Woodcraft had a sale!

[Woodchipper]

My wife went to Ollie's Bargain Outlet while I wandered over to the Woodcraft store. They always have rolling bins of cuttoffs and odd pieces out front. Like having candy at the checkout at the store? Anyway, one cart had square claro walnut cutoffs at $4.99 each. Most were about 2-1/4x3-1/2x5 or 6. We picked out four of the claro walnut pieces for some dust catchers for Christmas present. Now to the wood cart. I got one walnut board about 12 inches long. We picked out three boards that were an odd combination of yellow and a bit of red. Fellow at the register said it was canary wood. Good as I got it real cheep (!) for $5 per pound. Now to make something out of them Oh, yes, got a thin piece of ??? for laminating pen blanks. I keep going there, all the employees will retire early!

 

[Brandy]

I went into Woodcraft today to "kill some time." That was a mistake! I also got some walnut pieces for $4.99 - I hope to use them for salt and pepper shakers.

 

[EricRN]

Must be nationwide. They've had those here in Maryland for awhile. Great blanks. I turned one into rosary cases for my son's first communion. Here's the lid sitting on the lathe: https://instagram.com/p/Cohh8xCLK4l/. Can't see it but these have some great figure. I need to take some pictures of the finished product.

 

[MTViper]

If you've never turned canarywood, you have missed a treat. Picked up a piece early in my turning career and my sis-in-law went crazy over it, so a lidded box was born, then a bowl, and my latest is a mortar and pestle for my daughter-in-law who is a pastry chef. It's too pretty to use she says. Coming off the lathe, it's yellowish but when you apply a finish it turns honey brown with the darker streaks turning red. It turns nicely and finishes beautifully. Here's the M&P before and after, pestle is hickory.

 

[EricRN]

If you've never turned canarywood, you have missed a treat. Picked up a piece early in my turning career and my sis-in-law went crazy over it, so a lidded box was born, then a bowl, and my latest is a mortar and pestle for my daughter-in-law who is a pastry chef. It's too pretty to use she says. Coming off the lathe, it's yellowish but when you apply a finish it turns honey brown with the darker streaks turning red. It turns nicely and finishes beautifully. Here's the M&P before and after, pestle is hickory.

That's beautiful. What finish did you use? Had no idea canarywood would change color like that.

 

[monophoto]

Makes me sad.

We had a Woodcraft store - until it closed.

 

[EricRN]

Makes me sad.

We had a Woodcraft store - until it closed.

That's too bad. Ours is doing very well and expanding a lot. I think a lot of their growth is driven by classes and providing shop space to folks who don't have the tools or space. I used to think woodcraft was overpriced. They still are, I guess, but as I've shopped there in recent years and gotten to know the folks behind the counter, I've really come to appreciate the expertise they have and the info they can provide. So I don't view them as being overpriced but more providing additional service for the cost. And the quality of product they sell is usually better than the big box or online retailers.

 

[MTViper]

That's beautiful. What finish did you use? Had no idea canarywood would change color like that.

Since I was planning on it being used, I used Tung Oil on it - first coat was diluted half and half with mineral spirits then pure Tung Oil for 4 more coats over a week's time.

 

[monophoto]

Since I was planning on it being used, I used Tung Oil on it - first coat was diluted half and half with mineral spirits then pure Tung Oil for 4 more coats over a week's time.

Yes, canary wood can be very nice.

A few years ago, a friend asked me if I could replace the broken plastic scales on a serving fork that held sentimental value for him. I used canary wood that I finished with Tung Oil. The result was very attractive, and my friend was quite happy. Sadly, we went to his funeral last week - - -

The nice thing about Tung Oil is that when you thin it, it penetrates into the wood rather than forming a surface skin. It's water resistant (its what is used to finish and waterproof Chinese junks, and if you are careful about the solvent you use to thin it, it's also food safe. I'm currently using limonene (orange oil) which also makes it smell nice.

 

[SteveG]

Since I was planning on it being used, I used Tung Oil on it - first coat was diluted half and half with mineral spirits then pure Tung Oil for 4 more coats over a week's time.

Beautiful turning...nice work with the Canary Wood. Since you are knowledgeable to go food safe with the tung oil, I am thinking you intended to list mineral oil (NOT mineral spirits) as the other finishing material. Just so all are aware, mineral oil is a food safe finish, mineral spirits is not food safe.

 

[MTViper]

Beautiful turning...nice work with the Canary Wood. Since you are knowledgeable to go food safe with the tung oil, I am thinking you intended to list mineral oil (NOT mineral spirits) as the other finishing material. Just so all are aware, mineral oil is a food safe finish, mineral spirits is not food safe.

Thanks I always get those 2 mixed up. I used mineral oil, don't have any mineral spirits in the shop.

 

[MTViper]

Yes, canary wood can be very nice.

A few years ago, a friend asked me if I could replace the broken plastic scales on a serving fork that held sentimental value for him. I used canary wood that I finished with Tung Oil. The result was very attractive, and my friend was quite happy. Sadly, we went to his funeral last week - - -

The nice thing about Tung Oil is that when you thin it, it penetrates into the wood rather than forming a surface skin. It's water resistant (its what is used to finish and waterproof Chinese junks, and if you are careful about the solvent you use to thin it, it's also food safe. I'm currently using limonene (orange oil) which also makes it smell nice.

Haven't tried orange oil, bet that does smell nice.

 

[derekdd]

I have a canary wood board I picked up on sale from either Woodcraft or Rockler.

I'll eventually cut it up and make pens out of it. I've always thought it was pretty wood but wow, @MTViper that is beautiful.

 

[Woodchipper]

Seems like canary wood has many applications. Our WC store is doing great. It opened several years ago in another location and the economy went down; store closed. This one is in a place accessible from major streets and the interstate.