He was on earlier today.
Nice! How does the one in the middle work?Spun a couple of Ruth Niles whisky (no e) bottle stoppers and a bottle opener. Solid brass and stainless steel make her products the best, in my opinion. Desert Ironwood courtesy of @barry richardson.
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Spun a couple of Ruth Niles whisky (no e) bottle stoppers and a bottle opener. Solid brass and stainless steel make her products the best, in my opinion. Desert Ironwood courtesy of @barry richardson.
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Why do I always want other’s projects!?!? This is beautiful!I think putting the first coat of finish on is my favorite part, in turning or any other woodworking. This is a roughout I had on the back burner for a while, got it out, finish turned and sanded it today, African Sumac, it will turn a lot deeper red eventually...
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It does resemble Bocote more than DIW. Cant tell from the pic, can you see pores in the end grain? You really can't see any in DIW with the naked eye......Thought I make a few more of these while I had all the stuff in one place. Wanted to do larger handles to see if they fit the hand better. Think so.
A brown mallee cut off that was sitting on the shelf. The other 2 are from the same piece of wood that was in my Desert Ironwood pile. I don’t recall where I got it, but I’m questioning that it is DIW. Had the oder but turned much softer. @barry richardson you have lots of experience with DIW. Could it just be sap wood? Bocote maybe?
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Thanks, Doc. It did have a distinct smell, but wasn’t waxy.@Tom Smart
Nicely done! Bocote has a very distinct smell... it smells a bit like pickles to me. DIW smells like old dirt to me.
Bocote is also kind of waxy especially compared to DIW. I’ve seen both look like your wood. I’ll bet the endgrain is a dead giveaway for those in the know, but I’m not one of those folks.
Been staring at endgrain photos on @phinds site for a while, and I’d go with DIW based on the confluent, serpentine pore pattern I think I see in your piece, Tom. I’m sure I just butchered the vocabulary normally used for describing endgrain!


Good call. I agree. Serpentine isn't normally used in this context but it's quite apt. Some confluent parenchyma is straighter than othersBeen staring at endgrain photos on @phinds site for a while, and I’d go with DIW based on the confluent, serpentine pore pattern I think I see in your piece, Tom. I’m sure I just butchered the vocabulary normally used for describing endgrain!
Thank you, sir.Been staring at endgrain photos on @phinds site for a while, and I’d go with DIW based on the confluent, serpentine pore pattern I think I see in your piece, Tom. I’m sure I just butchered the vocabulary normally used for describing endgrain!

So, DIW is a consensus (even though I didn’t sand the end gain)?Good call. I agree. Serpentine isn't normally used in this context but it's quite apt. Some confluent parenchyma is straighter than others
Yes. Sometimes it's clear enough without extra cleanup if it's been cut with a sharp blade. Also, the color is consistent w/ DWI that I've seen (see my page on it).So, DIW is a consensus (even though I didn’t sand the end gain)?