salt and pepper shakers

[paul wiser]

want to turn some multicolor shakers. would like to use padauk and narra in them along with maple or birch. know the birch us no problem. just wondering about padauk and narra. any info is appreciated. thank you

[Matt Hutchinson]

I don't have any experience with narra, but I started turning 3.5 years ago with some padauk. It's a great wood for turning, but you need to have sharp tools. It's similar to oak in that it can chip out a little due to its brittleness. Other than that it's a joy to work with.

Of coarse, it has a good bit of natural oil. Before gluing it up, and maybe even before finishing, you may want to wipe it down with a solvent. Also, be selective in what other woods you glue it with. It is very hard, and if you glue it with soft woods the sand paper can remove more soft wood than the hard wood. This results in a disappointing surface, one which changes levels slightly between species of wood. One way to help avoid this is to use a hard backed sanding device, especially when using the coarse grits.

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Hutch