Friday 4 January 2008

Reducing a perfect piece of Ebony from this...


To these!


With 18" left over. The narrow piece is 1-1/4" thick - perfect for handles. The other piece is 3" thick.


This was a 2 day process - and I have become much better at just starting into it (as opposed to staring at it for 4 hours!). I still stare at it (planning my attack)... but start cutting much more confidently. It certainly helps to have such fine material - there was very little waste from this piece.



Pictured above is another piece of Ebony I worked with. This was also an exceptional piece - the only waste being the bits between plane parts.

Onto the African Blackwood!

8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very nice. I would be interested in seeing your bandsaw setup.

And since you teased about the lignum mallet, and this post gives me a better view--it looks to be two separate pieces. ? I have 3x3x12 and 4x4x9 chunks that I plan on turning into solid mallets. I know the pros and cons of sold v two-piece, but am just wondering about your particular mallet.

I haven't tried to glue up lignum vitae yet but understand that you have to be meticulous. I'd get a lot more stock if I just turn the heads from the lignum and different handles. If you have any thoughts, I'd appreciate it.

6 January 2008 at 11:16  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Konrad,

I notice you have another 28 1/2" jointer laid out. Now that you've run the marathon are you itching to run one again?

I'm glad. The first one was too great to be the only.

Dan

6 January 2008 at 21:46  
Blogger Konrad said...

The green mallet is a two piece mallet. I did not make it - but if I were to make a mallet - it would be a 2 piece. The most compelling reason is to use less head material. There will be some more photos in the post - including the wedged through tenon.

Cheers,
Konrad

7 January 2008 at 08:27  
Blogger Konrad said...

Hi Dan,

I was wondering if anyone would see that:) I am not in a hurry to run that marathon again - at least not in the immediate future. But there certainly will be at least one more 28-1/2" jointer!

Cheers,
Konrad

7 January 2008 at 08:29  
Blogger Peter said...

Hi Konrad,

Awesome work, as always. Truly beautiful and inspiring. I'm wondering if you would share your source for such a fine (as you say perfect) large piece of Ebony?

Regards,
Peter

8 January 2008 at 21:59  
Blogger Konrad said...

Hi Peter,

I don't really have a single source for wood - I grab it whenever I see it. I discovered this piece of Ebony while on a trip to Calgary.

Most exotic wood suppliers get calls from time to time asking if they would be interested in buying someones old stock (either someone retired from woodworking or passes away). Those are the times when great old (dry) wood shows up. Ask around - there is more great wood out there than I ever imagined.

Cheers,
Konrad

8 January 2008 at 22:18  
Blogger Jim Shaver said...

Hey Konrad,

Amazing to see this, perfect planning and layout...and look at all the pen blanks that could have been .....

:-)

I think a group shot of the finished works will be an amazing contrast shot with the block of uncut ebony... bet I know where that SS "Beast" is going!

:-)

Take care,
Jim

12 January 2008 at 08:55  
Blogger Konrad said...

Hey Jim,

A lifetime of pens for sure:)

There certainly will be a family shot of the planes that come from this piece - likely in about a year from now.

Take care,
Konrad

13 January 2008 at 20:15  

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