Sometimes I need a change from time to time… I started out working mainly using 100% mercerized cotton in my jewelry pieces. But lately I’ve been venturing out to metals and wood. I’ve always had a passion for wood sculptures and so I’ve been looking up some special exotic woods that would work well into my general design concepts.
My first choice is the African Blackwood, AKA: Dalbergia melanoxylon. This dense, lustrous wood’s color can vary from red to pure black. The wood is reported to require extremely slow drying rates, and could take 2 to 3 years to season. End-coating of logs or billets is reported to be necessary to minimize degrade. Good quality Blackwood are pretty expensive in the timber market. There are great things made with this type of wood such as violins, flutes, oboes and many more… In ancient Egyptian times it was occasionally used to make furniture. It is a very unique type of wood that takes about 60 years for the tree to fully mature. A very solid material that evokes the strength from time and origin where it came from. I can’t wait to start using it!
Cutting it seems to be pretty tricky. I found a very instructive site that gives you a good basis on beginner’s carvings. I once was on the path to completing an Architecture degree, until I realized it wasn’t for me and so I thought my load of material and tools investment was a waste until now! So pulling out my old box of tools I found my Dremel. With it I can cut, sand and polish with the simple switch of tool heads!
