Any woodworkers?

I sent two boards to one of my brothers. A bloodwood/padauk/maple/cherry/ash that I thoroughly screwed up and ground the epoxy letters to almost nothing and a softer-variety with good letters that was the product of having learned. Figured he could find a use for both. Turns out the newer/good-letters one will be display and the bloodwood/padauk will be used. Nice to think my work is display-worthy.

 

That's why I don't worry about the hardness of the wood on the ones I sell... I'm not sure many of mine actually get used, but are often displayed on a kitchen counter. Plus, if they can afford my boards, they can afford a knife sharpener!

 

These I give to family because I am learning ... showing off my attempts. Until I have enough skill and experience and have the right tools, I count on their discretion to not point out my FUBARs.

Thanks for the continued input and perspective.

 

This is what I like about this (and a couple of other) threads. There is a comfortable freedom to show your work, explain your process or question(s) in here. That doesn't exist in a lot of places. It's nice to see that rare commodity in today's world still exists. Thanks fellas!

 

Scored this chunk of Walnut today... over 5 inches thick, over 30 inches wide and over 35 inches long.. so many ideas!

 

Thats cool!

 

I think so too!

 

Hey man are your wood brands electric?

 

They do have electric, mine i just use propane torch. Im decent now, its been a learning curve.

 

You had better do that justice! If you turn it into pen-blanks we will confiscate ALL or your chisels and clamps.

 

Do let us know tools and techniques!! Fun!!

 

My first thought on that giant piece of Walnut is actually a giant solid cutting board..likely 24x32x4 but that's just my first thought.

 

Any tips or tricks you'd like to share? Is it made of brass or another material?

 

The small is brass, bigger is stainless i believe. Id get test pieces and try out. Big thing is to get the iron hot enough to burn but not too hot. I heat the big stamp and move the torch all over the face of it, helps even out the heat. Theres some heat streaks that show up once it gets to certain temp. And they "dance" around the stamp when you move the torch. I heat mine at about 1 min 30 seconds to 2 minutes. If its cold out get it to heat dance temp.

The area needs to be flat where you stamp, you get one chance at marking it. The bigger stamp i lay the cutting board down or whatever and press down, hold for ten seconds. Depending on wood type softer wood you will see smoke quicker, harder woods such as hickory you should hold a little longer. I wobble the stamp handle north south east west without moving the stamp itself to get a better burn in. Once pull the stamp the freshly burned stamp prob have some streaks and discoloration i take whatever the last grit sand paper you used on the piece and sand it down just to get a clean look. If you burned it properly you have enough of burned stamp it wont erase the the stamp/burned mark.

I hold stamp about 10 seconds for hardwoods. You should see some smoke come up. Softer woods you can tell it doesnt need as much time. I try to only burn one piece then reheat. If the lettering looks clogged get the torch and heat the brand till the stuff on the stamp turns to ash then hit it with brass brush. Softer woods such as pine will clog the letters and if you didnt get it hot enough it wont burn out the residue.

 

I've had similar experiences with my brass brand. The instructions say heat it on a gas flame for 10 minutes which seems about 5 minutes too much. I still need to play around with it.

 

The small one is brass and 5 min would be way too long of time. I have had a cold windy day take a bit longer time.

 

I made a steel one and I'm clearly not getting it hot enough but I will keep practicing.. thank you @wilcam47 for the tips!

 

Question ... how many people you make boards for ask for board feet vs finger grooves? My nephew left it to me for board feet or finger grooves that I still risk burning the hardwoods.

 

I've never used board feet.

 

I just tried my cove bit which burned a board before. I first swapped in a larger bearing so the burn is in a shallower groove, then swapped to a smaller bearing and burn was removed and minimal burn on the less-deep cutting.