Replies

1. 
   dtraversi | Jan 21, 2007 01:59am | #1

   Lacewood

   in my experience- routes well in light passes, resaws well to very thin layers.
   I could not master smoothing it with a plane so I took it to thickness with a drum sander and scraper. very happy with the results.

   To finish- sand to 320 after the scraping (I read that somewhere and it seemed to work just fine)

   cheers,
   dave

1. 
   ctsjr | Jan 21, 2007 04:43am | #2

   Thanks.  Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

2. 
   Pondfish | Jan 21, 2007 04:18pm | #3

   Lacewood can be brittle but it hand planes and machines pretty well. 

   The usual warning with lacewood is that its dust is an irritant.  I read somewhere that lacewood is related to poison ivy, but I am sensitive to P.I. but have had no problems with lacewood.  Your experience may differ.

   For finishing, lacewood soaks up the oil.  You might want to highlight the grain with a quick wipe with oil followed by shellacking (a method recently published in FWW).

   Also, consider doing all your sanding and finishing prior to cutting your miters.  Neater finished work that way.

   Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
1. 
   ctsjr | Jan 21, 2007 10:29pm | #4

   Thanks.  The dust/irritant factor is what I was concerned with.  I am sensitive to Poisen Ivy, too.  Yesterday when picking through the lacewood boards, I got a nasty splinter and other than hurting like a mother bear, I've had no reaction to it.  We haven't discussed finish yet, but I'll pass your words along.  Thanks again.  Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

2. 
   trialnut | Jan 21, 2007 11:30pm | #5

   This would mostly depend on which "Lacewood" you are working with. There are three different woods all called Lacewood.

   1. Platanus hybrida, most common commercial name of European plane or London plane. This tree is in the sycamore family and is pretty much non toxic all around.

   2. Cardwellia sublimia, commercial name of Silky oak. I could not find what family this belongs to but suspect the cashew family. The green wood and sawdust of this tree is listed as a mild irritant.

   3. Polyalthia oblongifolia, commercial name of Yellow lacewood. This is the one most commonly refered to as just lacewood. Again, I could not determine which family it's in but it does not have any toxicity listed.

   Poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans,and it's buddies poison sumac, T. vernix and poison oak, T. quercifolium are in the cashew family which has many plants in it that are nasty irritants. Hope this info is of some help.

   RichThe Professional Termite

1. 
   ctsjr | Jan 22, 2007 04:13am | #6

   I don't have a clue what the genus and species of this wood is.  The lumberyard had it labled, "Lacewood" and no scientific name.  Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

1. 
   trialnut | Jan 22, 2007 09:29pm | #7

   Tom

   If you want to be even more confused check out Lacewood on this site.

   http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/index.htm

   Rich

   The Professional Termite

   Edited 1/22/2007 1:32 pm ET by trialnut