Thuya burl question

J. Neilson

J. Neilson

Joined
Feb 6, 2001
Messages
3,621
I picked up a pretty good piece for thuya burl at the show this weekend but, I'm confused. Does this stuff need to be stabilized or not, or is it just preference? I understand the wood is heavy and oily by nature but, I keep hearing references to it being stabilized also.:confused:
 
I don't believe it's necessary on Thuya burl. It just makes a good thing better if you do. Easier to finish, that is.
 
I'm with Mike, the worst thing about working with thuya is it loads sand paper almost instantly. I wonder if when its stabalized its the same way. I know for a few years no one was stabalizing it but there doing it now......Ray
 
Well in my Humble Opinion it is a Good Wood but i Won't use it Unless it is Stabilized !! Yes it Still Load's Sand Paper like Crazy !! Check out This !! Just Have to Finish Sand to 1000 and Buff




pic.jpg



http://www.pinoyknife.com
 
Does it still have the strong cedar smell after its been stabalized? If it does makes me wonder if the stabalizing really does it any good. I had some eboney that was stabalized and went to go use it and it had a crack down the center of it. Some woods just aren't getting any benifit from it........

Very nice piece.
 
Funny you should ask.

I just finished my first Thuya Burl knife last night. I got this piece stabilized from the Lumber Lady.

I sanded to 800, then green buffing compound, then white. It polished up pretty nice, but I'm disappointed in the luster/glow. There isn't any.

I'm gonna call her and see what kind of finish I can add to her stabilizing recipe. I hope I can find something to improve the looks.

Steve
 
Steve, What did the wood smell like? Did it smell like plastic or cedar? Ray

By the way I've never gotten a high gloss with unstabalized thuya, more of a satin finish.......
 
I have to dip my files in mineral spirits to cut the oily dust that loads the file almost instantly. Sand papers don't last long with this wood. I really like the wood because it is naturally stabilized, but you don't get the added benefit of the grain and pin holes being filled for you.

A higher sheen can be accomplished by applying a few thin surface coats to the finished handle. I am finishing one now with 6 coats, so far, of hand rubbed tru-oil. It has a dull luster but the grain shows well and I like it like that for this particular kitchen knife and because the natural oils within the wood will probably never completely cure they may eventually bleed through a solid surface coating (however, I only assume that).

Roger
 
RR,

What does it smell like?
Click to expand...

I'm not really sure. One, I don't smell good. Errr... I mean, well uhhhh .... My olfactory sensations suffer from limited accuracy.

Plus, I was wearing my respirator and all the smells in the garage from buffing and everything were blended by the time I took it off.

But I don't remember any plastic kinda smell.

I'm gonna be trying rlinger's Tru-oil tonight. I hope that'll improve it!

BTW it does gook up the sand paper in a hurry.


Steve

PS This is probably the last piece I ever use. I like Amboyna much better. Thuya just doesn't float my boat
 
Just a note here, Judith=The Lumberlady, stabilizes in a different way than WSSI. WSSI uses the liquid acrylic, Judith uses something else.
 
One advantage to the stabilazation of the Thuya burl is that it adds a little weight to the wood. The unstabilized pieces that I have had were very light weight. I suppose that this could be good or bad depending on the type and size of knife you are making.
 
Mike, possibly the lumberlady uses different processes for different woods, but I have purchased amboyna from her that she mentioned specifically she was sending to WSSI.
 
Steve, If the tru-oil you using is the same that is used on gun stocks I've heard it doesn't hold up very well on a knife. I did some checking over at CKD and thats what I was told. Just thought I'd pass it along to you.....Ray
 
It won't have the "cedar chest" smell, because it's a different species (thuja occidentalis vs. cedrus deodara).

hope this helps

Brian
 
Raymond,

Interesting on the Tru-oil. I wonder if it makes a difference if the wood is already stabilized. But too late, it's on there now.

I did email the LumberLady to see if using an oil in conbination with her stabilizing treatment and she said fine. And she recommended Tru-oil. I was worried that maybe it would react or not adhere or something.

Anyway, I haven't re-polished yet, but it looks like it did help.

Steve
 
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