white wood or die

[Dahl Troy Perry]

I'm making pepper mills and want to put a 5/8 plug in the top to show salt and pepper. I have some black ebeny for the pepper. What wood can I use for the salt that would be really. White? Or should I die something? Any suggestion.

[David E Keller]

I'd use holly. Wood bleach would be another option.

[Prashun Patel]

I'd use maple. Use a waterbased topcoat though to delay yellowing.

[steven carter]

+1 for Holly. I bought 4 holly pen blanks for finials etc. at Woodcraft for around 6 bucks.

p.s.
Did you get my p.m.?

[Aaron Wingert]

Yup, holly. Doesn't get any whiter.

[Bernie Weishapl]

I agree Holly would be good.

[Nathan Hawkes]

+1 for Holly, just make sure you use a water-based finish or ultra-blond shellac; oil finishes will turn it yellow. You may still have to use a wood bleach, which I think is a 2-part peroxide based solution. Holly often gets gray streaks in it, and is hard to come by in any decent thickness--it often cracks badly when drying.

[Dahl Troy Perry]

Thanks looks like a trip to the woodcraft store agian:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[David DeCristoforo]

Here's another idea. Use Indian boxwood. This is a combination that is "standard" for high quality wood chess sets and it's hard to beat. Holly is very white but it's also very soft so in that respect, it is not necessarily the best "companion" for ebony.