I’ve had a stray board of “bloodwood” hanging around my shop for a couple of years and finally — one of those bolts out of the blue — came up with the perfect reason to use it for a small keepsake box.
After doing some research on Knots and the Web, it appears to meet all the criteria for bloodwood from the “Brosimum” family — deep brick-red color, fine texture, extremely heavy, comes out of the planer almost ready to finish, fine red sawdust EVERYWHERE, etc. — a.k.a. “cardinalwood” or “satine.”
What I haven’t found is any information on the better finishes for bloodwood. I’m aiming to keep the color as natural as possible. Are there any peculiarities I should be aware of, in choosing a finish for this wood? Anything to avoid? Anything that works particularly well? Keep in mind, I don’t have a spray system, so I’ll either brush or wipe on the finish.
Thanks in advance.
David
Look, I made a hat — Where there never was a hat!
Replies
I seal bloodwood with dewaxed shellac and spray it with lacquer.
Look for fine hairline cracks that are hard to spot till after final sanding. Common for Bloodwood.
I find it a joy to work with other than the checking. Beautiful wood.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy
PlaneWood
I've used it for a couple of projects, mostly as accent strips in tables and such. Oil varnish finish looks beautiful, it's got such a wonderful glow that simple is best. But you are right about the sawdust - its a real mess. Be careful with the dust.
I have used Bloodwood as accent pieces. It really shines. I use a combination of tung oil and shellac. It gives it that iridescent finish which "moves" with the light.
Thanks for your help, everyone... you confirmed my finishing plans. And you're all correct: it's turning out to be a great-looking wood, wonderful for this small box (but probably overwhelming for a larger piece.
DavidLook, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!
Could it have been pauduck? What you have sounds more like Pauduck then bloodwood. How heavy was it for it's size? About the same as white oak? or more like ebony?
Sorry, frenchy, I was out on the West Coast for the holidays. Back now...
Anyway, the wood is very dense, very heavy, and finishes extremely smooth, like ebony. It was sold to me as bloodwood (of course, we all know what THAT means, sometimes!) and seems to meet most of the criteria I've found on the web for bloodwood. Of course, this is my first time working bloodwood, I haven't had any experience with padauk, and haven't looked that wood up yet, so it's always possible that I'm wrong.
Happy New Year,
DavidLook, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!
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