Crosscut spalted mediterranean phoenix palm sierra

[patmurris]

Hi all, this is phoenix palm from my area on a PSI Gatsby click kit - CA finish:

This is one of the most difficult material i've been turning (after yucca maybe) - it needs tons of CA to hold up and to be honest i didn't even dare try to cut it with the usual tools, i essentially slowly sanded it down to shape. :biggrin:

I love the leopard skin effect!

 

[le_skieur]

Patrick I will say MAGNIFICO!!!!!

Nice job, the shape is just in touch with the pen style and your finish look perfect!!!

I do love the leopart skin effect!

JP

 

[S.A.Mappin]

Very unique looking material, nicely executed, well done!

 

[patmurris]

I do love the leopart skin effect!
JP

Thanks Jean-Pierre. I think i put one blank like that for you in the mixed pack i gave to Martine.

Technically palm is not a tree but rather a very large herb... :bulgy-eyes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecaceae

 

[hunter-27]

pretty cool. I turned a lot of Palm but never that species before, you open for a trade of some blanks?

 

[wizard]

Wow!! That is really nice. I've never turned any palm before. I love the color and pattern. You did a really nice job with that sandpaper..the profile of the pen blends right in with the kit. Doc

 

[patmurris]

pretty cool. I turned a lot of Palm but never that species before, you open for a trade of some blanks?

I'm thinking about selling or trading timber blanks from my place, but i have yet to sort out mailing costs and available options from France oversea...

Phoenix palm is quite common around here (French Riviera) along with the so called "Washingtonian" which is easier to turn i've heard.

For those Gatsby kits and most Sierra clones i found that an OD of 13.7mm (0.539") in the middle of the barrel works just right.

However, i also discovered that sanding a crosscut wood tents to produce an oval cylinder due to the hard/soft alternation of end grain and straight grain. :frown:

 

[BSea]

Now that is really cool. Kinda looks like baby ostrich to me.

 

[le_skieur]

Pat,
It is look like that you have a lot of interresting about your area palm wood...Don't you?

 

[wiset1]

WOW...slow sanding a blank and having it turn out this awesome...great job! Interesting looking turn to be sure and a real stunner.