Lignum Vitae

[babyblues]

I have a few pieces of lignum vitae that are cutoffs from some underwater bearings we made at the machine shop I work for. It's all been sitting in a bucket of water to keep it from cracking.

I'm wondering how to go about processing this for turning. There might be a couple of pieces large enough for a small bowl, but the rest is too small for anything bigger than a pen. Should I cut it into pen blanks while it's wet and hope for the best as they dry? Or is there a way to dry it out slowly to minimize cracks before I cut it up? Does the boiling trick work with lignum vitae?

 

[leehljp]

Boiling seems to work for many, but the follow up is equally important. After boiling and cooling down to room temperature, some turners will put it in a paper bag and put that in an attic or just leave it in a room for 6 months to a year. The paper bag allows it to breath but at a controlled level and drying speed is greatly reduced, which helps prevent splitting.

If you cut it into blanks while wet, cut them oversize such as 7/8" square or even 1" square. Put them in a paper bag and check them weekly. Close the bag after each time.

I haven't used any lignum vitae, and I am just guessing based on other woods that I have tried over the years. So, Listen to other opinions.

 

[Woodchipper]

My grandson picked out a piece of LV for his father's pen. It was dry and wasn't cracked but drilling for the tube was like drilling through tool steel.

 

[jttheclockman]

https://www.woodworkmag.com/lignum-vitae-wood/


https://www.penturners.org/threads/lignum-vitae.179203/