Whats your worst wood

[oldtimer]

Perhaps one or two of you can help with my problem. I would be most grateful.

For something different I took a piece of ' Zebrano ' and cut at 30 degs across the grain. I got a lovely configuration of grain. The trouble was, I kept getting ' drill wander '. I tried several different ways of drilling. Different drill bits. Shortened drill bit, even drilling a very small pilot hole and working up to the required size. Try as I might I could not get a central hole and often got 'break out'.
In the end the only way I could get a useable blank was to cut a piece 1,1/4 sq. And pair it down. What a waste of wood !!!!!!!!!!

What is your demon wood and how did you overcome the problems.

 

[Terry]

I am not a lover of Zebrano for pens but for bowls etc. I have had some excellent results. You don't say if you you are using a drill press ora lathe for drilling but I would suggest keeping your speed very low ie 300 rpm and don't try and force the drill. Use a sharp drill and let the drill cut slowly!!!!

 

[Jim]

Zebrano is tough wood to work with, even harder at 30 degrees ... I have had blow outs when drilling this wood also, i drill mine on the lathe as with all my blanks now and have very little issues at 500rpm .. It helps if the blank is true held in 4 pinned holders ...

Good luck ..

 

[Woody]

The trouble with Zebrano the dark wood is harder than the light coloured wood so drilling at 30deg to the grain the drill bit will travel sideways on exiting the light softer wood and trying to enter the dark harder wood I hope this makes sense

 

[lignaterrae]

Aye, bang on. The drill will always try to follow the the path of least resistance; which in Zebrano is the softer pale material. More success to use a blank either in normal grain orientation or at fully 90 degrees to it.
Worst wood ever? Get hold of some Buddleia. Utterly boring to look at, colour of manky bread dough, soft to a fault and turns like wholemeal bread.

The trouble with Zebrano the dark wood is harder than the light coloured wood so drilling at 30deg to the grain the drill bit will travel sideways on exiting the light softer wood and trying to enter the dark harder wood I hope this makes sense

 

[Jimjam66]

I use DeWalt Extreme 2 drill bits, with a small pilot section on the tip. Helps the wandering, but as everyone says Zebrano is a tough ol' b*gger. Still beats Bog oak for me - nasty, smelly, slimy and finishes like a soft t*rd. that's my experience anyway - I know some others on the forum have much better luck with it ...

 

[Grump]

Ok here is where I upset the Apple cart int?
Don't pussyfoot around with care and drilling slowly.
Use a good sharp drill bit, up the revs and zip straight through the bugger with one swift action and plenty of elbow grease behind it.
Takes 5 seconds not half hour.

 

[edlea]

Ok here is where I upset the Apple cart int?
Don't pussyfoot around with care and drilling slowly.
Use a good sharp drill bit, up the revs and zip straight through the bugger with one swift action and plenty of elbow grease behind it.
Takes 5 seconds not half hour.

Brians worst wood is any type of plastic !!

 

[Gav]

Ebony.

Tried a coupe of times and can't get a finish on it.

Looking at the pencil I use daily, it's blotchy and some shiny bits and some dull bits.

Lovely to turn though!

 

[bellringer]

Iroko is the one I hate as I am allergic to it

 

[Terry]

Ok here is where I upset the Apple cart int?
Don't pussyfoot around with care and drilling slowly.
Use a good sharp drill bit, up the revs and zip straight through the bugger with one swift action and plenty of elbow grease behind it.
Takes 5 seconds not half hour.

A load of bo**ocks !!!!!!

 

[Jimjam66]

Ok here is where I upset the Apple cart int?
Don't pussyfoot around with care and drilling slowly.
Use a good sharp drill bit, up the revs and zip straight through the bugger with one swift action and plenty of elbow grease behind it.
Takes 5 seconds not half hour.

Or to put it another way: If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

 

[oldtimer]

Hi Gav

Funny enough, I have had no problem with ebony. I drill very slowly on a drill press, clearing the bit every few turns. But Zebrano is S**t at a angle. I have tried straight down the grain and got a good blank. So maybe I will stick to straight grain. never tried Oiroko for pen blanks. Worked with it when I was a carpenter. Built the hatch covers for the restoration of the SS Great Britain ( Brunell's first iron ship ). It was crap then. I remember it knocked s**t out of my tools. Toooooooooooo corse, it has a substance like sand in it.

Hey, Ho, try something else then and see what I can get.

Cheers Lads.

I like this site, you learn such a lot.