What is your favorite figured wood?

[EcoFurniture]

Bamboo!

 

[nickao]

I love Bamboo, but technically it not a wood. It is cool though, read below from Wikipedia:

"Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on Earth. It has been clocked surging skyward as fast as 121 cm (47.6 inches) in a 24-hour period. It can also reach maximal growth rate exceeding one meter (40 inches) per hour for short periods of time. During the Cretaceous period, bamboo growth could exceed 5 meters (16 feet) within 24 hours!"

Here is a 36" diameter floor inlay I made yesterday with some figured Maple and Quartered Oak, Genuine Mahogany too. I love all figured woods, but as I work I have never seen more variety than there is in the Maple species.

I still have to make it a perfectly round circle and add some letters.

Nickao

 

[Bill Wyko]

That's a beautiful floor there. You do some fantastic work Nickao. As far as Bamboo goes, it can be made into some beautiful panels with great durability.

 

[nickao]

Thank you for the compliments sir. I am working on an inlay with bamboo right now. When it done I'll post a picture.

 

[thudchkr]

I've found a piece or two of figured mesquite crotch that were awfully nice as well.  Extremely hard and polished up like glass.  Other than that, the proverbial curly maple and crotch figured walnut.

Clint

 

[Patrick]

Rope curl apple. I won't gloat here ... but it's incredible. Still making up my mind what to make from it. Maybe a systainer shelf. That would be appropriate.

 

[jaegerhund]

I've found a piece or two of figured mesquite crotch that were awfully nice as well.  Extremely hard and polished up like glass.  Other than that, the proverbial curly maple and crotch figured walnut.

Clint

My sister lives in central Texas where Mesquite is treated like a weed ---- but I have seen really nice furniture (and expensive) made from it

Justin

 

[Neill]

My sister lives in central Texas where Mesquite is treated like a weed ---- but I have seen really nice furniture (and expensive) made from it

Justin
[/quote]

Justin,

And if a bar-b-que breaks out, you can always throw the furniture in the fire.

Neill

 

[jaegerhund]

  Yeah that's right Neill ------ people in that part of Texas typically have large pieces of property (20 + acres) and Mesquite grows like a weed (mostly like a bush) and property owners try to get rid of it.  I was given logs of mesquite to use in smoking meats ---very hard stuff .

Justin   

 

[mhoy]

Thank you for the compliments sir. I am working on an inlay with bamboo right now. When it done I'll post a picture.

Any hints on how to work with bamboo would be greatly appreciated by this Festool noobie.

Mark

 

[EcoFurniture]

What do you want to know? I'm going through about 3 sheets a month right now, maybe I can help?

 

[mhoy]

What do you want to know? I'm going through about 3 sheets a month right now, maybe I can help?

I've been thinking of doing some 3/4" bamboo cabinet fronts. Is this a good/bad idea?

Mark

 

[EcoFurniture]

Shouldn't be a problem at all. Post pictures when you are done!

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Carpathian Elm burl.

Dave R.

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Curly Maple....

Curly Cherry

Curly Oak

Best,
Todd

 

[Bill Wyko]

I have some new favorite woods. Here is some Koa and some Bubinga I just picked up. There's a great story behind this pick up. Let me finalize the deal and I'll tell you about it.

 

[wnagle]

WOW, That Bubinga is out of this world...Just what I've been looking for too!  It will be interesting to see what you create with it Bill.

 

[aerocenter]

New here and enjoying all the gallery pix. We love spalted and curly maple - all local wood.  Karen and Bill
[attachimg=1]

 

[aerocenter]

Me again. Forgot to say that we paired it with local straight grain douglas fir, which does not
distract or compete with the figured wood. Please notice the handmade lampwork bead - made by Karen!!

 

[EcoFurniture]

Nice! Local is the way to go....