African Blackwood spoon blanks

[HillBill]

Hi guys...

Quite a rare chance here to get some quality African blackwood for carving projects. I bought a load of blackwood logs which was not cheap in the slightest, There are parts which are not suitable for knife handles so i thought i'd put them for sale here to see if they are any use to anyone.

Price is £20 each including fees and postage.

I have more than shown in the pics, just not cut them from the logs yet.

PLEASE NOTE, this is a very hard wood, will not be easy to carve and will no doubt require to sharpen your tools more often than other woods. Certainly not a wood for beginner carvers imo..

 

[Harvestman]

Nice offer Mark. I doubt my perpetually blunt tools would even scratch that stuff!

 

[mountainm]

Hi Mark

Any particular reason they won't make knife scales? They look to be a decent length and width or am I missing something?


Cheers

Mike

 

[HillBill]

I could make individual scales from them without any bother. But not a book matched set.

 

[British Red]

Nice offer Mark. I doubt my perpetually blunt tools would even scratch that stuff!

I've carved and sanded blackwood...its lovely stuff to carve and polishes up like glass. Its really not bad to carve at all - no special tools needed. I think a blackwood spoon would be amazing - smooth and dark and silky!

 

[mountainm]

I could make individual scales from them without any bother. But not a book matched set.

What about cross cut - the radius looks big enough?

 

[HillBill]

I have some logs larger in diameter than that one.. i was going to cross cut those.

What about cross cut - the radius looks big enough?

 

[HillBill]

I've never tried to carve it, is it easy to do? All i know is that its hard and dense. Properly sharpened tools would deal with it well enough i expect.

I've carved and sanded blackwood...its lovely stuff to carve and polishes up like glass. Its really not bad to carve at all - no special tools needed. I think a blackwood spoon would be amazing - smooth and dark and silky!

 

[mountainm]

Aren't all the african figure carvings, masks and tribal war clubs made from blackwood?

 

[Man of Tanith]

'ere Mark.
I may have a wee jobby for you n your bandsaw if your game?
pm inbound.

nice wood btw

 

[British Red]

I've never tried to carve it, is it easy to do?

I found it split along the grain very easily, meaning planing cuts were easy enough. Gouging and cross graining are always harder work, but not harder than, say, oak or walnut. I wasn't doing anything fancy - you all know I am a klutz - but my abiding memory is the smoothness of the sanded finish. The grain is so tight it feels as smooth as plastic...but warm to the touch. Would make a fantastic spoon I think.

 

[British Red]

Makes a lovely knife handle too!

 

[HillBill]

Aren't all the african figure carvings, masks and tribal war clubs made from blackwood?

I think a lot of them are, yes. Plenty of blackwood spoons/carvings on google to look at... nice things too.

I found it split along the grain very easily, meaning planing cuts were easy enough. Gouging and cross graining are always harder work, but not harder than, say, oak or walnut. I wasn't doing anything fancy - you all know I am a klutz - but my abiding memory is the smoothness of the sanded finish. The grain is so tight it feels as smooth as plastic...but warm to the touch. Would make a fantastic spoon I think.

I agree, it would make a grand spoon. I've never worked it other than for knife handles, and thats using power tools for the most part. Glad to hear it works well with hand tools too as i have loads of it here. It does take the best finish i have come across along with desert ironwood, very very smooth and shiny as you say, and it hand sands easily enough

 

[Mesquite]

Sadly my skills wouldn't do it justice...

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

I know they won't match but if I drop you some measurements could you cut me two for some scales?
drop me a price if you will.

 

[HillBill]

PM sent mate,

 

[Steve13]

Hi Mark

I will have a piece off you to have a go making a spoon with , I will collect with the new knife when ready if that is ok

 

[HillBill]

Hi Steve. Yeah thats fine mate, Do you have a preference out of the two shown?

 

[WULF]

This is a great wood,Ive cut and turned a few pieces in the past and as BR says takes a superb finish.Would love to see a carved spoon out of this stuff.......

 

[HillBill]

Here is an example of the finish that can be gained from it. I only took this to 1000g wet n dry, oiled with Danish oil, then buffed with a wax compound...