LIGNUM VITAE

D

Don

Joined
Apr 26, 1999
Messages
75
A friend of mine gave me a log of Ironwood. I got it all slabbed up. (boy was my boss mad...ruined 3 band saw blades). My question is in regards to attaching. I have been told that you can't glue(epoxy) this wood down, it won't hold. I have made a small 3 blade pocket knife using it and it seemed to work OK. I pinned it also. Current project is for a larger 2 blade folder. Should I add more pins to hold the wood on secure? Handle is just over 3.5"
and currently has 2 pins for the wood, 1 pivot, 1 for the blade, and I.m thinking of putting a lined lanyard hole(?) any suggestions...
also what about finishing, I used Dembarts wax on the small folder.

-----------------ps-This wood came from Mexico
Don Juvet, Somerset CA



[This message has been edited by Don (edited 29 April 1999).]
 
Don
Desert ironwood glues very well as long as the back is slightly rough and the tang is roughed up as well. Occasionally if the wood looks gummy (usually happens after I have cut a slab in half ) I wipe it with laquer thinners before gluing.

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george
 
Well then I'm doing Ok so far. roughup the wood and brass on the small folder real good before gluing. Thanks for the quick response.
 
I have used rubbing alcohol on gummy Cocobola with great results. For wood finishes, there was an informative thread in this section which started a few day ago.

Steve
 
Lignum vitae is extremely waxy. George Tichbourne has some pretty sound advice on using the thinner.

This particular wood was once used (I don't know about nowadays) as shaft bearings on ships.

One other trivial bit of information. There actually is no such wood as "ironwood". The hardest wood in any given region is usually called ironwood. I live in southeast Texas and our ironwood is Bois D'arc. Desert ironwood is actually honey mesquite, I believe. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
It looks like your "ironwood" is Lignum Vitae.

CLWilkins
 
The Central Coast California Channel Islands has an "ironwood" : Lyonothamnus asplendifolius & L. floridundus...I planted one 15 yrs ago here on the ranch....wasn't supposed to live, it did
smile.gif


the Spanish and later Mexicans used it for wagon wheel axels, nails and other uses. very pretty wood.

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"quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
~Ðøñå~

 
lignum has frequently been called ironwood thruout the ages....i use it quite often as i have a good supply....like the man says, use something to get the inside dry and clean, i prefer acetone....it really works good.....also...you could glass bead both it and your handle...the stuff thats in it.. wax like substance and its extreme density (its one of the heaviest woods in the world) are why it was once used for ship bearings, as well as bearing surfaces for many large sawmill blades...etc....if you dont do things right and use a very good grade of epoxy...guaranteed the handle will spring after a while.....or crack...make sure you drill the holes so you dont have to force whatever pins you use thru it...tension=crack later on....sincerely...
 
forgot to mention....cut it up into quarter or 3/8 inch slabs and let it sit for a year or so.....if you are smart.....
 
Thanks for all the input. The piece I had is all slabbed up and sitting, waiting for the next project. The outside layer of wood on the log was fairly well aged, but, as I have read in other topics I can see that moisture can stay trapped deep in the wood for a long time. I 'll let it sit as long as I can stand it. while still retaining some semblance of intelligence.
wink.gif


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Don Juvet, Somerset CA


 
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