Red Hala

[Jim15]

Hello Everyone,

I made a pen using red hala and had a problm that I was wondering if anyone else has had. I noticed that as I was finishing the pen it appeared to have dirt down in the grain. No amount of sanding would remove it. I tried a new piece of the same wood and noticed on this second one appeared to have dirt in the grain after it was turned but before I ever touched it wih anything else, I checked my tools and they appeared to be clean. Just curious if this is common with this type of wood or if it's something that I may have done wrong.Im hoping it's something I'm doing as the wood is very nice.

Thank you,
jim

 

[Johnathan]

Well, make sure you are using clean (new) sandpaper and you might want to clean with DNA after a couple steps of sanding, you a sanding sealer when your done. I've never turned red hala so it might just be a characteristic of the wood.

 

[Dario]

Jim,

Are you using thin CA before your final cuts and sanding? CA should fill the pores and stabilize the soft-whitish part between the red veins. Sorry it is giving you problems. Don't have any pictures but I will try to post one after I made new pen out of it.

 

[wayneis]

You may be picking up particles of dust from your bushings. When using light colored woods you need to be very careful not to sand the bushgings.

wayne