http://home.mchsi.com/~lawlhote/guid...blockspage.htm

This has obviously been discussed here before. However, I never
tried it. But I've not been thrilled with my present metal guide blocks
for a bit and decided to give wooden guide blocks a try.

The thing is I'm wondering what wood to try. First at any rate.
Quite awhile back I got some hardwood floor samples. They're about
4X4", or a bit larger, and a few are laminated. Nothing really large
enough to make anything out of, but figure I might save a couple of the
imported pieces until I can think of something, maybe trim, inlay,
whatever - like the Brazilian cherry, and Massaranduba. The ipe is
definitely interesting, so I'll groupt it with the ash, red oak, maple,
birch, black walnut, cherry, as potentials. I'll be giving the WD-40 a
shot too.

I won't be doing this immediately, so thought I'd just check if any
of you have tried this, and if so, what type of wood seems to work best
for you. I'll be doing it regardless, but haven't decided yet which
wood to try first.

Hmm, a stray thought just zipped thru my mind - most of those are
just the right size to make a pair of pistol, or revolver, gips. Think
I'll hold back on using the black walnut and maple for this project,
maybe one or two more too. That black walnut, or cherry, would probably
look good on the wondernine.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

"J T" wrote in message
...
http://home.mchsi.com/~lawlhote/guid...blockspage.htm

This has obviously been discussed here before. However, I never
tried it. But I've not been thrilled with my present metal guide blocks
for a bit and decided to give wooden guide blocks a try.

The thing is I'm wondering what wood to try. First at any rate.
Quite awhile back I got some hardwood floor samples. They're about
4X4", or a bit larger, and a few are laminated. Nothing really large
enough to make anything out of, but figure I might save a couple of the
imported pieces until I can think of something, maybe trim, inlay,
whatever - like the Brazilian cherry, and Massaranduba. The ipe is
definitely interesting, so I'll groupt it with the ash, red oak, maple,
birch, black walnut, cherry, as potentials. I'll be giving the WD-40 a
shot too.

I won't be doing this immediately, so thought I'd just check if any
of you have tried this, and if so, what type of wood seems to work best
for you. I'll be doing it regardless, but haven't decided yet which
wood to try first.

Hmm, a stray thought just zipped thru my mind - most of those are
just the right size to make a pair of pistol, or revolver, gips. Think
I'll hold back on using the black walnut and maple for this project,
maybe one or two more too. That black walnut, or cherry, would probably
look good on the wondernine.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

I have used red oak, white oak and hard maple to make my own wooden cool
blocks. Red Oak is my choice followed by White Oak. Maple did not do well
in use for me. I soak the block with wd-40. Problems I have found are that
the block will scorch, harden and wear a little faster then I would like but
the are easy to refurbish and last as long or longer then cool blocks.

J T wrote:
http://home.mchsi.com/~lawlhote/guid...blockspage.htm

This has obviously been discussed here before. However, I
never
tried it. But I've not been thrilled with my present metal guide
blocks for a bit and decided to give wooden guide blocks a try.

The thing is I'm wondering what wood to try. First at any
rate.
Quite awhile back I got some hardwood floor samples. They're about
4X4", or a bit larger, and a few are laminated. Nothing really
large
enough to make anything out of, but figure I might save a couple of
the imported pieces until I can think of something, maybe trim,
inlay,
whatever - like the Brazilian cherry, and Massaranduba. The ipe is
definitely interesting, so I'll groupt it with the ash, red oak,
maple, birch, black walnut, cherry, as potentials. I'll be giving
the WD-40 a shot too.

I won't be doing this immediately, so thought I'd just check if
any of you have tried this, and if so, what type of wood seems to
work best for you. I'll be doing it regardless, but haven't decided
yet which wood to try first.

Haven't tried it (my band saw came with roller guides and unless I
want to machine something up there's no retrofit for solid guides
available that fits it that I know of) but my gut reaction would be to
go with ipe. Stuff's infernally dense and hard and doesn't seem to
burn easily like Purpleheart.

Hmm, a stray thought just zipped thru my mind - most of those
are
just the right size to make a pair of pistol, or revolver, gips.
Think I'll hold back on using the black walnut and maple for this
project, maybe one or two more too. That black walnut, or cherry,
would probably look good on the wondernine.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:55:19 -0500, (J T)
wrote:

http://home.mchsi.com/~lawlhote/guid...blockspage.htm

This has obviously been discussed here before. However, I never
tried it. But I've not been thrilled with my present metal guide blocks
for a bit and decided to give wooden guide blocks a try.


Try oak soaked in oil (minwax or the like), wait for the oil to dry
and then harden them up in the oven for about 1/2 hr at 250 - 300.
Mine have lasted quite a few pass/feet.

I made 6 a year or so ago and am still on the first pair.

Pete

(J T) writes:
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:13am (EST-1)
(Curran=A0Copeland) doth sayeth:
I have used red oak, white oak and hard maple snip

Interesting. I'da thought maple would have been much better than
oak.


