I live in Dallas and have turned most woods in the area, focusing on walnut, mesquite and the maples. I recently got several very wet koa logs from the big island.
Koa is the most challenging wood I've ever turned. I'm doing a small 16" dia hollow form - some observations:
1) The stuff is hard. While I've seen comparisons to walnut, there ain't none - koa is much harder.
2) Koa is, I think, what you would call "long celled" - if you have less than a pristine edge and haven't mastered the push-cut with a fairly high-angle grind, forget it. From my experience, doing the above as close to optimum as my capabilities allow, I still get tear-out. Hopefully, when the rough is dry, the same cut will produce better results.
3) Hollowing with the Rolle Munro is somewhere between difficult and impossible - using the traditional 3/16 works but doesn't leave the surface. Anyone had success with the Pro-Forme?
Hats off to Emiliano - if you visit Texas I'm signing up for a lesson or three.
John
Koa is the most challenging wood I've ever turned. I'm doing a small 16" dia hollow form - some observations:
1) The stuff is hard. While I've seen comparisons to walnut, there ain't none - koa is much harder.
2) Koa is, I think, what you would call "long celled" - if you have less than a pristine edge and haven't mastered the push-cut with a fairly high-angle grind, forget it. From my experience, doing the above as close to optimum as my capabilities allow, I still get tear-out. Hopefully, when the rough is dry, the same cut will produce better results.
3) Hollowing with the Rolle Munro is somewhere between difficult and impossible - using the traditional 3/16 works but doesn't leave the surface. Anyone had success with the Pro-Forme?
Hats off to Emiliano - if you visit Texas I'm signing up for a lesson or three.
John