New signs

[easybuilt]

Here are three of my recent signs. I received a second order for the Clark sign today. They want it carved in ebony wood with silver paint.
Has anyone ever carved the ebony wood? If so how does it carve.
Thanks!!

[ladjr]

Do you ever sleep. You must have made 10 signs this week. Nice job

[badbert]

And not a sucky one in the bunch either! That Clark sign looks perfect enough to be plastic!

[Capt Bruce]

They want it carved in ebony wood with silver paint.
Has anyone ever carved the ebony wood? If so how does it carve.
Thanks!!

I carved a small plaque about a year ago in ebony. Hard as the devil and it produced talcum powder like dust rather than what we think of as sawdust. As I recall it was also tough on the 1/16" carving bit that had to be replaced shortly after that carve. The surface however came out beautifully smooth run at optimal quality. Sorry but no photo taken at the time. There is a good article on Ebony in the current issue of FINE WOODWORKING magazine. Good luck with it.

[lawrence]

those signs look great as usual! (and very nice paint jobs too)

As for ebony, I have worked with it a few times but haven't carved it. It is very hard and almost corian like in consistency. It is also VERY expensive... the 2nd most expensive thing I've worked with (pink ivory being the most)

Is your customer dead set on ebony, or would they be happy with one of the more environmentally friendly (and much cheaper) substitutes like blackwood or (more commonly used in effects like this) ebonized wood? You can do this chemically or with one of the new, more user friendly stains (I personally LOVE the minwax onyx stain for this type of thing... it allows the grain to show through but comes out VERY black)

I also think you will find it quite difficult to find a piece of true gaboon ebony that is wide enough for your needs without having chocolate brown streaks through it. (and to put the price in perspective, at around $97 a bf around here, a 10x14 piece will set you back well over a hundred bucks... now that's a carve I wouldn't want to screw up!) Like many other exotics, the pricing goes up substantially as the pieces get larger.

Just some thoughts, but either way I wish you luck with it and hope you continue to post pics-- they look GREAT

Lawrence

[easybuilt]

Thanks Leo and Bert, I am busy. I have 9 more sign in different stages of completion.
Thanks so much Catp Bruce and Lawrence for the advise on the ebony wood. I think I will take your suggestions on the mimwax my customer is flexable on the wood just not the color. This will save me from wearing out a bit too!

[lawrence]

no problem at all-- this is the stuff
http://www.amazon.com/Minwax-30808-E.../dp/B004CFLXJG

I think I got mine from one of the big box stores the first time (Home Depot I'm pretty sure) but I'm on my 3d tube or so now. It comes out like acrylic paint, but wipes on nicely with a glue brush or even a shop towel and makes a very nice black finish.
I first used it for this project
http://forum.carvewright.com/showthr...coffee+grinder

As I've kept the grinder I can attest that the color has stood up to a year of sitting on a window sill in Tucson, so it is pretty color fast.

I've played around with a few different woods to see how it stains, and it will make anything black, but seems to mimic ebony best in a close grained wood that is soft enough to soak in the stain. My favorite so far is genuine magogany. Just make sure to raise the grain first with either a washcoat of water based finish (like the minwax) and then give it a buff to knock down any fuzzies... I then filled the pores with a little pore filler mixed with some of the minwax stain. Finally, I put on one more wiped on coat of the stain and it looked VERY much like ebony... almost the same to the naked eye. I hope this helps.

Lawrence

[eelamb]

Tom as always really nice work. I thought you were retired

[SharonB]

Tom... what about something different than wood? I'm looking at the sample of RICHLITE that was passed out at the convention. If you remember it is Recycled Paper and I think the factory is somewhere in the Tacoma area. The piece I have is called Chocolate Glacier and it is a very dark brown...almost black. It says it comes in different colors and from 1/4 to 3 inches thick. I know it's not cheap... but what is now days. Anyway, just an idea.

[easybuilt]

Yea Eddie someone else told me that too today???
Sharon I forgot about them, they have a black diamond color, and they are only 30 minutes away. I think I will check it out.
Lawrence Thanks for all the resources, I really appreciate all the help.
Sold this sign today, she raises pigs.