Black Oak

[Michael E. Thompson]

I just finished rough turning a black oak HF. First time turning this stuff. Never been a big fan of oak anyway, but this wood turned everything black. The lathe bed, my tools, chuck, my hands. It that normal??? Funny thing is the wood itself is not black, just some hints of it in the heartwood. Can anyone turning this tell me more about it. I have several pieces left over, but may not use it. I can't get it washed off my hands.

Thanks
Mike

[Cathy Schaewe]

I hear lemon juice is helpful for getting that off your hands. Give it a try and let us know -

[Prashun Patel]

I believe it's a chemical reaction with the oak's tannic acid. It'll wear off in a day or two.

[John Keeton]

Probably the tannin in the oak, Michael, and I agree on the lemon juice. Also, citrus hand cleaner does a pretty good job!

BTW, no pics - didn't happen!

[Robert McGowen]

I can not directly answer your question about oak, Michael, but turning fresh green mesquite will turn your hands black for a day or so. It will also stain your tools, but is not as bad as you are describing. I am guessing that it is the same thing though. Harmless, but annoying.

[Brian Greb]

You must have some kind of strange disease, may be it's lathe plague!:eek:

Seriously now

It's just a tannons in the wood reacting with you hands and tools.

Industrial hand cleaner and some lemon juice seems to get it off.

[Michael E. Thompson]

OK here's the pics. I was wondering if I was going to get called out on that. The pic of my hand does no justice, its much darker than it show. The HF should finish nicely though, nice colors in it.

I will find the lemon juice. Thanks for the tip.

[David E Keller]

Yep... Your hands are dirty!

Walnut will do the same thing.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Nice piece, just one "heads up" here, don't wipe the wood with your wet hands that have held any iron/steel, as it will stain the wood like your hands.
The black stain is from the steel or iron where the tannic acid has come in contact with, so what you have is diluted iron on your hands, things like vinegar or lemon juice or the like will dissolve the iron from your hands and you can then wash it off, kind of off ;-))

[Frank Van Atta]

I've had numerous cases of "black hand" from turning mesquite and/or oak - Fast Orange Hand Cleaner takes it right off.

[charlie knighton]

Mike, your story brought a smile to my face, it helped bring back memories of my first mesquite hf, i named it Apache Revenge

[Michael E. Thompson]

Nice piece, just one "heads up" here, don't wipe the wood with your wet hands that have held any iron/steel, as it will stain the wood like your hands.
The black stain is from the steel or iron where the tannic acid has come in contact with, so what you have is diluted iron on your hands, things like vinegar or lemon juice or the like will dissolve the iron from your hands and you can then wash it off, kind of off ;-))


Thanks for the tip Leo. Now that you mention it, the wood had turned black around the opening where I had my hand inside checking thickness (same hand holding the steel end of the tool).

The piece is soaking in DNA now, hopefully I will have a finished piece soon.

Thanks again.
Mike

[David Woodruff]

Oak has a high concentration of Tannins and Tannic acid. Historically oak and oak bark has been used in the leather tanning process as the tannins react with plant proteins. Tannin itself is a polyphenol and is present is wine, fruits, etc. Actually Tannin is an old word meaning Oak.

[Mike Minto]

Yep... Your hands are dirty!

Walnut will do the same thing.

So will Mimosa (Alibiza / Silkwood). Mike

[Steve Schlumpf]

Really nice form! Looking forward to seeing the finished hollow form!