Replies

1. 
   Midnight | Sep 22, 2004 10:53pm | #1

   Sapele can be frustrating to work... it's really fragile. I got best results by closing the throats of my planes down to around 3 thou... sharpening the blades with a very slight radius to them and taking real light shavings.. Had to keep the blades real sharp to avoid tear out.. Try to do the buld of the work by working across the grain, with the plane skewed aggressivly; get the physics working for you. I was using a standard angle #5 & #7 and a york pitch #4 1/2... it took a little time but the results were worth it..

   For the thicknesser, try lightly damping the surface before each pass and take very light passes.

   Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/22/2004 3:55 pm ET by Mike

1. 
   IainEdwards | Sep 22, 2004 11:11pm | #2

   Mike

   thanks for your tips....I tried to get a photo of the wood onto my message but try as I might it just would'nt attach....The wood hasn't got the normal longitudinal interlocked grain that I would normally associate with Sapele, but presents itself at the surface as a totally irregular tight burr almost a snake skin type pattern...so there doesn't appear to be a cross grain to it

   Any thoughts on getting a digital image on here would be appreciated

   take care. Iain

1. 
   Midnight | Sep 22, 2004 11:30pm | #3

   can't help with the pic I'm afraid... never been able to attach one myself...Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

1. 
   IainEdwards | Sep 22, 2004 11:34pm | #4

   I guess thats why we choose to work wood.....these computer thing's freak me out...Iain

2. 
   BArnold | Sep 23, 2004 01:13pm | #6

   Iain,

   Below the area where you compose a post to the forum is a button (Attach Files) for attaching digital images.  Folow the instructions on the pop-up window that appears when you click the button.  First, you browse for the file on your computer.  Then click the 'Upload' button and WAIT -- comments from others on the Forums indicate they have trouble because they don't wait for the upload to finish.  When the upload is complete, your filename will show in the middle of the pop-up window.  Add other files, if you wish, then click 'Done' when you are finished.

   Regards,

   Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

   Edited 9/23/2004 6:14 am ET by BArnold

   
1. 
   IainEdwards | Sep 23, 2004 02:04pm | #7

   Mike/s and Bill thanks for the thoughts....I'm gonna try Bills image load direction and let you see this wood........cheers...Iain

   
1. 
   BArnold | Sep 23, 2004 02:38pm | #8

   Iain,

   Congratulations!  I'm no expert, but I do have some sapele pomelle veneer (see attached image) and it's more of a medium brown whereas your image has a lot of red in it.  My guess is that your veneer is quilted mahogany.

   Regards,Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

   
2. 
   IainEdwards | Sep 23, 2004 02:55pm | #9

   Hey Bill this might well be veneer stock but I'm dealing with 4 x 2" thick boards with this pattern running throughout excepting about a 1.5' section where it returns to a more recognisable grain structure...!

2. 
   mike4244 | Sep 23, 2004 03:13am | #5

   Iain, I have good success handplaning flame crotch mahogany. I use a homemade jack plane, very tight mouth, thin shavings and the iron is straight across , although as one person posted a small crown at the ends of the iron may be helpful in preventing scoring lines.Then finish up with a scraper, I use the card type of scraper. A scraper plane may be a good way to finish up, I have never had the opportunity to use one myself.

   mike

3. 
   CajunDan | Sep 23, 2004 03:29pm | #10

   Good luck.

   I built a computer desk last year with a figured sapele top. I tried planing and scraping it to the best of my ability. Anyway, by the  time I had sanded out all the tearout, the top was much thinner than I had hoped.

   I think I would have had a much thicker top if I had given up my pride and sanded to begin with.

   I hope you have better luck (or sense).

   Regards,

   Dan

1. 
   IainEdwards | Sep 23, 2004 05:56pm | #11

   Dan I a'int resigned to sanding yet I'll keep trying to figure a setup based on Bill and Mikes suggestions......cheers Iain