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12th April 2020, 05:45 PM #1GOLD MEMBER
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Some amazing old Red and Birdseye Mahogany
Hi gang,
I had some very old Birdseye Mahogany and Red Mahogany from Mal. It was all rough sawn and maybe offcuts from some old job he come across. I really didnt know what it was like until I ripped it up. The first length was this gorgeous red colour, but no birdseye Then the rest turned out to be birdseye. So I used the red for the front and backs and the tray, and the birdseye for the ends, plus the frame around the old coolabah burl insert. Actually the coolabah burl insert really matched the pinkish birdseye mahogany.
I made this a tad longer than normal 315mm x 190mm x 105 (ish). Talk about cranky old grain on the birdseye, what a pain to work with. When routering the dovetail fingers it even spewed one finger right out, luckily I retrieved it. And when glueing up, clamped the finger back in, what a perfect match. Then when screwing the brass screws in, even after pilot drilling and screwing a steel screw in, still snapped one brass screw off, what a pain retrieving and repairing.
I've looked at and seen plenty of designs for large boxes but I keep coming back to this one. Small boxes different story. Did my tray slightly different this time, holds 20 rings in nice soft cushioned velvet and good other storage space.
Paul
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12th April 2020, 07:22 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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That's great work!
There was an old sawmiller down near Bulahdealh and he closed down 2 years ago and had an auction.
Had a chat to him, it's red mahogany country that way and he said that in all his years of cutting, that the best log he had ever processed was red mahogany
I'll show to Mal tomorrow
Greg
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12th April 2020, 07:39 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
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Hey thanks Greg, good to hear from you and thanks for the compliments. I figured it must have been some old offcuts as it was all rough sawn that I got from Mal. Now I know where it come from. I still have some of it left. And of course the coolabah burl lid insert is from Mal also. He sliced me up two burls,.......coolabah and redgum..Say hi to Mal from me.
Paul
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12th April 2020, 10:02 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
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Beautiful timber and wonderfully transformed into a useful item, Paul. Good work finding that flying finger, how often do bits just disappear into the ether never to be seen again.
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13th April 2020, 05:44 PM #5GOLD MEMBER
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Nice work Paul, that is a beautiful box.
With gnarly timber like that i always run the thread of the screws across a candle, they go in much easier with a coating of wax.
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13th April 2020, 06:47 PM #6
That's beautiful. The pics don't do it justice till you enlarge them. Thats some nice work right there.
Kerry Larkan
Melbourne Australia
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13th April 2020, 08:09 PM #7
Lovely work there Paul. You have turned the ugly duckling timber into a beautiful swan box. Certainly well worth the effort you needed to put in and hopefully you have a worthy recipient.
Dallas
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14th April 2020, 12:08 AM #8GOLD MEMBER
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Thanks everyone. Yes the photos dont really do that timber justice. The front piece looks like it has a flame from a fire coming from it. I have a jar of beeswax handy that I always run the screws in, even the steel screws to start with, I might try a candle next time. I now leave the steel screws in (the hinges) after routering the hinge slots. By then I have assembled the main part of the box. I then use my ROS to take it from 120 through to 2000 grit. (with hinges in) Concentrating heavily on the 120 to even up any small smidgeons of unevenness with lid to bottom. For some reason there always seems to be a smidgeon. (no handle on it yet). I've already ROS'd the underside of the lid down to 2000 grit prior to gluing lid to carcass.
Then I remove the hinges and put them aside for later. Lid and bottom now get their first coat of my home made Danish Oil. Then I start to make the tray.
I've started making another identical box to this one, from some lovely Prickly Ash, also from Mal. Beautiful honey gold with flecks all through it. Will be all Prickly Ash, no burl in this one. Carcass all finished, panel framed lid and insert in clamps now.
Paul
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14th April 2020, 10:05 AM #9
Do you see a significant difference in the surface or finish between say 1200 and the 2000 grit. I only go to 1200 and was wondering if the extra couple of steps were worth it. Not too many places sell the 1500 & 2000 discs.
Dallas
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14th April 2020, 06:08 PM #10GOLD MEMBER
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hey there Dallas, hows it going mate. I was ROS the underside of my lid this arvo prior to glueing/clamping it to the carcass of my box. When you hit the 1500 or 2000 the finish is just like glass. And for those burls they come up just like polished marble. Then with the cutting back of the second coat of Danish Oil (wet) and the light cutting back for the wax (dry) I believe my finish is pretty good. And besides I cant use a lot of other oils with tung oil in them, wife is allergic to that pretty bad. I really dont like the smell of it myself.
So to answer your question, yes. I just had a look on ebay at when I did an order late last year for more 5 inch ROS pads. This is my order. I note that particular one is not available anymore, but there would be similar about. I paid $16.99 for it, just looked.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AU-100pcs-125mm-5-Sanding-Discs-80-240-to-3000-Mixed-Grit-Orbital-Sander-Pads-/293359711080?hash=item444d99f368
I still have all these in the bag they come in, havent even opened them yet, still have some left. I might get out the 3000 ones for this box, give them a run.
AND wait there's more. I mentioned wax earlier, when I was at Maleny Wood Expo this time last year I bought a tin of Fiddes and Sons Supreme Wax Polish. Its the best wax I have ever used. I was going to buy another can this year, but alas, its all cancelled. Even had a weeks accommodation booked up that way. My tin is getting towards empty, might even look now and see where I can buy a tin online.
Paul
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14th April 2020, 07:42 PM #11
Thanks for the detailed info. I will need to give the higher grits a go as I do like smoooooth surfaces. Looks like you can buy your wax here.
Unfortunately your link to the discs brings up an error but I found lots of them listed. Did yours come from Aust?
PS. Found an Aussie supplier but they are about twice the price, but even that is quite a good price. Interesting to know what the life of them is like compared to the higher priced name brands.
Dallas
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14th April 2020, 08:02 PM #12GOLD MEMBER
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Thanks Dallas. I just ordered 1 tin. $52.80 with delivery. The tin I bought at Maleny will still last me a bit longer, so an extra tin should do me well over another year. I lightly sand my box with whatever w&d I grab, 1200, 2000, whatever. Before I rub in that wax. (after two coats of Danish oil). Then I buff it on with a lambswool pad on my drill press. Do that for two days, lovely finish.
I think those discs come from China. I bought something from china recently and it took 6 weeks to get here.
Paul
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24th April 2020, 06:33 PM #13GOLD MEMBER
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HI gang,
Just to follow on, the box from Prickly Ash is now finished. What a lovely unique textured timber. I have probably enough of this timber left for another one of these, or maybe something else, not sure yet. I've been pruning out a bit of timber lately, a lot of dribs and drabs of timber that I just wont use. I salvaged enough of these pieces to make 7 simple boxes 200x125, all the same size, started cutting out the finger joints today. They will be a mixture of native Australian timbers. All the offcuts I cut up and gave them to the woman next door for her young daughter to burn in her backyard marshmallow maker fire thingie.
Paul
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24th April 2020, 10:29 PM #14
Another beautiful piece Paul. You just keep churning these out one after the other and all look fantastic. I have been working on a box for about 3 weeks now and still nowhere near finished. I must admit though I am trying out some things for the first time so taking it all slowly to get it the best I can.
It looks like you have collected a very nice stash of special timbers so you shouldn't get bored making your boxes.Dallas
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