I'd recommend lignum vitae, if you have access to some.

scott

"J T" wrote in message
...
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:13am (EST-1)
(Curran Copeland) doth sayeth:
I have used red oak, white oak and hard maple snip

Interesting. I'da thought maple would have been much better than
oak.

So did I but it didn't in my experence, give it a try and see how it works
for you. Both oak and maple work better then cool blocks for me though.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

"Curran Copeland" wrote in message
. ..

"J T" wrote in message
...
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:13am (EST-1)
(Curran Copeland) doth sayeth:
I have used red oak, white oak and hard maple snip

Interesting. I'da thought maple would have been much better than
oak.

So did I but it didn't in my experence, give it a try and see how it works
for you. Both oak and maple work better then cool blocks for me though.



Red oak endgrain has to be the best I've tried. Real hard. Used it all the
time at school, where kids abused the tools.

I don't do cool blocks except with thin blades where I'm likely to chew them
with the teeth. Ceramics are durable, slick, and cheap. I even have the
thrust ceramic "bearings."

Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:03pm (EST+5) (Scott*Lurndal)
doth recommendeth:
I'd recommend lignum vitae, if you have access to some.

That's not gonna happen - unless someone gives me some. Don't have
any in the samples, and I stopped buying any wood except plywood or wood
native to NC years back. The only times I work with furrin wood is if
it's free to me. Of course, if you want to send me 50 or 60 board feet
I'll try it. LOL



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 3:41pm (EST-1)
(Curran*Copeland) doth sayeth:
So did I but it didn't in my experence, give it a try and see how it
works for you. Both oak and maple work better then cool blocks for me
though.

IDefinitely will give it a shot. One reason I'm gonna try wood is
because I don't feel like paying for cool blocks. I'm frugal, not
cheap. LOL



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

Thu, Jan 17, 2008, 12:52am (EST+5) doth sayeth:
This from a 'formulae' that was posted on the net. I tried looking it up
again and can't find the article. * When I say oven, that means a old
toaster oven in the garage or your inlaws oven - not your oven where
your wife cooks and can kill you for heathen blasphemous desecration.

That pretty well describe it, heathen blasphemous desecration.
I'll pass.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

On Jan 16, 6:04 pm, (J T) wrote:
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:03pm (EST+5) (Scott Lurndal)
doth recommendeth:
I'd recommend lignum vitae, if you have access to some.

That's not gonna happen - unless someone gives me some. Don't have
any in the samples, and I stopped buying any wood except plywood or wood
native to NC years back. The only times I work with furrin wood is if
it's free to me. Of course, if you want to send me 50 or 60 board feet
I'll try it. LOL

JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

You don't really want 50-60 board feet of lignum vitae: it's for
projects like mallets--and bandsaw guides. A waxy, waxy, waxy wood
once used for bearings for ship propellors. Rare, endangered,
expensive as all get out now.

Charlie Self wrote:
On Jan 16, 6:04 pm, (J T) wrote:
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:03pm (EST+5) (Scott
Lurndal)
doth recommendeth:
I'd recommend lignum vitae, if you have access to some.

That's not gonna happen - unless someone gives me some. Don't
have any in the samples, and I stopped buying any wood except
plywood or wood native to NC years back. The only times I work
with
furrin wood is if it's free to me. Of course, if you want to send
me 50 or 60 board feet I'll try it. LOL

JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

You don't really want 50-60 board feet of lignum vitae: it's for
projects like mallets--and bandsaw guides. A waxy, waxy, waxy wood
once used for bearings for ship propellors. Rare, endangered,
expensive as all get out now.

Still used for shaft bearings.

Don't know if they still do but CWG Hardwood Outlet used to have short
pieces in stock--4/4 and seldom as long as 2 feet. I have a few of
them that I'm slowly using up.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Try oak soaked in oil (minwax or the like), wait for the oil to dry
and then harden them up in the oven for about 1/2 hr at 250 - 300.
Mine have lasted quite a few pass/feet.

I made 6 a year or so ago and am still on the first pair.

Pete


This from a 'formulae' that was posted on the net. I tried looking it
up again and can't find the article. When I say oven, that means a
old toaster oven in the garage or your inlaws oven - not your oven
where your wife cooks and can kill you for heathen blasphemous
desecration.

P

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:52:14 -0800, Charlie Self wrote:

You don't really want 50-60 board feet of lignum vitae: it's for
projects like mallets--and bandsaw guides. A waxy, waxy, waxy wood
once used for bearings for ship propellors. Rare, endangered,
expensive as all get out now.

According to an aquaintance who's into all things marine, they're still
used for bearings in some ships. Apparently lasts longer than metal in
that application.

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:04:14 -0500, (J T)
wrote:

Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:03pm (EST+5) (Scott*Lurndal)
doth recommendeth:
I'd recommend lignum vitae, if you have access to some.

