I’ve just bought a little over 90bf of Jatoba that is amazing color, figure, straight, clear, and each board is over 7″ wide! I couldn’t help myself… and it was only a nickel more than Alder (why Alder is so expensive here I don’t know), and a almost $2(bf) cheaper than QS white oak or hard maple. I have a kid on the way and figure I have a LOT of furniture to make- might as well make it in one wood!
But I’ve been reading old posts and Googled around… “Severe blunting”?!?! YIPE! Is the HSS on my jointer and planer just going to disappear? Has anyone worked with a lot of Jatoba? What am I in for? Should I just buy some extra knives now? On the other hand I’m guessing that the crib is going to VERY kid proof.
So any advice would be welcome- good glues, # of knife sets to buy, stain suggestions… Thanks!
Replies
There was a recent conversation about Jatoba here, you might be able to do a search and find it. I built a pair of tables out of it and it is a beautiful wood. It is dense and heavy, but it works well and gives a wonderful, warm, orange/red/brown color. It can have a slight tendency to splinter along edges where there is grain run-out, but its not too bad with some care.
Yes, it is hard and will dull sharp tools, but its not like you'll need four sets of planer blades.
Here is a pic that I posted in the last discussion. It is one of a pair I made out of Jatoba with birch, ebony and canarywood. The finish is two coats of boiled linseed oil thinned 50/50 with mineral spirits - the second coat was wet sanded with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. That coat is sealed with blonde shellac and sanded. Top coats is waterlox satin 3 coats - sanded with 0000 synthetic steel wool between coats.
Eric
Edited 1/26/2004 3:28:33 PM ET by COLINSDAD
Edited 1/26/2004 3:29:38 PM ET by COLINSDAD
Sorry, the image function wasn't working....see if this works.....
Nice tables. Looks just like the modified Stephen Lamont designed A&C table (except chamfers and coved lip). Nice job.
I've made the same table with hackberry, canary wood, and maple. I found canary wood very nice to work with.
-David
Good catch! Yep, I used the same plans, although the dimensions changed and I altered some of the details. Yours look great, too, and your through tenons turned out much better than mine!
Eric
If only i were that observant as regards things with my wife!
Yeah, i really like the design and doing it was a really good exercise in solid joinery. The "plans" were not as complete as one might wish; some improvisations were necessary.
-David
jatoba is really a fun wood to work - pretty clean joints & nice colors.
i think i uploaded some pics - here's hoping
jerry
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