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General Category => General Scroll Saw Talk => Topic started by: Bill P on September 06, 2010, 06:47:37 pm
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Hi, Everyone!
I'm working with a 1/4 in piece of aspen to put on the face of a 2-layered plaque, with walnut behind it. I like the color contrast, but the aspen is a little soft. Has anyone worked with something as white, or whiter? Basswood looks good, but holly looks better (from the pictures I've seen) but I don't see a source for holly scroll saw blanks, and I don't have the space available to make my own boards. Hard white wood is the goal. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Bill
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Some of the Maple I have bought is white...much Harder than the Aspen. I like the look of the Aspen too, but kinda soft and "fuzzy"...but looks nice, when you can get a piece with some brown streaks in it.
Could look for some white Ash, maybe White Oak or the Maple.
Good luck finding what you are looking for...
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Thanks, Chris. I'm going to try the maple next, and just keep my eye out for some holly.
Bill
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Haven't come across Holly. I use maple, ash or white oak when I need a white board.
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I saw some holly once at the woodcraft store. It was still in long form and it was hugely expensive (to my mind). It was a small log, mabe 3 or 3.5 inches in diameter and maybe a foot and a half to two fee tall. They wanted $50-something dollars for it. But I never saw it again so maybe that was a good price.
Maple can be pretty white and, cheaper, poplar is pretty white too unless all you can get is the green. I think you'd be happy with either one.
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Holly is unstable and hard to dry with out splitting, you could try bleaching light colored wood, there is a wood bleach available, I have not tried it
Jimbo
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Maple is what I've used in that situation and I've been very pleased with it.
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buckeye is a nice white wood. carvers use it. i dont know how hard it is to find.
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Hi Bill
Holly is the whitest wood and I use lots of it in my Intarsia projects. It cuts great, finishes nicely and stays white over time. It is expensive (up to $20 bf) but that is because of the drying process. I don't mind paying for premium holly otherwise there is a lot of waste if it not dried properly.. I get mine from a small company in Pa called Tech-Wood that has the best holly of anyone that I have bought from. Large boards,(up to 8"wide)no blue knots and very white($22bf) but when it comes to holly you get what you pay for. Do a google search or go to woodfinders to find out a location nearest where you are.
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Bill, I'm working with Maple, and its pretty white. Dave 8)
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Thanks, everyone, for your input. I'm getting some samples of maple, curly maple, basswood, and ash, to see what works best. I looked into the holly, and even though I liked what I saw, it was a little cost prohibitive.
Take care,
Bill
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Holly and Maple are what I use when I need white wood. 8)
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I like using Holy. I have a source down in Ft. Lauderdale if you want to order it