Hi
I’m not sure whether my question is acceptable in this forum, but I’m hoping you can give me some advice please.
I’m in the process of experimenting with making buttons from avocado seeds. I have cut the seeds, dried them, drilled the holes, sanded them and applied a few coats of Scandinavian oil. They seem to be very durable, but I realise that I will need to seal them with something and I am hoping that you can help me with this.
I have no woodworking experience at all, and would really appreciate any advice that you can give me. My idea may well be quite ridiculous and completely unworkable, so I am open to your honest opinions. I am also interested in carving avo seeds.
Thank you so much.
Replies
Did you use Feast Watson Scandinavian Oil from Australia?
If yes, then the buttons are already sealed. According to their website (see attached) the product contains resins that create a light protective film on the surface and is available in gloss or satin.
If you prefer a heavy protective film you can wait until the Scandinavian Oil is fully cured then lightly sand the buttons with 220 or 320 sandpaper and apply an oil-based polyurethane varnish.
Whenever mixing finishing products from different manufacturers, test it on one piece before commiting your entire button collection. Make sure the new top coat is able to dry completely. If it remains sticky, it's not compatible.
Mike
Thank you so much for your reply Mike. I did use Feast Watson Scandinavian oil, so that’s awesome.
Perhaps being buttons, it is probably preferable to use a heavy protective film to help withstand repeated washing. I will follow your instructions and see how I fare. Thank you so much.
Based on MikeinOhio's response, I think you chose a good forum for your question. Others, like me, are interested in your experiment and would like to know what works. Besides buttons, avocado seeds could potentially be used for other things like drawer knobs and even jewelry. Thanks for your question and please keep us posted.
Are they that large? I had no idea. I've never seen the inside of an avocado.
See: https://modernfarmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/shutterstock_1072415963.jpg
The possibilities have now sparked all our imaginations.
I am surprised that you haven't seen an Avocado pit. How do you make fresh guacamole?
But then again there is plenty of food out there I have never even heard of
The last green thing I ate was some iffy cheese.
Oh great, I’m glad I chose a good forum and I will certainly let you know how my experiment goes. Like you, I can see lots of potential uses for these seeds. We eat them everyday and I always thought how wasteful it is to throw them out, so began collecting them.
My wife uses avocado seeds for dying yarn. We have dozens of them drying or in the freezer. Post a photo when you're done and maybe I'll have a reason to steal some.
What color does it produce? Natural wood stain?
If I remember correctly it's a pink.
Yes it is pink.
These pics show pieces that I have sliced after drying for a few days and taking the husk off, although some that ai gad left to dry a little longer still have some husk on them, which I don’t mind, as I like the rustic look for buttons on vests and jackets made from up cycled blankets on the outer and vintage sheets as the lining.
The other pic shows the buttons that I have sanded and oiled to date.
If anybody can figure out a way to take the finished buttons and make an inlay material or other woodwork out of them (like Craig Thibodeau), that would be an interesting magazine article or video.
I put some buttons of various size and thickness through a wash cycle today. The smaller thicker ones came through well, however the larger thinner ones were bendy. Looks like they will definitely need to be sealed well.
When dry, these seem to be the sort of things that would polish well in a tumbler.
You might consider sealing them in casting resin. It is purchased from a hobby or craft store (or order from Amazon, etc; https://www.amazon.com/s?k=casting+resin+kit&crid=11PHOAJP3GEI4&sprefix=casting%2Caps%2C258&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_7). This material is used to preserve lots of objects and will be much more water proof than most wood finishes.
Has anyone ever tried turning an avocado seed?
Another sealing idea would be one of the wood consolidation products like Minwax wood hardener or Abatron LiquidWood (I think that’s the name). They are very runny resin products that are designed to soak into soft or rotten wood and stabilize it against further decay. If I recall from the last time I used one, they leave a sort of semi-gloss finish. And they do cure very hard.
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