View Full Version : Turning black ebony
rdewinter
09-10-2009, 12:13 AM
Wow, is that stuff super hard. Probably the hardest wood I have ever cut or turned. While turning a small piece (to make a bottle stopper), I had a minor catch on the end grain. That catch caused the piece to crack where it was screwed into the mandrel and wobbled badly. I had to abandon the piece. I know that you must have a sharp chisel, in fact, I had just sharpen my roughing gouge. Has anyone else had a bad experience with ebony or share some advise for turning ebony?
Bob
San Diego
You could try CA glue in that crack.
tom_k/mo
09-10-2009, 07:52 AM
I've only turned ebony a couple times on pens, but yes it is HARD... The only thing I can suggest (which I'm sure you already know), take it slow, light cuts and SHARP chisels...
I was amazed after sanding and finishing an Ebony pen, it looks like shiny black plastic, you really have to tell people it's wood that hasn't been stained/dyed or painted.
ryanbp01
09-10-2009, 12:17 PM
I have heard of similar issues occurring when clarinets are made.
BPR
paul269
09-10-2009, 03:40 PM
I think it is a great wood for turning. And concure with Tom that the finish is amazing.
wa2crk
09-10-2009, 06:50 PM
Hi
Some years ago I watched a program on the Discovery Channel or one of those type of channels that was showing how the musical instrument the clarinet was made and how the people of Africa gathered specific straight grained pieces of ebony for the process. The clarinet bodies were turned on metal turning lathes using metal turning techniques and not hand held tools. They said that the ebony is almost as hard as some metals.
For what it's worth.
Bill V
rdewinter
09-11-2009, 12:27 AM
I have turned an ebony pen blank before and it didn't seem quite as hard as this piece. Yes, the finish was really beautiful, it dazzled in the bright light. It does look like some sort of plastic. I'm wondering if a pen blank is pure wood or could it have some sort of filler in it to make it easier to turn?
Bob
I've thought about using CA glue but here's my question.
Would you still see the hairline crack or does it disappear?
Bob
San Diego
I've had the best luck turning ebony using a scraper with a slight relief grind on the top edge, much the same as when cutting acrylics. Just my 2 cents.