Bois de rose box....

[Michael Stafford]

A new wood for me, Bois de rose is also known as Madagascar rosewood. There are actually several woods known as Madagascar rosewood. This wood is hard, dense and pungent and dusty. Made dust like ebony....very irritating. It is also somewhat hard to photograph as the colors, deep red, purple and black don't show up as well in the pictures as they do in person. That is of course because of my photo skills.:o

The box finished up at 2 7/8" tall and 3 1/4" in diameter. It did polish like glass similar to the other rosewoods.

[George Conklin]

Made dust like ebony....very irritating.

Another winner, Mike. So when you say "irritating", is that in a skin or respiratory way?:eek:

[Michael Stafford]

George, for me ebony dust is very astringent so I am referring to the way it affects me in respiration. Probably shouldn't be breathing the dust in even with a dust mask. Very fine dust is created by woods such as this even during the turning process. It is sort of like turning a piece of coal.

[Jim Becker]

Nice...and it has that "Mike" signature look! Wonderful wood...be careful as the rosewoods can be about the worst when it comes to irritation and worse.

[Corey Hallagan]

Wow that is gorgeous. The wood is striking, in the laid down photos you can really see the colors. Excellent job as usual.

Corey

[Corey Hallagan]

Mike, is this a dificult wood to find? I have not seen it any place in pen blanks or other turning stock. Somewhat rare?

Corey

[Curt Fuller]

This and the Redwood Burl are both beautiful. I like everything about the all the boxes you turn.
As for the dust irritation, you probably should be using something more than a mask with these woods that cause respitory effects (I say but don't do myself). I've never turned the Bois de Rose, but other rosewoods have choked me up also. Try some Mun Ebony sometime if you really want to cough and hack for weeks.

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Very nicely done, Mike.

The coloring is wonderful, too.

Bruce

[Keith Burns]

Extremely nice Big Mike !!! I always know when I see your name on a post that I can expect to see something special:) :)

[Michael Stafford]

Corey, I do not know anything specific about its availability. I would guess that it has just begun to be harvested in marketable quantities. I would not imagine that it is all that rare since I was able to get it.....:o

Curt, I do know what you are talking about but, knock on wood, I have not had a violent reaction to any wood. This wood, ebony(Mun, Macassar, Gaboon, and Nigerian), padauk and a few others all make me have a dry tickle in my throat. I get that astringent feeling in my throat but no other reaction.

Thank you all for the nice feedback. I appreciate it.

[Barry Stratton]

Beautiful Big Mike! Those rosewoods sure have interesting colors and polish like like glass and you bring out their best.

Are the exotics you turn kiln dried or green?

[Michael Stafford]

Barry, some of these woods are waxed on the ends and come to me partially air dried. I rough turn these boxes and then soak them in alcohol and let them dry in my hot water heater closet for a couple of months. It seems to be working just fine using this method as long as I turn the finished product down to a relatively thin finished thickness. I have not had any boxes warp on me.....;)

[Mark Cothren]

Shazam Mike! Another winner! What a great finish this box looks to have! Great work!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Doggone it Mike! You sure make it hard to come up with a new way of say "beautiful" when I view one of your turned boxes! Excellent!

[John Hart]

....It is sort of like turning a piece of coal.

Believe it or not....this statement sent me into a couple hours of wondering whether I could turn a Coal Bowl!!!:eek: Is there no end?:rolleyes:

Beautiful Box Mike!!! As always! :)

[Bernie Weishapl]

Beautiful box Mike. If you would quit raising the bar I could catch up.:p

[John Miliunas]

And yet another winner, Big Mike! Beautiful and the finish on it is really killer! :) I'm with Bernie; Don't believe I can ever catch up!!! :D :cool:

[Frank Chaffee]

How do you do it Michael,
Every box a new, distinctive and unique shape?

Please excuse me, I getting a bit dizzy.

Frank

[Dick Parr]

Another beautiful one Mike, great job.

[Jim Ketron]

Mike I would love to see this one!
Love the shape and the wood is just down right gorgeous!

[Mike Ramsey]

That is some spectacular coloring!! The inside of the box looks like
it has years of petina already!! Fantastic job Big Mike!!