Snakewood Blank

[Buckeye]

I have just found a snakewood blank that was given to my by Vince and seemed to remember people saying it splits easily so I am looking forward to the challenge. It's quite nice, but looking at the silly prices some people want for it I don't see there much chance of me turning a second one even if this one doesn't split. The australian burrs look much nicer to me so does burr elm, amboyna and thuya so why is this wood so expensive?

Peter

 

[Grump]

Cos people will pay those silly prices for it.
If it don't sell the price comes down init?
I don't think its exotic at all, as you say compared to some other woods.
All the snakewood I turned split, maybe not on the day but shortly after.
I won't do it again.
Good luck with it I hope it works for you.
Keep it cool is the secret so I am told.

 

[Buckeye]

Maybe I will decide which kit I am going to use and drill the blank then leave it for a few months to see if it splits and if it doesn't complete the pen and again see if it splits.

Peter

 

[Twister]

keep us up to date please
and good luck
I have a couple of small blanks..i just keep looking and thinking :nonono::nonono::nonono:

i look at them every now and then to see if they are still in one piece

Steve

 

[Grump]

Maybe I will decide which kit I am going to use and drill the blank then leave it for a few months to see if it splits and if it doesn't complete the pen and again see if it splits.

Peter

That could be a good way to proceed, certainly stands more chance of staying intact in my mind.

 

[Buckeye]

That could be a good way to proceed, certainly stands more chance of staying intact in my mind.

I have noticed in the past that if I have drilled a blank and tried the tube to make sure it will go in and than left the blank for a week or so to carry on with something else, when I have come back to the blank to glue in the tube, the tube will not pass all the way in. Maybe it's relieve the stress when it has been drilled and then movement occurs and I have to pass the drill through the hole again.

Peter

 

[Grump]

I have experienced the same thing, never really analysed the where's and whyfor's just put it down to expansion contraction moisture content etc.
As you say pass a drill through it and good to go init?

 

[chas_41_uk]

I have a snakewood blank as well. I'll get round to turning it, when I feel braver

 

[Woody]

I to dont understand people paying these prices for snake wood especially when there are so many better wood on te market I have never understood what all the fuss is over it I would think the Lucida kit would be a good kit for snakewood they only need a 9mm drill and there is quite a bit of wood left when turned

 

[Lons]

Hi Peter
I bought a couple off Vince a while ago but haven't touched them yet. Don't remember them being especially expensive though Are you local to me BTW as Im only 20 mins from Vinces gaff (assuming same Vince - Turners Workshop).

 

[Jim]

I made a baron with it a while ago Peter, i don't recall which one it was that split first, but it was a good few months after that the second one split .. Keeps us informed my friend, solving the mystery will earn you some turning points ..

 

[Buckeye]

Hi Peter
I bought a couple off Vince a while ago but haven't touched them yet. Don't remember them being especially expensive though Are you local to me BTW as Im only 20 mins from Vinces gaff (assuming same Vince - Turners Workshop).

No, I am a couple of hundred + miles south. I bought some Amboyna blanks and then 2 minutes later bought some thuya blanks and so I had two lots of postage so he threw in a few blanks to ease the stress and 1 of them was the snakewood. Yes it is the same Vince, nice bloke.

I made a baron with it a while ago Peter, i don't recall which one it was that split first, but it was a good few months after that the second one split .. Keeps us informed my friend, solving the mystery will earn you some turning points ..

It's a good bet that it is stress in the wood, but whether drilling it will stop it splitting, I have no idea, but if it splits before I have turned it then at least I have saved myself the effort and disappointment. Any one who has got some snakewood it might be an idea to do the same and that way we could have a bit more data to go on.

Peter

 

[Woody]

Well I must be just plane lucky I have one in my collection about 15 to 20 years old

 

[Buckeye]

Well I must be just plane lucky I have one in my collection about 15 to 20 years old

Maybe you were careful with the drilling, from what I have read it is the heat that does it.

Peter

 

[Bill Mooney]

I've had snake wood split quite a while after it was made. After that I would drill the blank, soak it with thin ca & leave it for a week or two to relieve the stresses, re-drill if necessary & finish off the pen. Had more success this way.

 

[wm460]

Bloody snake wood I leave it alone now .:nonono::nonono::nonono: