'32 Buick

[garylmast]

I used Poplar for the light wood and Heated Ash, which is a thermally modified wood for the dark wood. However I will probably limit the use of the Heated Ash because I had major chip out when I was tooling it. Other than re-doing the dark stuff several times, it was a fun project. Got the pdf prints from https://dutchypatterns.com

Gary

[scotttarnor]

Wow that looks awesome !

[Phil]

Beautiful!!

Phil

[mfirlott]

Exceptional outcome. Great job!!!

[ich-fräs-das]

Cool, beautiful.

[scottp55]

Really STUNNING project Gary!!
BUT, don't give up on the torrefied wood quite yet

My Dad was in thin film vacuum coatings from the very beginning...
(from your headlights in the 70's to computer chips to the holograms an your cards and money now)
So when he sold his CNC shop, he signed a clause forbidding him working with metal or vacuum for 5yrs.

So we started working with wood, he was out of his element.
When he heard there was a torrefaction plant in Quebec province only an hour away from his Vermont home
he was off to the races!!
He spent half a day at the plant, and got some samples of various woods at various grades.
They run from C-30 to the Ash that looks like yours at C-90;

And then went 5 miles to a guy who makes siding out of the C-90 White Ash and had 50 full kiln lifts sitting out in the weather.... "Why not...weather don't hurt it none..and bugs and fungus won't Touch it!"
So Dad loaded up the pickup with C-90 Torrefied White Ash and brought it to me!!
That owner makes Torrefied Ash T&G and shiplap siding
that's beautiful and bulletproof to Canadian weather

Like you, I was disappointed at first as I tried making buttons and such out of it.
At .2- .23" thickness they snapped as easy as an Oreo cookie. AND the flatsawn made the open pores
sections SO open it was like carving a charcoal 0 steel wool pad!
Then we started on crib boards, and after cutting the blanks out, we treated the blanks with Heavy
coats of Watco(and later 50/50 thinned polymerized Linseed which was better)....
And they carved Great
Then we started making some display trays...and because torrefaction essentially changes the wood
from open cell structure to a closed cell....
even after 5 yrs they still are FLAT on my granite counter tops.
VERY stable wood!!

So even tried another tray for personal use.

I'd HATE to do the tiny shapes you did on bare C-90 wood...
but the Black that goes all the way through the wood is a nice feature.
Perhaps try Roughing and giving it a coat of Watco(soaks it up like a sponge)...and then Finish?

SORRY for being so long winded, but for certain uses, the woods properties and color is Great!!
Too bad the process doesn't work quite as good with denser,close pored woods.
I've STILL got about 100bf of the C-90 White Ash...so just wanted to mention not to give up on it!

Once again...THAT is a Beautiful Piece Gary!!!
scott

Oh....This article was funny But informative and VERY worth reading,
and the guy had some good ideas for Torrefied use!
https://robcosman.com/pages/newsletter- ... efied-wood
(While there...check out his Limited Edition prices.....I'm in the Wrong Business!! )

[garylmast]

Scott, thanks for explaining the Heated Ash I used. I had about a 6-ft length left that I used on my last project, but blew through it all of it trying to the small parts I needed, but had mostly the same results with it chipping and blowing apart. Maybe on large projects I'll consider it again, but it's definitely not the wood to use on small intricate parts. Although it was about a third cheaper than dark walnut, I probably of been money ahead if I opened my wallet up a little bit more.

Gary

[scottp55]

Yep Gary.....NOT for small stuff.
Although I wish Dad had bought C-90 soft Maple so I could try a smaller pored wood.
C-90 is getting towards charcoal....I may try that C-80 Ash sample(and all the others) now that Dad's gone and doesn't want them in his office fully machined like a couple there(before he had me on other stuff).

Looked for pics of my first tries with the bare Ash, but only found the small scrap test cut for the Heart tray
that I forgot to put any finish on. The tearout on the sharp corner probably looks familiar

I can only imagine the problems doing your "tires"

All those samples in the pic are bare wood.
I'll have to dig them out and see color change when oiled.
Even on big projects, I think C-90 White Ash lost 35%(?) of it's structural strength.
Lower C ratings were Way less strength loss.
C-90+ is usually used as biomass pellets...way better for woodworkers/siders to try to use it!
C-90 when flap/soft sanded gives really nice textured surface, as the pores sand Quick!
Almost as if you'd torched the wood.

You could always open the wallet WAY more and go Ebony or African Blackwood.

Always like your projects!!
scott
(now to wait for appropriate projects for My 100bf)

[scottp55]

Gary....I was going through a brush catalog and saw "Thermwood"

I'm in the wrong business, as this tub shelf is $200 !!

Maybe 2bf of C-80(C-90?) Ash and 8 o-rings....and Dad bought it at $2USD a board foot.
DID make me think of bath/kitchen/laundry/outside/and greenhouse items to make.
I've been forgetting the properties of the wood for moisture.
Couldn't resist scanning it and posting it:)