RodN
Full Member
In Lignum Vitae & Solid Silver
With a King John I silver coin set in the base
WATERPROOF WOOD - LIGNUM VITAE
Incredibly hard, heavy and extremely dense. Lignum Vitae sinks in water. In fact, this piece of timber was found at the bottom of a dock in Glasgow where it had lain submerged for over a hundred years! Once the piece was cut, it was as good as it has always been. Some of this wood found its way to my local wood merchant, and of course, I had to have some from which to make shaving brush handles. Waterproof wood!
The wood is obtained chiefly from Guaiacum officinale and Guaiacum sanctum, both small, slow growing trees. All species of the genus Guaiacum are now listed in Appendix II of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) as potentially endangered species.
That means that this wood can not be moved over international borders without special paperwork. I cannot export this shaving brush outside of the UK. (Well, it would be possible, just, but it would mean a lot of paperwork and form filling, which isn't practical). It is perfectly legal for me to sell it within the UK.
"Lignum vitae" is Latin for "tree of life", and derives its name from its medicinal uses. It was the traditional wood used for the British police truncheon until recently, due to its density (and strength), combined with the relative softness of wood compared to metal, thereby tending to bruise or stun rather than simply cut the skin.
The belaying pins and deadeyes aboard USS Constitution and many other sailing ships were made from lignum vitae. Due to its density and natural oils, they rarely require replacement, despite the severity of typical marine weathering conditions. It was once widely used in water-lubricated shaft bearings for ships and hydro-electric power plants, and in the stern-tube bearings of ship propellers.
You get the message
The wood handle of this shaving brush is going to last!
This wood takes on an olive greenish tinge after a while being exposed to light.
The customer specified a hallmarked solid silver upper section to the brush handle, together with one of my "Extra Dense" Silvertip badger knots. These badger knots are specially made to my own specifications by a factory in China. (All badger hair for shaving brushes comes from China).
The silver has a 2014 Edinburgh hallmark.
A solid silver original King John I coin is set into the base of the handle
We start with a block of Lignum Vitae, and mark the centre on each end.(Note the olive green tinge to the wood which has been exposed to light for a while)
The wood is mounted on the lathe. The revolving centre on the right (in the tailstock) is a steb centre to help grip into the wood,
The wood is turned round. (Note the change in colour)
Continued next post...
With a King John I silver coin set in the base
WATERPROOF WOOD - LIGNUM VITAE
Incredibly hard, heavy and extremely dense. Lignum Vitae sinks in water. In fact, this piece of timber was found at the bottom of a dock in Glasgow where it had lain submerged for over a hundred years! Once the piece was cut, it was as good as it has always been. Some of this wood found its way to my local wood merchant, and of course, I had to have some from which to make shaving brush handles. Waterproof wood!
The wood is obtained chiefly from Guaiacum officinale and Guaiacum sanctum, both small, slow growing trees. All species of the genus Guaiacum are now listed in Appendix II of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) as potentially endangered species.
That means that this wood can not be moved over international borders without special paperwork. I cannot export this shaving brush outside of the UK. (Well, it would be possible, just, but it would mean a lot of paperwork and form filling, which isn't practical). It is perfectly legal for me to sell it within the UK.
"Lignum vitae" is Latin for "tree of life", and derives its name from its medicinal uses. It was the traditional wood used for the British police truncheon until recently, due to its density (and strength), combined with the relative softness of wood compared to metal, thereby tending to bruise or stun rather than simply cut the skin.
The belaying pins and deadeyes aboard USS Constitution and many other sailing ships were made from lignum vitae. Due to its density and natural oils, they rarely require replacement, despite the severity of typical marine weathering conditions. It was once widely used in water-lubricated shaft bearings for ships and hydro-electric power plants, and in the stern-tube bearings of ship propellers.
You get the message
The wood handle of this shaving brush is going to last!
This wood takes on an olive greenish tinge after a while being exposed to light.
The customer specified a hallmarked solid silver upper section to the brush handle, together with one of my "Extra Dense" Silvertip badger knots. These badger knots are specially made to my own specifications by a factory in China. (All badger hair for shaving brushes comes from China).
The silver has a 2014 Edinburgh hallmark.
A solid silver original King John I coin is set into the base of the handle
We start with a block of Lignum Vitae, and mark the centre on each end.(Note the olive green tinge to the wood which has been exposed to light for a while)
The wood is mounted on the lathe. The revolving centre on the right (in the tailstock) is a steb centre to help grip into the wood,
The wood is turned round. (Note the change in colour)
Continued next post...
:idontknow: your brush is exciting.
