Finishing Karri??

**bilbo** · 5th February 2005, 06:10 AM

Recently, I was given a "heap of wood". It came from a demolition when a mate of mine was doing a house renovation. At first glance, under 66 layers of mission brown paint we thought it was Jarrah - we didn't look too hard. But having got it home, it's mostly Karri.

As you all know, Karri is hard 'n heavy but in my experience it doesn't work well or finish well. Splinters a lot 'n ends up all "furry" no matter how you sand it. I'd like to use it for something decent rather than "pergola beams" or firewood etc, but has anyone got tips on finishing it. My mate wants an "apres swim shower stand" built for near his swimming pool in exchange.

We're talking 50 yr old, 10" by 2.5" by about 6 mtrs and 4" by 4" by 6 mtrs etc,etc all mainly old roof 'n pergola beams. About 6 large trailer loads - SWMBO is impressed as she now has less lawn to mow. The wood is sitting on half of it 'n she'd like me to make a start on reducing the expanse - preferably this year! It'll end up as firewood if I don't move quickly!

Thanks,

Bilbo

**derekcohen** · 5th February 2005, 12:20 PM

Hi Bilbo

My last largish piece using Karri was the top of a sideboard built a few years ago. Man, that was a major job to flatten (using hand planes and scrapers)! No matter what I tried, it had sections of tearout (much interlocked grain) and it wore out my blades very quickly. Still, the hand planes left a smooth, clean finish in the end, much prefered to the ROS I brought out at one stage.

The top was finished in Danish Oil and wax, and several years on this has proved to be a durable finish with a natural look.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**LineLefty** · 7th February 2005, 10:58 AM

I've also had a go and some old karri pergola beams. But my idea of 'sharp' wasn't developed enough at that stage to stop the god-awful tearout on karri.

So the timber is still sitting thier waiting for a finely fettled smoother to have a go.
The rest I've used for fences on various things (shooting board, router etc etc.)

**lesmeyer** · 8th February 2005, 10:18 PM

Derek,
your remark - "Man, that was a major job to flatten ", especially the first word used tells me something about your country of origin.
Anyway, my question regards the statement that you have used wax over the danish oil. Would you regard using Traditional Wax over rustins danish as a good finish for oak shelves in a bathroom cabinet made of oak??
Regards
Les

**Gumby** · 8th February 2005, 10:33 PM

What about some Hard Burnishing Oil. I find that is a pretty durable finish. Sand it in with a randonm orbital and it gives a really nice sheen which you can add some Trad Wax on later.

**lesmeyer** · 9th February 2005, 12:45 AM

Thanks Gumby. I will use next time as I have already applied the Danish oil.

Now I also know what you look like from the latest newsletter. Rather difficult to place the face of the typo kign but previous threads gave it away.
Les

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