What is wrong with this wood? I like it but.....

Hey Mark, I'd like to try it out too! It looks awfully light in color for a knife, but if it will darken up with the right finish then I think it could be great.

Will you set a block of this with my Oregon oak stuff from the other thread please?

Thanks Mark! :D
 
Got my wood today, I must say I really like it.

Thanks I will have pics of the knife with these scales as soon as I get a couple holes drilled and get it back from heat treat!!
 
Mark, I got the wood today along with my oak. THANK YOU!!! :)

After seeing it in person, I really cannot say what the issue is. I think it's gorgeous and even like the color as is. A little something to make it a little more dark and rich would be nice, but it is very pretty wood.

Thank you Mark!
 
Got my block as well and I gotta tell you, I've held 'lyptus before but I don't remember the wood being this crazy heavy or hard. This is impressive stuff.
 
Hey Mark, got some scales on a mule, my picture skills are a bit lacking indoors so I will get better pictures in the sun. This stuff really has some great color, my lady really liked it ;)

IMG_0843.jpg
 
I sounds like it's one of those woods that looks great in person, but is difficult to photograph. I find that koa is like this. It's sometimes tough to get the chatoytancy to stand out without using direct sunlight. Perhaps a couple of spotlights like you would use when shooting gemstones would work.

Judging from the photos, it does look a little plain. I would probably use it more in contrast with another wood, than by itself. It could also be nice overlayed on black folder handles.

Phillip
 
Phillip Dobson said:
I sounds like it's one of those woods that looks great in person, but is difficult to photograph. I find that koa is like this. It's sometimes tough to get the chatoytancy to stand out without using direct sunlight. Perhaps a couple of spotlights like you would use when shooting gemstones would work.

Judging from the photos, it does look a little plain. I would probably use it more in contrast with another wood, than by itself. It could also be nice overlayed on black folder handles.

Phillip
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I agree, it moves and has nice color in person but photos are another story. I have a cheap photo box set up with a bright light and I can get great pics out of it, but this stuff does not like to cooperate. I do have to say the wood is nice to work with though, it's solid yet easy to shape.

I was thinking it would look nice with an ebonized oak or ebony handle. Maybe I will try to ebonize some of this stuff ;)
 
What doesn't look good with ebony? :D I use on more boxes than any other wood.

To bring out the chatoyancy, you need point-light sources. That's why direct sunlight works. A light-box that smooths the shadows out is exactly what you DON'T want. I'm betting that a big dark room with two positionable spotlights would be ideal. You could fill in the shadows with the secondary light, but still get crisp chatoyancy from the wood.

I might have to get some of this material to play around with soon.
 
Phillip Dobson said:
I sounds like it's one of those woods that looks great in person, but is difficult to photograph. I find that koa is like this. It's sometimes tough to get the chatoytancy to stand out without using direct sunlight. Perhaps a couple of spotlights like you would use when shooting gemstones would work.

Judging from the photos, it does look a little plain. I would probably use it more in contrast with another wood, than by itself. It could also be nice overlayed on black folder handles.

Phillip
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I think you hit it right on the head Phillip. Almost everyone I show it to in person buys some. But it is hard to get good photos.

Anti-Torsion, thanks for posting the photo. The knife looks excellent. I think you are right with the comments about a contrasting wood and that women really like it.
 
I wanted to post a better pic that ACTUALLY showed some color. Having my 2 pics close together really shows how much a light source can change the outcome of a picture.

IMG_0846-1.jpg
 
wow--thats great-marekz - i have a few pieces i cant wait to use. what was the answer on how they stabilize. are ya gonna put some up for sale on on a thread? --marekz/mark
 
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marekz said:
wow--thats great-marekz - i have a few pieces i cant wait to use. what was the answer on how they stabilize. are ya gonna put some up for sale on on a thread? --marekz/mark
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Hey Marekz,
I am trimming some blocks right now. Should be posting some this week.
 
So I had a knife ready for scales when Mark first posted this so I thought I could surely have it done by the end of January... Unfortunately, I underestimated the course-load for this term! Stinking med school, getting in the way of knifemaking... ;) Anyway, I finally got the scales on the steel and it is currently hanging while the 9th coat of Tru-Oil is drying. I really like Tru-Oil on rifle stocks and wanted to try it on these scales.

First off, I really like how this wood shaped but it seemed to burn really easily if the belts weren't brand new. This is a bushcraft style knife so I actually kept a lot of the burn in the scales, I like it and I think it will go with the faux patina that will be applied next. I was quite unprepared for just how red this wood is. Very pretty stuff here and I will surely try to get some good pics but I live in Portland so sunshine is an oddity this time of year. Guess I'll have to finish the half completed light box I have sitting here (why the crap do I have so many half-finished projects?!?) to try to bring out the beauty. Really wishing I had a buffer as I think that would really make the wood pop and sparkle.

Mark, you're a stud for hooking so many up with some great looking wood. I promise I will post pics as soon as the knife is completed. I can get you the names/numbers of my professors so you can ask them to lay off for a couple days so I have time to finish it up! ;)

Really love this forum, wish I could contribute more but I'm too damn new and ADD to help out too much. Stealing some of Mark's wood and taking pictures is the least I can do! Thanks again Mark!
 
Hi Mark, just saw this thread pop back up again.I don't have any bog red gum but i do have plenty of fiddle back red gum that i hate to say is way better than the California stuff you may have.I also have recently got a substantial ammount of Ringed Gidgee which is truely spectacular and right up there with desert iron wood.The problem i have is i don't want to make 800 knives with the same wood on them. Would you consider swapping some of your burl scales or bloks for some of my red gum and ringed Gidgee? I will e mail some pics to you tomorow as i havn't put photos up on the forum before, not sure if i can.I should be able to mail it to you but i will check with customs first if you want to do some swapping. Cheers Parkerknives
 
PARKERKNIVES said:
Hi Mark, just saw this thread pop back up again.I don't have any bog red gum but i do have plenty of fiddle back red gum that i hate to say is way better than the California stuff you may have.I also have recently got a substantial ammount of Ringed Gidgee which is truely spectacular and right up there with desert iron wood.The problem i have is i don't want to make 800 knives with the same wood on them. Would you consider swapping some of your burl scales or bloks for some of my red gum and ringed Gidgee? I will e mail some pics to you tomorow as i havn't put photos up on the forum before, not sure if i can.I should be able to mail it to you but i will check with customs first if you want to do some swapping. Cheers Parkerknives
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I like the idea of a swap, especially the ringed gidgee. My email address is itsaburl@hotmail.com Postage will be the expensive part but I will look into things on my end as well.
Thanks, Mark
 
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