Replies

1. 
   BrentS | Mar 29, 2005 12:39am | #1

   Quickstep,

      It is going to dull your blades a bit.Best to start off with clean,sharp blades for the best results.The other thing is dust.This stuff produces some of the finest dust of any wood I've ever worked with.Make sure your DC is working properly and wear a dust mask when working ebony.It can also have a tendancy to chip out,so take very small cuts on your jointer with it.When sanding the finished top ,be careful not to sand the ebony dust into the maple,it will stain it.Probably better to scrape or plane with a very steep angle.The end results are well worth the added work involved in ebony.

                                                                                     Brent

2. 
   Pondfish | Mar 29, 2005 01:26am | #2

   Let me emphasize what Brent said.  Ebony dust created when sanding will effectively stain the wood around it.  Sharpen up your card scraper and use that for final finishing!

3. 
   KeithNewton | Mar 29, 2005 05:10am | #3

   If you are using water base glue that has to either absorb or evaporate to cure, you would be well advised to leave it clamped much longer than normal anytime you are using a wood this dense and resinous. They just don't absorb moisture readily.

   I have had the glue to still be liquid after being clamped overnight.

4. 
   WillGeorge | Mar 29, 2005 09:00pm | #4

   3-1/2"wide by an inch thick, about 4' long !!  WOW... Are you rich?

   Can I be your friend..  LOL...

5. 
   tailsorpins | Mar 29, 2005 09:43pm | #5

   Ebony is entirely too hostile for your project.  Stick a shipping label on it and send it to me for quarrantine.  Seriously ..... if it's newly acquired, you need to assure yourself that it is properly seasoned.  It often takes a year per 1/4" of thickness to cure ebony to 12%.  Ebony has a tendency to warp severely while being kiln dried, so most is waxed and air dried .... finding it's way into the market years too soon.  Woodcraft is famous for shipping ebony cabinet lumber that's 35% or higher, and with ebony, it's hard to tell, until it's too late.   Use sharp tools, slow feeds and good luck.

   John

   
   

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   Edited 3/29/2005 2:45 pm ET by TAILSORPINS

6. 
   hammer1 | Mar 30, 2005 04:00am | #6

   You need your head examined if you are going to use a rare and special species like ebony in a cutting board. Put it away for a worthy project and go buy some wenge or walnut.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   BrentS | Mar 30, 2005 05:11am | #7

   Hammer,

      Did you stop to think that maybe it's being made for a rare and special person?Maybe he wants to put something special into this project for a reason.Seems to me thaty he at least has some class.

                                                         Brent

    

    

    

1. 
   hammer1 | Mar 30, 2005 07:03am | #8

   Sorry, Brent. I'm not questioning Quicksteps class, just the use of ebony in a butcher block. It's a waste of something that shouldn't be wasted in such a mundane piece, as far as I'm concerned. Just my opinion.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

2. 
   wop | Mar 30, 2005 10:49pm | #10

     You should also consider that rare and special are an opinion, I can get Ebony at 5 euro a kilo with no problems up to 6 cm thick 15 to 20cm wide lengths up to 3 meters. over those sizes ,in thickness in particular , the price triples or quadruples.

                                                                  Philip

3. 
   Quickstep | Mar 31, 2005 12:18am | #11

   You are probably right on all accounts. I have had my head examined several times; nothing was found.

   I thought about the nobility of the project and agree with you in principle. I for one think Brazilian Rosewood should be reserved for musical instruments. In this case, I wanted the accent strips to be jet black. Nothing else seemed to quite fit the bill.

1. 
   hammer1 | Mar 31, 2005 02:29am | #12

   I don't blame you, Quickstep. My comment wasn't meant to offend, just a fellow woodworker wondering if you had lost it. There was a beautiful piece of ebony at my supplier the other day, 4"x4"x4' for $250.00. I slapped myself and walked away. A short time ago ebony wasn't something you would see very often. It still holds a place of reverence in my view. I figure I need another 40 yrs. of practice before I slice any up.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

7. 
   ned7 | Mar 30, 2005 08:59pm | #9

   I'll echo the others, the ebony will seriously stain the maple if you sand it. Did a mixed turing several years ago, and the ebony totally ruined the maple. Get your scraper ready. Luckily this works fairly well.