Geoffrey Barst on thu 9 dec 04
I see lots of nice wooden potters' tools in Ceramics Monthly and would
like to make my own versions. Can anyone suggest the best wood? I'm in USA.
Geoff Barst
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on thu 9 dec 04
Hi Geoff,
The kinds of tasks asked of them, would recomend Woods that
are smooth in their grain, and who will resist
deteriorations from moisture.
Nut Woods such as Oaks, Pecan, Hickory, Beechnut, Chestnut,
Beech...and so on would generally tend to be of too coarse a
grain, or would not appreciate the mosture as well as
others...even though I expect Hickory would work plenty
well...or too, any may be boiled in some Linseed Oil with a
little Jap(anese) 'Drier' in it, to make it more resistant
to moisture...
While, most 'Fruit Woods' such as Apple, Plum, Cherry or
Orange and so on...I would expect to do nicely...
'Rock' Maple likely would do well...as would some Birches
and Sycamores and Locusts...and Elms...Hornbeam...
Or, some Grasses or Palm 'Woods' such as Bamboo ( whose rind
should be allowed to become the cutting edge if it is to
have one) or for Palm Woods, to be shaping Tools rather than
cutting Tools...
Almost any so called Rosewoods...or 'exotics' who posess a
fine even grain, and have their own sort of 'oil' in them...
Boxwood certainly, would be exemplary...
What kinds of Trees or other grow where you live?
Phil
el ve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Geoffrey Barst"
> I see lots of nice wooden potters' tools in Ceramics
Monthly and would
> like to make my own versions. Can anyone suggest the best
wood? I'm in USA.
>
> Geoff Barst
Jo Smith on fri 10 dec 04
any native hardwood would work, my husband is a spoon carver and has made
ribs for me out of cherry and some oak. treated them with mineral oil as he
does his spoons.
Jo
Lee Love on fri 10 dec 04
Geoffrey Barst wrote:
>I see lots of nice wooden potters' tools in Ceramics Monthly and would
>like to make my own versions. Can anyone suggest the best wood? I'm in USA.
>
>
Here in Japan we use mountain cherry. In America I used cherry from
the cabinet shop.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://www.livejournal.com/users/togeika/ WEB LOG
http://public.fotki.com/togeika/ Photos!
Ivor and Olive Lewis on sat 11 dec 04
Dear Geoffrey Barst,
Great to make your own tools, even better if you customise them to
your own needs. Simple tools and simple skill will get your there.
Giant Bamboo, the stuff that has a base diameter of about four inches
and a thickness of at least half an inch is ideal. Pretty well rot
resistant and it holds a sharp edge for a long time.
Then there are the hard woods, Olive is dense. Many of the fruit
woods, Apricot, Apple, Peach and such wear well.
If you need instruction, might I suggest you invest a few dollars in
"Handmade Potter's Tools", Whitford and Wong which was recently
republished.
Gordon Wong can be contacted via ipcress12@yahoo.com.
If you are looking for the most durable tools next to Stainless Steel
and can access a diamond saw and the grinding media, Sheet Slate is a
wonderful medium to work with. The added weight makes you appreciate
the tool in your hand.
Best regards,.
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
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