When I left CA., a year ago, I ended up with a piece of Kingwood. It’s 4″ by 4″ by 24″ long. I plan on using it sparingly, mostly for accents. However, I have a lousy time matching it up to different woods, because it has strong veins of purple running through it. I was going to use it on a curly birch box, but the 2 people I showed it to, picked another rosewood over it. Any suggestions on wood type, to accent this wood? Thanks.
Replies
Hey Robin,
Mexican cocobolo has similar purple color, and I've used it in contrast to curly maple in the handle sections of my longbows, so our tastes would appear to coincide. I think most woods that you pair it up with will be a contrast, as opposed to a compliment , unless you are making something very dark.
Tom
One good use is to make the rest of us jealous.
It is one of the finer of he rarer exotics. I think it could be used with lots of woods in the light to golden brown even textured woods like teak into mahogany but also I think it should work with cherry. It would work great with all of the other rosewoods, even into the reds like bubinga and bloodwood. I would even try it with purple heart.
I have lots of odd chunks of wood around here, and it is sometimes hard to find just the right use for them, but when I do, while it may feel like parting with an old friend, it is also like meeting a new one.
If you still have some of it left 20 years from now, when you do use it, be sure and tell whomever gets it that you have had the wood that long just waiting for the right place to use it and where you got it. The customer likes hearing this kind of thing. They will share your story with their friends. It is good for business.
Edited 5/28/2005 11:53 pm ET by rootburl
robinlyn,
Unfortunately, the unusual colors of that wood make it impossible to pair with any other woods. In fact, it is regarded as a fairly useless wood due to the swirling grain patterns and contrasts of yellows, browns, purples. Also when sanded or scraped, the surface polishes to a marble-like quality. Who wants a wood like that?
It will just be a source of frustration for you. Send it to me immediately and you will not have to worry about it any more.
No need to thank me. Knowing that you will be worry-free is thanks enough.
Rich
Edited 5/29/2005 1:43 pm ET by Rich14
Rich,
Thank you for your generous offer!! What a guy! Unfortunately, even though I work for a shipping company, I don't think they ship to where you are at....it's heaven, right?? :)
Robin
*Sigh*Yeah, heaven. But it's a real expensive heaven. Example: Paying $6 for a pineapple from the same fields that ship to the mainland where they sell for $2 at Ralphs is getting old very quick.That's the price we pay for living in paradise.Rich
I made 7 or 8 of these as Christmas gifts many years ago. I kept this one for myself, but as you can see - I never even got around to installing the hinges on it yet. The top has spalted maple that I think looks pretty good against the kingwood. The box liner and miter keys are from yellowheart which I don't think is as nice of a contrast. FWIW, while still having a purplish cast, it has lost some of it's purple over time, going towards a browner tone.
Waddaya mean it wont fit through the door?
How did you finish this piece? It looks absolutely fantastic!
Thanks. It was just Minwax Wipe-On Poly (cant remember if I used gloss, satin, or a half-and-half mixture). I did have a couple of pieces that didn't want to cure on the first try, and I had to sand off and redo. I read later, that kingwood is sort of notorious for having oils that can inhibit some finishes from curing. If I was to do it again today, I think I'd use a coat or two of dewaxed superblond shellac, then do the wipe-on poly over that.
Waddaya mean it wont fit through the door?
I like it with Hawaiian Koa........just me Aloha, Mike
Mike,
I have some curly koa, maybe I'll give that a try. It would have to be something really special, those are my two most expensive woods. Thanks for the advice.
Robin
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