Hot time in the old town yeaterday!

[Woodchipper]

Been working through a bunch of pens. Due to the number, I set up my DIY sanding disk thingy on the lathe. Everything went good until I started sanding this one. Started to smoke so I quit, End and blank were hot. So...I set up ye olde pen mill in the drill press and started to mill the other end. Same thing! Not sure what wood but I did eliminate bocote and cocobolo. Wood stash is a hodge podge of many types of wood. Here is a photo, propped up by two erasers to show the color and grain. My biggest "problem" is the heating and burning of the blank. Any help, advice, direction, is most appreciated.

 

[KenB259]

I had a special order a few years ago and the guy picked out his own blank from a pen catalog. Hands down the hardest most unruly wood I've ever turned. It looked just like your picture and the wood was camelthorn. I have one blank left, somewhere and I hope I never find it.

 

[Woodchipper]

Ken, as I stated, I wasn't sure of the species of wood but it will be tossed. Then another blank and tube will be on the list to glue up and turn. Was the camelthorn as bad as arbor vita?

 

[KenB259]

Ken, as I stated, I wasn't sure of the species of wood but it will be tossed. Then another blank and tube will be on the list to glue up and turn. Was the camelthorn as bad as arbor vita?

I haven't turned arbor vita, so I can't say.

 

[keithbyrd]

I have made several pens using camel thorn and have had no problems -

 

[Woodchipper]

1. I tossed the burned blank. Will pick out another blank and tube. BTW, I found it a blessing to keep a supply of tubes, JIC.
2. Turning arbor vita is like turning tool steel. AMHIK! When I mentioned this to a fellow at Woodcraft, he stated the wood was used for submarine bearings.

 

[woodwzrd]

1. I tossed the burned blank. Will pick out another blank and tube. BTW, I found it a blessing to keep a supply of tubes, JIC.
2. Turning arbor vita is like turning tool steel. AMHIK! When I mentioned this to a fellow at Woodcraft, he stated the wood was used for submarine bearings.

I think you might be thinking of Lignum Vitae. I love turning Lignum because it smells so good. Being one of the most dense woods in the world it is certainly hard but always seems to turn well for me but sanding is a chore because it is so oily.

 

[Woodchipper]

I think you might be thinking of Lignum Vitae. I love turning Lignum because it smells so good. Being one of the most dense woods in the world it is certainly hard but always seems to turn well for me but sanding is a chore because it is so oily.

Lignum vita it is. Senior moment. I did what was mentioned in another thread. Wipe inside and out with acetone to cut the oil. Used to have arbor vita shrubs in the yard. The seed pods stink when opened. But what does a 10 yo kid know?