Hello,
I have a buddy who is a big cigar smoker, so I thought I’d make him a custom ashtray (his wife is tired of him using the custard dishes apparently). Anyway, I’m going along fine and about to start my final sanding when the whole “fire” and “wood” concept just hit me. I was not planning on putting in a metal insert in the ashtray and some of the most beautiful parts of the wood are at the bottom of the “tray.”
Any thoughts on what finish I could use that would stand up to cigar ashes and probably the occasional cigar or cigarette snuffed out in the bottom of the tray? I assume whatever I use will require occasional touch up, but I just don’t want him to set fire to the finish on its maiden use!!!
ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Thanks,
Chris
Replies
Sounds like mission impossible to me. No finish is going to stand up to the glowing embers being snuffed out, nor will any wood. If a metal lining is out of the question then perhaps you could work in a smaller metal dimple just big enough to snuff cigars out in while being the least intrusive visually. Give him a convenient, if small, place to safely stub them out at and I bet he'd use it religiously.
As for a finish... definitely stay away from lacquers and shellac as both are quite flamable even when cured out. Conversion varnish isn't exactly a fire retardant finish but it isn't flammable and wont' contribute to any fire burning near or on it. Water-borne finishes are probably comparable to CV on that count.
Maybe some hand-hammered copper?
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Chris, I smoke cigars. Most of my ashtrays are either glass, ceramic or wood with a metallic liner. On the other hand, most cigars go out rather quick if your not puffing on them, so stubbing one out is really not necessary. I think wood would do fine, just pick a dense hardwood. Remember, pipes are made from Briar which obviously holds up very well to direct contact with an ember.
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