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Guest
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 Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:21 pm Post subject: Ironwood |
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Does anyone have experience working with ironwood? I have a client that
has requested its use in the construction of his bed, and I have no
experience at all with it. Looking around online I found that its from
Hawaii and very dense, and supposedly hard on tools as a result, but
was hoping for someone who could confirm or deny that from first hand
exerience.
Thanks |
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Gus
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:50 pm Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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megold.and...@gmail.com wrote:
| Quote: |
Does anyone have experience working with ironwood? I have a client
that
has requested its use in the construction of his bed, and I have no
experience at all with it. Looking around online I found that its
from
Hawaii and very dense, and supposedly hard on tools as a result, but
was hoping for someone who could confirm or deny that from first hand
exerience.
Thanks
|
Ironwood is also known as Ipe or Pau Lope.
It has some interesting qualities.
One of the major woodworking mags ran an article entitled "Ipe, Wood or
Metal?"
within the last few months.
Fascinating.
If you like, I can locate the article for you once I get home from
work.
Gus |
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toller
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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There are a dozen woods called ironwood, from hop hornbeam to lignum vitae.
I hadn't heard ipe calle ironwood, but okay... Some are not commercially
available
I can't think of any reason to use such a wood for a bed. They are all a
bear to work; so I suggest you get your client to better identify the wood,
and charge accordingly. |
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Lew Hodgett
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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megold.andrew@gmail.com wrote:
| Quote: |
Does anyone have experience working with ironwood? I have a client that
has requested its use in the construction of his bed, and I have no
experience at all with it. Looking around online I found that its from
Hawaii and very dense, and supposedly hard on tools as a result, but
was hoping for someone who could confirm or deny that from first hand
exerience.
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You don't want to go there.
What ever price you would charge for say white oak construction,
multiply by 100 to work "ironwood".
If client still persists, add a 1000% surcharge.
HTH
Lew |
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Leon
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:45 pm Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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<megold.andrew@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1106587285.319135.25230@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: |
Does anyone have experience working with ironwood? I have a client that
has requested its use in the construction of his bed, and I have no
experience at all with it. Looking around online I found that its from
Hawaii and very dense, and supposedly hard on tools as a result, but
was hoping for someone who could confirm or deny that from first hand
exerience.
Thanks
|
Tell him to pick one. So far he has simply told you that he wants a bed
built with a very hard, hard wood.
One of the most common Iron woods is Ipe. Ipe is a very common decking
material. I pay about $20 for a rough cut 1"x 6" x 8'. Keep in mind that
Ipe is 3 times harder than Oak. And, yes iron wood is hard on your tools.
You want sharp carbide tools to work it. |
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Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:24 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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On 24 Jan 2005 09:21:25 -0800, megold.andrew@gmail.com wrote:
| Quote: |
Does anyone have experience working with ironwood? I have a client that
has requested its use in the construction of his bed, and I have no
experience at all with it. Looking around online I found that its from
Hawaii and very dense, and supposedly hard on tools as a result, but
was hoping for someone who could confirm or deny that from first hand
exerience.
Thanks
|
First, what do you mean 'iron wood'? The name is applied to a number
of different species, generally whatever local wood is hardest and
heaviest.
Around here it means 'desert ironwood' -- a small tree with a dark,
highly figured heartwood. Pretty but it doesn't come in large pieces,
is difficult to work, dulls tools and the dust is toxic.
--RC
"Sometimes history doesn't repeat itself. It just yells
'can't you remember anything I've told you?' and lets
fly with a club.
-- John W. Cambell Jr. |
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Brian Elfert
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:30 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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"Gus" <rokkits@hotmail.com> writes:
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Ironwood is also known as Ipe or Pau Lope.
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A scout camp I go to in Wisconsin has Ironwood trees all over. It sure
doesn't look like Ipe to me. We even used an Ironwood tree to make a new
flagpole for our camp site.
Brian Elfert |
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ed_h
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:32 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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There is a huge variation in the appearance of woods called Ironwood.
I've worked both Hophornbeam and Ipe, and they are, IMO, not as
difficult as some others have implied. They are hard and heavy, but
sharp tools will handle them nicely. Ipe dust gave me the sniffles.
megold.andrew@gmail.com wrote:
| Quote: |
Does anyone have experience working with ironwood? I have a client
that
has requested its use in the construction of his bed, and I have no
experience at all with it. Looking around online I found that its
from
Hawaii and very dense, and supposedly hard on tools as a result, but
was hoping for someone who could confirm or deny that from first hand
exerience.
Thanks |
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Dave Jackson
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:45 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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I've had experience with Pau Lope (also called Ipe). It's called ironwood
for good reason. It's dense, heavy stuff. IIRC if you've ever been on the
boardwalk in Atlantic City, it is made of Pau Lope because it never rots.
