Use of Lacewood

[Don L Johnson]

Has anyone used lacewood for a primary wood on a jewelery box? If so, I sure would appreciate some pictures. Thanks

[Paul Atkins]

A friend of mine was allergic to lacewood. Poison oak symptoms all over exposed areas. That's all I know.

[Steve Thomas]

Do a google image search for "silky oak box" and you'll get a stack.
We call lacewood , silky oak in oz and is very popular. And yes kind a few people are alergic to it

[John Coloccia]

Good look. Miserable wood to work with, IMHO, even if you're not allergic to it.

[Joe Leigh]

I'm currently working on a jewelry box from lacewood. I have just finished a small keepsake box made from English Lacewood which is much denser and has a smaller tighter figure. I'll post those pics tonight.

[Mike Cruz]

I've used it, but have no pics, sorry. I haven't had any issues working with it, either in working it or allergy related.

[Mike OMelia]

I have used it for binding in guitar work. If it is the same stuff, I have noticed it is difficult to level. Given the right cut, the surface is dimpled and it seems no amount of sanding can level it. It can be filled. And when done so,it is quite nice. Just a lot of effort.

Anybody else noticed this? Or did I just get a bad flitch?

Mike

[Joe Leigh]

Same here, that's just the nature of it. I think the uneven surface gives it texture and makes all the flecks pop out. Kinda 3 dimensional.

[Jim Tobias]

Don,
Here are a couple of projects(Jewelry display case and jewelry wall box) that I have made awhile back from Lacewood. It does have a porous texture to it (almost like palm) and unless you tried to seal all of the pores, you won't get a "glass smooth" finish. That being said, I personally think it look great wihtout being "glass smooth". The depth and figure of the grain is really impressive as is.
Jim

[Mike Cruz]

Beautiful pieces, Jim. Be careful, though... the case isn't supposed to be more beautiful than what goes in it!

[Michael O'Sullivan]

Slightly OT, but is "leopardwood" the same as lacewood?

[Joe Leigh]

Here are a few boxes I've made from Lacewood. The first is English Lacewood. It's denser and has a tighter figure. The finish is BLO and super blonde shellac...

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q226/lj61673/DSCN1679.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q226/lj61673/DSCN1680.jpg

Here's a box in progress using the more conventional softer Lacewood..

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q226/lj61673/DSCN1681.jpg

[Andrew Nemeth]

Here are a few pictures of a lacewood box i made a few years ago. As others have already mentioned, Other than that, it was not hard at all to work with. Just be careful to limit your dust exposure as lacewood is known to cause allergic reactions.

[Andy Pedler]

A couple years ago I made a picture frame out of Lacewood. The result was beautiful (finished with a few coats of blonde shellac)...the process was a pain. The wood I had was very hard and brittle. It liked to chip out and splinter all over. I spent more time pulling slivers and splinters out of my fingers than on any other project.

Just be careful working with it and the results can be great.

Andy - Newark, CA

[Karl Stowe]

Michael, yes it is the same as leopardwood. The Jackel by me says on the rack leopardwood. I was confused if the two woods were the same or not as well. Thankfully I am not allergic to the wood dust. I am however alergic to poison oak so I am supprised I dont have a problem if this wood has poison oak like symptoms. I have done a couple of projects with this wood and the splinters are an issue. I have also noticed that the wood will break up in layers. I am not sure what the technical term for that is. Has anyone else had that problem? I was able to eliminate most of the pour issue / rough texture by doing plenty of sanding sealer and finishing with a wet sand. Sorry for the bad picture.

Karl

P.S. A good revenge on poison oak is a backhoe and a deep hole.:D

[Andrew Gibson]

I guess I could throw up a pick of a small chest a built a few years ago. it is currently working as a small coffee table. about 22"x12"x12" or so. Other woods are, sides Hickory, top Ash, and dovetail splines purple heart.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk294/handyandy3459/box2.jpg

[Robert McGowen]

You can turn it also.

[David DeCristoforo]

Chessboard:

140218
140219

[Wayne Hendrix]

Slightly OT, but is "leopardwood" the same as lacewood?

NO according to Wood Magazine, issue 187, November 2008, pg 79, they are different woods.

[Lawrence Nitz]

Five years ago I made a desk of Silky Oak. Nice, normal Green&Green style.
I still have the desk, but had to put in a fully piped dust extraction system, 3 HP collector, and still barely managed to live through my spouse's dramatic poison ivy rashes from the sanding and saw dust. That made the desk very expensive in both cash and emotional pain. I still have six beautiful boards that I am not allowed to use.

[Dan Forman]

Not a box, but lacewood:

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/T-Caster/Woodwork/P1010587.jpg

Dan

[Dino Drosas]

Kind of a box, Bathroom Vanity. Cherry with lacewood panels and ebony trim. Black granite top.