BigguyZ
Member
OK, so I've never found or been handed 3,000 BF of mahogany or anything like that. But recently, I've bought some blanks/ wood that make me feel pretty lucky.
First, I found out that some of the $0.49 Bloodwood blanks I bought from Rockler has some really nice quilted figuring, and last week I made quite the nice score at a different local Rockler.
The first one that caught my eye was a fairly large piece of maple burl that had an original sticker price of $80 on it, and was not marked down to $20. Then I found 2 pieces marked as blackheart and/or Sassafras (not familiar with this wood) for $3 each, sized 2x2x12". They were originally $25 or so each. Then I got a pink ivory 2x2x12" blank for less than $3, and that was originally marked as $30. Next was a 1.5x6x6" piece of some wood- the guy said it was maple, I'm not sure- that had some excellent quilting visible on the surface, even as rough as it was.
I was pretty happy with that haul.
But it gets better!
I was cutting the pieces into pen blanks, and although the sassafras was a little disappointing, the Pink Ivory turned out to have some beautiful figure! Once I cleaned up most of the scorched surface left from the TS blade (I may need to have it sharpened), it was quite evident. I added some BLO to pop the grain for the picture, but you can barely see it there.
I haven't messed with the burl yet, as I'm trying to decide if I should make a bowl form it, several bowls from it, pens, or a combination of the 3...
First, I found out that some of the $0.49 Bloodwood blanks I bought from Rockler has some really nice quilted figuring, and last week I made quite the nice score at a different local Rockler.
The first one that caught my eye was a fairly large piece of maple burl that had an original sticker price of $80 on it, and was not marked down to $20. Then I found 2 pieces marked as blackheart and/or Sassafras (not familiar with this wood) for $3 each, sized 2x2x12". They were originally $25 or so each. Then I got a pink ivory 2x2x12" blank for less than $3, and that was originally marked as $30. Next was a 1.5x6x6" piece of some wood- the guy said it was maple, I'm not sure- that had some excellent quilting visible on the surface, even as rough as it was.
I was pretty happy with that haul.
But it gets better!
I was cutting the pieces into pen blanks, and although the sassafras was a little disappointing, the Pink Ivory turned out to have some beautiful figure! Once I cleaned up most of the scorched surface left from the TS blade (I may need to have it sharpened), it was quite evident. I added some BLO to pop the grain for the picture, but you can barely see it there.
I haven't messed with the burl yet, as I'm trying to decide if I should make a bowl form it, several bowls from it, pens, or a combination of the 3...
