 20mm .
I hope that helps cheers John !

Thanks John!

Cheers
RBTCO

Originally Posted by shazzkim

Now in no way shape or form am I being critical to you Russell, as the job you have done is top notch and the blanks are even better but I'm just trying to show that some people do stock dry and ready to turn BOW...

I didn't think you were, I have no idea. All I know is the one I did was easy to turn, which is a trait I find in green wood vs dried. I'm far from being a Timber expert. I turn pens green, blue red or white, as I can't tell the difference. Doesn't matter to me. Touch wood I've had none of the ones I made crack yet no matter how wet or dry they were.

Second last parcel went in the post yesterday. Final one will go once the cheque clears.

Russell.