Lignum vitae finish?

[qquake2k]

When I was a kid, my dad had a chunk of lignum vitae in his shop that he called ironwood. He told me it was so hard and dense, that they used it for prop shaft bearings in WW2 submarines. It always fascinated me. I don't know whatever happened to the chunk he had, but I found some pen blanks at a local shop today. Anybody ever worked with it? Would Watco Danish Oil be a good finish for it?

 

[Doug]

Lignum Vitae is naturally oily hence the use in items like bearings were the natural oil is beneficial
I found when turning a mallet head from it that I could just buff it up without adding oil, in fact where I got oil on the head from oiling the mallet handle it didn't dry & I ended up removing the overspill.

 

[Lons]

When I was a kid, my dad had a chunk of lignum vitae in his shop that he called ironwood. He told me it was so hard and dense, that they used it for prop shaft bearings in WW2 submarines. It always fascinated me. I don't know whatever happened to the chunk he had, but I found some pen blanks at a local shop today. Anybody ever worked with it? Would Watco Danish Oil be a good finish for it?

Hi Jim,
what Doug said

The oil content seems to vary in the wood depending on how old or well seasoned it is though and I've used it extensively over the years for various projects, bowls, boxes mallets and more recently pens, even used it for bandsaw guides in the past. Can be very hard but turns nicely with sharp tools. I've used all sorts of finishes without problem mostly just wax or oil but friction polish was ok for me and have finished several pens with a CA finish just made sure I wiped with spirit first. I haven't had issues with any of them tbh.

 

[Penpal]

I like the timber and its variations the timber I have had the pleasure of using has been seasoned fully no problems finishing.

Peter.

 

[Bill Mooney]

A lot of times I've just spun the lathe & burnished it with its own shavings, the oil in the timber does the rest giving it a lovely sheen.

 

[qquake2k]

It's hard to believe that this ugly, wax coated block of wood turned into this gorgeous pen body! I went ahead and finished it with Watco Danish Oil. I'm assuming that the sheen will lessen with time.

 

[Lons]

That's nice Jim

Lig Vi is one of my favourite woods

 

[qquake2k]

I think it's quickly becoming one of my favorites, too. It'll be interesting to see how the second blank looks after I turn it.

 

[Lons]

I think it's quickly becoming one of my favorites, too. It'll be interesting to see how the second blank looks after I turn it.

keep you eyes open Jim as it varies in colour and it's possible to get light and dark in one blank. I have some beautiful pieces I've had for many years. I don't know if old bolwling balls are available in the US but worth looking for if they are.
Just found these but they seem over priced, Old Lignum Vitae? Ironwood Bocce,Lawn Bowling Ball 2 lbs 4 oz. 5 5/8" grooved

I've just bought 2 for £10 GDP

 

[qquake2k]

Yep, the second one is a lot lighter. But it has nice figure, like the first one.

 

[qquake2k]

The second blank is more oily than the first, and the goo that accumulated on the sandpaper has a green tint to it. But the blank itself doesn't look green to me.

 

[Bammer]

looks great, that first one had a beautiful colour to it

 

[Bill Mooney]

Looking very nice Jim.

 

[wm460]

They turn up well.

 

[bassethound]

They look lovely....

 

[qquake2k]

Finished the pens. Went ahead and used Watco Danish Oil.

http://www.penturners.co.uk/wood-turned-items/14364-lignum-vitae-executive-ballpoints.html

 

[Anthraquinone]

Very nice pens

Having read this thread I was looking on the web and found this interesting page

How to Tell Genuine Lignum Vitae from Argentine Lignum Vitae | The Wood Database

AQ

 

[wm460]

Any problems using Danish Oil on the pens?

 

[qquake2k]

Any problems using Danish Oil on the pens?

No problems at all, just like the Thailand rosewood pen I recently used Danish oil on. It took two days for the oil to dry on the lignum vitae pens, but it has been colder here lately.