How do you finish Paduk

[bitshird]

HELP I have some Paduk, actually about 40 or 50 blanks, But I have not been able to complete a pen yet, First on was my fault for hurrying, this last try was looking good until it blushed like a hooker in church,
I'm just wondering if it's still to green, the wood actually spirals out the drill chips, like metal does, I wiped the blank down with acetone before applying the first coats of thin CA, I let it sit for about a half hour after the wipe down, I have never had this much trouble with any wood, not Wenge, DIW, Purple Heart, Rosewood, nothing has beaten me up this bad, any one have any suggestions?[B)][B)][B)]

 

[DCBluesman]

If you have a good scale, test a blank for moisture. Weigh the blank, microwave it for 20-30 seconds, let the blank cool, then weigh it again. If it has lost weight, it is still wet. You can repeat the microwave process until it stops losing weight and the piece should be ready to turn.

 

[bitshird]

Thanks Lou, I've got an Ohaus centigram, Now I see why you so good, cause you so smart. [8D][8D][8D]

 

[Fred]

KEN .. IF your blanks are the least bit green try boiling them for at least an hour for each inch of thickness. A 1"x5" blank = a minimum of 1 hour boiling. Then take them out of the boiling water and stand them on end on papr towels or a cloth towel and let them air dry. It does not take all that long to get dry if they are really hot. I bet you will have a pleasant experience.

I use this method on wood I cut this morning and am busy turning in the later part of the same day. No problems what so ever... especially with my bowl blanks!

 

[JohnU]

Ive never had any problems with paduak, but I buy mine from a local wood shop so I know its dry. Ive used ca to seal the open grain and had success with lacquer as well. It is a softer wood and very easy to turn. I often use a gouge to get the blank close and sand most of it to shape while adding ca to fill the open grain.

 

[bitshird]

I did what the resident genius DCBluesman suggested, and the blanks came out steaming, one that I recorded the weight on went from 49.80 grams to 44.53 grams ran 5 blanks through the Microwave one at a time, (I hope my wife doesn't detect the smell of burnt popcorn)it took three and 4 times to get the wood to dry, so I'm going to bandage up my arm and try it again, Thanks a million Lou YOU DA MAN...[8D][8D][8D]