Burl wood for a handle?

[Bruce Wayne]

Has anyone seen, heard or made a handle from burlwood? I think it might be neat.

Thoughts? Comments? Rude hand gestures?

Thanx!!!
Charlie

[_MementoMori_]

Definitely. There are tons of burl brushes and razor handles out there. I used to have an Amboyna burl set from Bob Quinn at eliterazor.com. Go check him out. Cooncatbob of Bob's Razor Works makes some pieces in burl as well, as does Penworks and Rudy Vey. They're gorgeous and highly functional pieces no matter who you get them from.

[Jethro1984]

cooncatbob of bob's razor works makes some pieces in burl as well, as does penworks and rudy vey.

+1

[Pkrankow]

I just picked up a large section of a maple knee for the burl to turn some brush handles. Knees are the joint between a limb and the trunk, or another limb. Burl is often in this area as the wood grows in a distorted manner.

Phil

[JJMontague]

I just picked up a large section of a maple knee for the burl to turn some brush handles. Knees are the joint between a limb and the trunk, or another limb. Burl is often in this area as the wood grows in a distorted manner.

Phil

Wow! Just earlier today I started looking at bespoke brush handle makers for burl maple. I would love to see what you do with it!

EDIT: Hey... Post #500! Just noticed...

[Pkrankow]

Wow! Just earlier today I started looking at bespoke brush handle makers for burl maple. I would love to see what you do with it!

EDIT: Hey... Post #500! Just noticed...

I would love to see what I do with it too! I am almost ready to start practicing on the bass I have, but I am a few tools short, and need to order some knots.

Call up your local lumber mills, and molding makers..they get choice pieces and usually put them aside for separate sale as they are not good for many things. If you are having a tree taken, have the knees saved. After they are seasoned for a few years you can have them sawn and see if they are good. Paint the end grain before storing.

Phil

[kirk 988]

ive turned burls as handles before for razors and brushes they polish up great. you have to be careful if they are very hard burls like eucalypt and myrtle. as your lath tool can get caught if your tools are blunt so keep them sharp and they turn great i use a few coats of linseed to treat the brush handles while the lath is spinning and then a coat of clear automotive type varnish when the linseed has set.

[spindlecone]

Thread got me to digging thru my shop,turned this about 25 yrs ago,is madrone burl,going to run it thru my bandsaw today and make some brush handles maybe:)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/spindlecone/burl.jpg

[CharlieTN]

Do you stabilize the burl before use? I ask because I make knives from time to time and love burl wood handles but knife use it was to be stabilized or it just won't hold up.

For those of you who are turning your own brush handles you might look into some of the knife handle blocks our there. They're the perfect size to turn a couple of handles from and the variety availabe is amazing.

Of course you probably all know about this already, I'm new to wetshaving.

Charlie

[okey]

G'day Bruce ...have a look at this wonderful example ....It arrived today and works as great as it looks140741

[Pkrankow]

My plan is to use the burl I have and not try stabilizing. One way to stabilize is to soak in polyester resin diluted with acetone. I have not used this process myself so I would need to experiment a bit.

Phil

[spindlecone]

My plan is to use the burl I have and not try stabilizing. One way to stabilize is to soak in polyester resin diluted with acetone. I have not used this process myself so I would need to experiment a bit.

Phil

Take the above a step furthur,put the wood in a vac chamber after it is saturated,I use an old bell jar and a simple Vac pump.
Removes all of the water out of the cell structure which in turn is replaced with resin.

[CharlieTN]

Here's a couple of places to look for the stabilized wood. It really is amazing stuff, works like wood but wears like good plastic.

http://www.stabilizedwood.com/

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=587_827_603

One of the very cool things is that they can die the wood some awesome colors as they stabilize it. The blocks for hidden tang knives would be perfect size to turn a couple of shorter brush handles.

Anyway, just combining two loves of mine.

If one of you turners is interested, I have a nice block of ebony that I am not going to use that they might be able to turn a beautiful handle out of. It's very hard stuff. I wouldn't mind pif on this item so it's just not setting in my garage getting dusty.

Charlie

[spindlecone]

Send me the ebony,have some new knots,will turn you a brush,gratis.

[cooncatbob]

This is where I get most of my Burl wood, their studio is in Sacramento not far from where I live.
http://stores.ebay.com/WoodArt-Khon-Lao

[Pkrankow]

Take the above a step furthur,put the wood in a vac chamber after it is saturated,I use an old bell jar and a simple Vac pump.
Removes all of the water out of the cell structure which in turn is replaced with resin.

Getting a vacuum pump is on the list. I think a HF air driven vacuum pump for $12 is where I will go. I don't have a bell jar currently either, but there are other ways to skin that particular cat.

Phil

[CharlieTN]

Send me the ebony,have some new knots,will turn you a brush,gratis.


Just need you address and I'll get it in the mail.

[Malaspina]

I never realized that burl has to be stabilized.... I have some pieces I want to carve but I just know I'm going to have to use my dremel on it. Last time I tried to carve something with that much movement in the grain I ruined a couple of gouges (I'm a slow learner and stubborn to boot). It would be really cool to see a handle and bowl lathed out of the same piece of burl.

[Pkrankow]

I never realized that burl has to be stabilized.... I have some pieces I want to carve but I just know I'm going to have to use my dremel on it. Last time I tried to carve something with that much movement in the grain I ruined a couple of gouges (I'm a slow learner and stubborn to boot). It would be really cool to see a handle and bowl lathed out of the same piece of burl.


Burl does not always need to be stabilized, but some burl will not hold together. Very sharp tools are the key. You want to hone your chisels, YES HONE. Grinding is generally not adequate. Now the local definition of "razor sharp" is probably overkill, but you do need knife sharp edges that are smooth and of proper profile.

Phil

[spindlecone]

^^^ what he said,or make the move to carbide,and never sharpen again:)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/spindlecone/carbidetools.jpg

[Malaspina]

Thanks guys. I refuse to carve with a dull knife or chisel..... they hurt when you slip (ask me how I know) whereas the sharp just makes you lose a little DNA.... I tend to hone my knives while I'm carving as well as when I'm done. Have any of you hand carved burl?

Phil thanks for the info - I'll have to see how this feels when I put a knife to it. Right now they are still curing.....

I did have a piece of tree fungas that I was going to play with and had bought the stabilizer for it and then I moved - sheesh it went missing along with some of my butternut....

[Pkrankow]

^^^ what he said,or make the move to carbide,and never sharpen again:)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b328/spindlecone/carbidetools.jpg

Got me drooling there. Really. Nice kit.

Phil