Going to make my first celtic knot

[navycop]

I need help from the audiance on choosing the right wood. Maybe not "the right wood" but one that will hold up to the rigorous cutting of the grooves. I just want to start by making a 2 ring. It is for the guest book signing at my 25th wedding anniv party. Below is a list of woods that I have:
Cherry,
Oak,
Spalted Maple,
Holly,
Babinga,
Pupuka,
Cedar,
Pecan,
Walnut,
Thank you.

 

[Bowl Slinger]

My 2 cents= contrasting colors. With the woods that you have I personally would choose a cherry body with walnut inlays.

 

[DestinTurnings]

Don't use Oak or Holly on your first....or we will see a post from you about cross contamination while sanding.

The holly is very difficult to keep clean while the deep grain pockets of the oak like to hold everything from sanding dust to small children.

If you need a light wood, try a bit of maple.

 

[GaryMGg]

Mike,

I'd use the most contrasting woods I could find.

If you've got enough finishing experience to avoid bleed-thru, I'd use the holly with cherry or walnut.
If not:
cherry and maple
or
maple and bubinga

 

[TellicoTurning]

I've only done a couple of the celtic knots... you want to stick to close grained wood if possible... I don't know what pupuka is... did you mean paduak?? if so that's a good one to work with, nice red color that would contrast with the Holly. Also the Bubinga is a good close grain that would contrast with the Holly and not be quite so likely to bleed as the Paduak... also agree that the Walnut, but it will also leave a fine dark dust on the holly... Cherry might be a good contrast to the Paduak or Bubinga also...

Can you see why it takes me so long to set up a pen blank to a kit... I can never make up my mind.

 

[RichB]

I used Hard Curly Maple and Walnut. Maple for the body, and Walnut for the knot. I have also used composite decking for the knot and it worked great. Do a search, if you haven't already, and you will find a lot of pictures with explanations on finish and how they were made. Have Fun

 

[oneptbuk]

The contrast is good, but holly is a tough one to keep from contaminating. I've worked with padauk also, and it can bleed pretty heavily as I managed to turn some figured maple to a nice shade of pink. I also think the cherry and walnut would work well together.