I acquired a load of desert ironwood, from Sonora, Mexico. Can anyone tell me the best way to work with it. As hard as it is, should I be looking at scrapers or will a nice sharp gouge do the job. I would appreciate any assistance.
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Desert Ironwood Help
- Thread starter Grapeguy
- Start date
ironwood
Tom, Both types of tools have their place in turning, with some considerable overlap. The most important thing is sharp tools with careful control. You should practice every day, if possible, not on making something, but on the tools and how they cut. Refining your capabilities is more important than refining your "art" at this point. Experiment with each tool you own and keep the cutting edges sharp. Don't forget about riding the bevel! Good luck. Phil
Tom, Both types of tools have their place in turning, with some considerable overlap. The most important thing is sharp tools with careful control. You should practice every day, if possible, not on making something, but on the tools and how they cut. Refining your capabilities is more important than refining your "art" at this point. Experiment with each tool you own and keep the cutting edges sharp. Don't forget about riding the bevel! Good luck. Phil
I used to turn quite a bit of DI for small craft fair-type projects and found sharp gouges and skews to be very effective. I had occasion to use scrapers too and found that they worked very well.
However, I found sanding to be a bigger issue. The stuff stinks when you sand or drill it. I'd suggest using a mask at the very least.
Someone gave me some small pieces that had the wrong grain orientation for anything I made. I ended up burning them in my wood stove several winters past--big mistake! The stuff smelled so bad that we almost had to leave for awhile until the smell cleared. Took a lot of "heat" over that decision.
Joe
However, I found sanding to be a bigger issue. The stuff stinks when you sand or drill it. I'd suggest using a mask at the very least.
Someone gave me some small pieces that had the wrong grain orientation for anything I made. I ended up burning them in my wood stove several winters past--big mistake! The stuff smelled so bad that we almost had to leave for awhile until the smell cleared. Took a lot of "heat" over that decision.
Joe
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D. I. Help
Grapeguy
If you are still trying to figure out what to do with that D. I. , best you box up some of it and send it to me. Iwill take it off your hands.
I have turned some DI and it is hard, hard, hard. SHARP tools are a must.
Have fun, it is pretty stuff when finished.
Jim Sample
Grapeguy
If you are still trying to figure out what to do with that D. I. , best you box up some of it and send it to me. Iwill take it off your hands.
I have turned some DI and it is hard, hard, hard. SHARP tools are a must.
Have fun, it is pretty stuff when finished.
Jim Sample