Walnut into wenge: ebonzing?

[Tom Bender]

Bending
Oak has caused me problems recently in bent laminations because it bends easier one way than another relative to the grain. If I had been more particular to get it all aligned it would have been easier. It needed a lot of clamps. I have steam bent Oak and Ash. The Ash worked much better, and was KD.

Color
If you strain, my favorite is Minwax Special Walnut on Sapele and Walnut. You might consider Purpleheart, if it happens to catch the eye of your customer. It is available in big straight grained stock. You may even saw instead of bending since the grain is not so pronounced.

[Jim Becker]

Bending is one of those situations where KD material isn't necessarily your friend, the degree to which depends upon the KD process used. Folks do do serious bending of things like spindles even prever riven material rather than sawn... there are trade-offs everywhere!