Yippie, my Lovely Bride just returned from Italy with a new, heavy Olivewood cutting board for me! Said it was very cheap.
It can sometimes be a problem bringing unprocessed wood through US customs, but never a problem for products made of wood. Several times now I've bought or had made things from Olive, then cut them up at home into sizes I can turn. The figure on this one is nice. Have to think about what to make out of it.
An Italian friend once took me to visit a woodworker high in the hills of northern Italy. He rummaged around in he back room and pulled out a short, thick, dusty olivewood board. I had him cut it into a rectangle, smooth the surfaces, relieve the sharp edges a bit, then apply some oil. I took the "cutting board" home in my suitcase and promptly cut it up into 2" turning squares! Still using some.
This guy has been in business for decades supplying businesses and homes with cabinets, furniture. The #1 desirable wood in that area: white pine. When leaving, I gave him one of the little turned finger tops I always carry in my pocket when traveling. He was so excited - he turns bedposts and threaded joinery but never saw anything that detailed.
On another trip I found a shop in Athens, Greece that had NOTHING inside but things made from Olivewood, most by the owner's son, some turning but not refined. I gave the owner a little top and he wanted me to come back the next day and meet his son! But we had to leave early for our next flight...
BTW, I highly recommend making and carrying small tops to give away. Nice little "thank yous", great conversation starters. Long story, but we made life-long friends in Northern Italy starting with an encounter on a train from Austria that included little finger tops and other trinkets. I've turned many hundreds of tops.
JKJ
JKJ
It can sometimes be a problem bringing unprocessed wood through US customs, but never a problem for products made of wood. Several times now I've bought or had made things from Olive, then cut them up at home into sizes I can turn. The figure on this one is nice. Have to think about what to make out of it.
An Italian friend once took me to visit a woodworker high in the hills of northern Italy. He rummaged around in he back room and pulled out a short, thick, dusty olivewood board. I had him cut it into a rectangle, smooth the surfaces, relieve the sharp edges a bit, then apply some oil. I took the "cutting board" home in my suitcase and promptly cut it up into 2" turning squares! Still using some.
This guy has been in business for decades supplying businesses and homes with cabinets, furniture. The #1 desirable wood in that area: white pine. When leaving, I gave him one of the little turned finger tops I always carry in my pocket when traveling. He was so excited - he turns bedposts and threaded joinery but never saw anything that detailed.
On another trip I found a shop in Athens, Greece that had NOTHING inside but things made from Olivewood, most by the owner's son, some turning but not refined. I gave the owner a little top and he wanted me to come back the next day and meet his son! But we had to leave early for our next flight...
BTW, I highly recommend making and carrying small tops to give away. Nice little "thank yous", great conversation starters. Long story, but we made life-long friends in Northern Italy starting with an encounter on a train from Austria that included little finger tops and other trinkets. I've turned many hundreds of tops.
JKJ
JKJ
