Has anyone built any furniture using Leopard wood? Is it easy to work, what are the pros and cons (other than the high purchase price)? I am considering using it for making a sculptured rocking chair. Also, wondered what type of finish would look best on such a chair and be easy to apply?
Jim
Replies
Not a answer...
But if I had the money to purchase that wood I'd get a bit more to experiment with and go for it! What do you have to loose but money.. Experience gained and may have fun doing it!
putman,
For some reason I recall an issue regarding the toxicity of leopard wood. Not trying to scare you but I would check it out. I'll try to find something and will post here.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
One problem with leopard wood/lacewood is that there are several different names used interchangeably for three or four different species, so it's hard to know what you really have. I believe the problem with at least some species is the same sort of sensitization and contact dermatitis that you get with many tropical (and a few non-tropical) woods.
-Steve
Steve,
Yes, I'm finding that too. What I've come up with is:
Roupala brasiliensis - Leopardwood - South America (Chile, Brazil)
Cardwellia Sublimis - Lacewood Australia (Queensland)
So they are distinctly different woods. I do recall another discussion in here where I believe the OP had a bad reaction to lacewood though.
Thanks. Both are awsome looking wood! Woodzone.com amongst other sources.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 10/24/2007 11:20 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Edited 10/24/2007 11:21 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Bob,
I think I read somewhere, that if you store leopardwood next to dogwood, you may end up with just a bunch of fir.
Ray
That is a most perspicacious observation, and explains why good logging dogs are hard to find in Africa....Philip Marcou
philip,
Bench dogs, too?
Ray
Good bench dogs were always in demand. A rule of thumb was one leopardwood require ten of these: that is how the Bloodwood tree (Pterocarpus Angolensis) came to be named.
Ofcourse most people know that at least twenty of these are required to tree one lion.
I made do with just one.Philip Marcou
LOL.. LOL ..Cough...Good one! Alert dog you have there.. You had a hunk of chicken to get him/her to look at you like that?
philip,
Now that's a bench dog, mate! I see he's sittin', but sure he'll be lion soon as you tell him to.
Cheers,
Ray
I can't seem to work any animal puns into this but . . . . I have turned some lacewood and leopardwood with good results. I was also using a full faceshield with filtered air and the usual precautions a healthy woodturner uses. A member of our woodturning club turned some of the same woods and ended up in the hospital with respiratory problems, not sure if it was the leopard or lace but both are related. He also was using his lungs as his only filter (already a chainsmoker so what's a little sawdust going to hurt?) so not sure if it was an isolated problem. You might try testing a little on yourself before buying a bunch and then having medical bills on top of that!
I test unfamiliar exotic woods but using gloves to gather a little sawdust to place on my arm then put a bandaid over it. Twenty-four hours later if I have a reaction I avoid turning it. Not exactly state-of-the-art medical testing but it's better than nothing. Some woods are more of respiratory problem and others are skin allergins but there is always some overlap of condidtions I would think.
woodwish,
Good advice for sure. I very seldom need to turn exotics, but my sis-in law does, and has had some allergic or sensitizing reactions to a few.
Ray
Leopard wood is typically the marketing name of heavy South American species of a wood that looks like lacewod (usually Australian, but can be from elsewhere), but is much heavier, and a bit darker in appearance. I make a piece that uses both. See http://www.alladd.com/leopardwood_inlay_box.htm .for a good photo showing them contiguously. It works nicely with power tools but is very hard, (considerably harder thn hard maple, among the hardest of tropical species) and slivvery. I doubt it could be bent very well either. Not my first choice for a chair wood!
Al,
Beautiful chests/boxes that you make. Your inlay is exceptional and very creative. What kind of glue did you use on the pieces made from leopard wood and lacewood?
Jim
Thanks. The inlay banding is made mostly with Tiebond (usually use Extend) but the final glue-up for making the banding is time consuming, and so I use polyurethane glue to give me a lot more working time. I also use polyurethane glue to glue the baninds on the substrates, so I can put seferal at a time in the vaccuum press. Best, Al
I have made a leopard wood bowl and used tung oil and wax for the finish. Turned out very well.
Did you experience any allergy problems in working with the leopard wood?
Jim
Nope, none at all. Good luck with it!
All,
Thanks for the inputs.
Jim
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