It's devastating to carbide. I chose to buy a bunch of cheap disposable
blades as opposed to dulling expensive ones.. Predrill for screws, or
they'll just snap off. It'd be quite extreme for use as a bed. Charge
accordingly. --dave
"Gus" <rokkits@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1106589016.135209.160990@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: |
megold.and...@gmail.com wrote:
Does anyone have experience working with ironwood? I have a client
that
has requested its use in the construction of his bed, and I have no
experience at all with it. Looking around online I found that its
from
Hawaii and very dense, and supposedly hard on tools as a result, but
was hoping for someone who could confirm or deny that from first hand
exerience.
Thanks
Ironwood is also known as Ipe or Pau Lope.
It has some interesting qualities.
One of the major woodworking mags ran an article entitled "Ipe, Wood or
Metal?"
within the last few months.
Fascinating.
If you like, I can locate the article for you once I get home from
work.
Gus
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Leon
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 3:56 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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"Gus" <rokkits@hotmail.com> wrote in message
| Quote: |
Ironwood is also known as Ipe or Pau Lope.
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Some iron woods are known as Ipe. |
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Leon
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:01 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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"Dave Jackson" <dave@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:sfcJd.5920$cZ1.1251@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
| Quote: |
I've had experience with Pau Lope (also called Ipe). It's called ironwood
for good reason. It's dense, heavy stuff. IIRC if you've ever been on
the boardwalk in Atlantic City, it is made of Pau Lope because it never
rots. It's devastating to carbide. I chose to buy a bunch of cheap
disposable blades as opposed to dulling expensive ones.. Predrill for
screws, or they'll just snap off. It'd be quite extreme for use as a bed.
Charge accordingly. --dave
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I plunge cut hundreds of 1.5" long slots 3/8" deep and wide in Ipe and have
had better luck with a 4 flute HSS end mill bit than with a carbide bit. I
also resaw and make hundreds of cut into Ipe with a Forrest WWII blade. I
would say that Ipe is tough on carbide but certainly would not say that it
is devastating to carbide unless the carbide is a cheaper grade that Forrest
uses. |
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Leon
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:03 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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"ed_h" <elhollin@radiks.net> wrote in message
news:1106595175.577092.307770@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
| Quote: |
There is a huge variation in the appearance of woods called Ironwood.
I've worked both Hophornbeam and Ipe, and they are, IMO, not as
difficult as some others have implied. They are hard and heavy, but
sharp tools will handle them nicely. Ipe dust gave me the sniffles.
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LOL... Have you gotten the dust on a sweaty arm yet? It turns blood red. |
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Dave Jackson
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:39 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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Man, i put an indoor deck around a exercise pool coupla years ago out of
Ipe. The stuff seemed to dull the freud blades i bought for the TS and MS
almost to the point of needing sharpened before lunchtime the first day!
After that i bought the cheapest blades money could buy just to keep the
project moving along. In retrospect, it may have been wiser to invest in
better quality blades. Thanks for the insight! --dave
<removespamlcb11211@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:f7fJd.23989$iC4.22785@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: |
"Dave Jackson" <dave@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:sfcJd.5920$cZ1.1251@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
I've had experience with Pau Lope (also called Ipe). It's called
ironwood for good reason. It's dense, heavy stuff. IIRC if you've ever
been on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, it is made of Pau Lope because it
never rots. It's devastating to carbide. I chose to buy a bunch of cheap
disposable blades as opposed to dulling expensive ones.. Predrill for
screws, or they'll just snap off. It'd be quite extreme for use as a
bed. Charge accordingly. --dave
I plunge cut hundreds of 1.5" long slots 3/8" deep and wide in Ipe and
have had better luck with a 4 flute HSS end mill bit than with a carbide
bit. I also resaw and make hundreds of cut into Ipe with a Forrest WWII
blade. I would say that Ipe is tough on carbide but certainly would not
say that it is devastating to carbide unless the carbide is a cheaper
grade that Forrest uses.
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Joe
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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| Quote: |
Does anyone have experience working with ironwood? I have a client that
has requested its use in the construction of his bed, and I have no
experience at all with it. Looking around online I found that its from
Hawaii and very dense, and supposedly hard on tools as a result, but
was hoping for someone who could confirm or deny that from first hand
exerience.
|
The only thing I can tell you is that the harder / dryer the wood, the
easier it is to drill in a standard fashion. Less "gummy"a nd the chips
move away easier...
For instance, I'll drill Oak any day before I do Pine... :)
Ironwood is supposedly on the harder end of the spectrum so I would assume
it might be harder to turn or work but easier to drill.
--
Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
http://www.autodrill.com
http://www.multi-spindle-heads.com
V8013
My eBay: http://tinyurl.com/4hpnc |
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Steve Knight
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:47 am Post subject: Re: Ironwood |
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Around here it means 'desert ironwood' -- a small tree with a dark,
highly figured heartwood. Pretty but it doesn't come in large pieces,
is difficult to work, dulls tools and the dust is toxic.
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it can be some of the most beautiful wood too. with all of the silica it really
can get a deep grain to it. smells like a dead animal though (G)
--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions. |
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