Iron Wood questions

shappa

shappa

Joined
Oct 15, 1998
Messages
3,556
Yes I know that Iron Wood is sort of a generic term for whatever is the hardest wood of the region.
I bought a hand carved owl at a thrift shop that is "iron wood". What tools am I going to need to cut it into scales? Will a table saw do it? Do I need carbide tipped blades? Will I go through several blades? Will I need to let them sit for a time before use?
I know someone else has to have done this before.
As you can see I know next to nothing on how to work with this wood. I know that it will buff up great...Is very hard. Any tips, hint, cautions I'd love to hear them.
Many thanks


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~~TOM~~

[This message has been edited by shappa (edited 01-28-2000).]
 
Most art type stuff called ironwood is from Mexico and is carved from Honey Mesquite. It is very hard for wood, but will work with normal woodworking tools, although rather slowly. Be careful, as it throws sparks and can catch sawdust on fire inside or under a saw, blow out the equipment and room before working it if you can.

James

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Those who are willing to trade freedom for security deserve neither, and in the end, seldom retain them!
 
I believe a band saw would work better and
be much much safer. Carbide for sure and
slow slow did I mention slow.

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http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91

 
And by all means, make sure you wear a mask when you work it, that stuff can be brutal on your lungs.

Jake
 
work it on a FINELY TUNED wood wporking bandsaw! i use a carbide tipped LENOX tri-master blade.i bought it as a block and resaw it into scales. when working with ironwood buy good sand paper and belts, bad ones clog fast and wearout faster. it's not very hard to work, it's just hard on equipment.
 
Amen, Jake.

I did a pair of knives with Iron Wood scales last summer, and between the two of them, the dust ate through brand new filter on my respirator. A buddy who does lots of woodwork told me (although this may be exaggeration on his part to induce me to take care) that Iron Wood dust is the most toxic dust, in that it is essentially like breathing in shards of ground glass. Can anybody verify or debunk this one for me?

Either way, $15 for respirator filters sure as Hell beats coughing up a lung!


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One little nuclear holocaust can REALLY hose your bowling average...
 
I don't know if it is the most toxic but it is bad "juju" nevertheless. Any bandsaw should work OK.

C Wilkins
 
if you want to fine tune your bandsaw, buy a book on it, i forget what the name is but any woodworker's supply type places should have it. and buy carter guides. it should cut perfectly after that.
 
I always heard that cocobolo and purpleheart were the worst as far as toxicity, but I think ivory, bone etc are the worst as far as damage to the lungs. I wear a disposable mask with a bandana over it and that seems to work well. The rubber masks are always too ill fitting for me.

Jake
 
Hello,

Yeap be sure to wear your respirator,
Arizona ironwood is Peppery to the mucus membranes,,cough sneeze gag,ect...

I use to have great luck cutting it when i was doing private art knives for people, cutting ruff stock in the round by Flatening
a spot on the round then cutting it out on my little Horizontal/Verticle band saw
using a Bi-metal lenox blade, although a carbon blade will work ok ,just not as long
for continued cutting.

Then on the Rough out pieces i just chucked up a 4 flute end mill in my Drill press, and using a set of parallels set the piece on the flat and using a slide vice, mill the surface flats on both sides,, this gives you Milled precision stock to work with from the ruff. Somtimes cheaper than buying it already done that way.

But for the limited amount your doing ,your best bet would to be take it to a local Cabnit shop/woodworking store in your area.
Ive done this before on weird woods that dimentionally i couldnt cut right on my equipment , and if the shop is Honorable and
fair the cost for somthing like what you have should be minimal say 10.00 to 20.00
and somtimes if ya tell em your making knives they Do it for nothing!!,,brings back the old knife granpa had memorys to them i think. Just an idea atleast they cut it pretty even for ya.

my .02

See ya,,,,Allen

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Allen Blade
Spokane,WA USA

" It is Always Better to learn The RIGHT Way, Than to Continue Doing it WRONG "

My Custom Knives :
http://www.geocities.com/yosemite/meadows/1770/allenblade.html

[This message has been edited by Allen Blade (edited 01-29-2000).]
 
Hi guys,
Thanks for the tips. I only have a table saw to work with so the tips on working with band saws are lost on me but I'm sure someone is apprecative.

I'll just have to work up a jig to flatten one side, then go from there.

Do I have to let it set for awhile before use or can I use it fairly soon...+/- 2 months?
Allen, Glad to see you still posting.
smile.gif
This information is priceless.
wink.gif


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~~TOM~~
 
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