That's not gonna happen - unless someone gives me some. Don't have
any in the samples, and I stopped buying any wood except plywood or wood
native to NC years back. The only times I work with furrin wood is if
it's free to me. Of course, if you want to send me 50 or 60 board feet
I'll try it. LOL



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.


hey JOAT! I got a small pieceof lignum vitie hangin round here
someplace. I could lop off a piece big enough for cool blocks if ya
want to come pick it up. gonna be in the shop tomorrow. drop a line
here and i'll get back to ya. I'm near youngsville though so the gas
might cost ya more than its worth! :-}

skeez

On Jan 16, 6:52 pm, Charlie Self wrote:
On Jan 16, 6:04 pm, (J T) wrote:

Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:03pm (EST+5) (Scott Lurndal)
doth recommendeth:
I'd recommend lignum vitae, if you have access to some.

That's not gonna happen - unless someone gives me some. Don't have
any in the samples, and I stopped buying any wood except plywood or wood
native to NC years back. The only times I work with furrin wood is if
it's free to me. Of course, if you want to send me 50 or 60 board feet
I'll try it. LOL

JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

You don't really want 50-60 board feet of lignum vitae: it's for
projects like mallets--and bandsaw guides. A waxy, waxy, waxy wood
once used for bearings for ship propellors. Rare, endangered,
expensive as all get out now.

It was used in the bearings of the Conowingo Hydro-electic dam which
is about forty miles from my home. I used to ski on the lower
Susquehanna south of the dam. (Now I prefer to ski mountains rather
than wakes...)

J T wrote:
http://home.mchsi.com/~lawlhote/guid...blockspage.htm

This has obviously been discussed here before. However, I
never tried it. But I've not been thrilled with my present metal
guide blocks for a bit and decided to give wooden guide blocks a
try.

The thing is I'm wondering what wood to try.

Lignum vitae. No other can come even close.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

J T wrote:
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:03pm (EST+5) (Scott
Lurndal) doth recommendeth:
I'd recommend lignum vitae, if you have access to some.

That's not gonna happen - unless someone gives me some. Don't
have any in the samples, and I stopped buying any wood except
plywood or wood native to NC years back. The only times I work
with furrin wood is if it's free to me. Of course, if you want to
send me 50 or 60 board feet I'll try it. LOL

It is more likely to be sold by the pound. Knife making supply places
often have it as do many marinas. The latter is not a good source
because it has likely been stored underwater.

You can either buy a bit or screw around with third rate stuff.


--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 3:52pm (EST-3) (Charlie*Self)
doth sayeth:
You don't really want 50-60 board feet of lignum vitae: it's for
projects like mallets--and bandsaw guides. A waxy, waxy, waxy wood once
used for bearings for ship propellors. Rare, endangered, expensive as
all get out now.

LOL I doubt seriously anyone would actually send me that much, but
it never hurts to ask. Now we bagain from there until we get to an
amount he is actually willing to send. Hey, it's a sacrifice for the
Woodworking Gods. And, I've been wondering what I would do for bearings
on my steamboat drive shaft when it gets that far. And, as long as it's
free, it's always popuar wood. LOL



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 8:41pm (skeez) doth offereth:
hey JOAT! I got a small pieceof lignum vitie hangin round here
someplace. I could lop off a piece big enough for cool blocks if ya want
to come pick it up. gonna be in the shop tomorrow. drop a line here and
i'll get back to ya. I'm near youngsville though so the gas might cost
ya more than its worth! :-}

I just looked at the Atlas. You're not :really: far from me, but
I could probably buy a small tree for the gas it would cost me. LMAO
If you wanna mail it, I'd be more than willing to cover postage. Best I
can do. LOL I wouldn't be able to get that far tomorow anyway. But,
thanks for the offer.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

Thu, Jan 17, 2008, 11:07am (EST+5) (dadiOH) doth
sayeth:
Lignum vitae. No other can come even close.

So I've heard. But, unless you can prove to me that it grows in
NC, I'm not buying any.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

Thu, Jan 17, 2008, 11:11am (EST+5) (dadiOH)
snip You can either buy a bit or screw around with third rate stuff.

You DID have this in your post:
J T wrote:
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 9:03pm (EST+5) (Scott Lurndal)
doth recommendeth:
I'd recommend lignum vitae, if you have access to some.
**********That's not gonna happen - unless someone
gives me some. Don't have any in the samples, and I stopped buying any
wood except plywood or wood native to NC years back. The only times I
work with furrin wood is if it's free to me. Of course, if you want to
send me 50 or 60 board feet I'll try it. LOL

You did read it, right? If it doesn't grow in NC, I'm not buying
it. The only wood I work with NOT grown in NC is wood I get free.
Feel free to send me some, otherwise I'll be sticking with the (in your
words) third-rate stuff.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.

J T wrote:
Thu, Jan 17, 2008, 11:07am (EST+5) (dadiOH) doth
sayeth:
Lignum vitae. No other can come even close.

So I've heard. But, unless you can prove to me that it grows in
NC, I'm not buying any.


Have you got any persimmon? I could send you some, but it was grown in
Georgia, so no use offering.

Snippers


--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

Warranty voided upon receipt of final
payment.

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:59:34 -0800, Larry Blanchard wrote:

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:52:14 -0800, Charlie Self wrote:

You don't really want 50-60 board feet of lignum vitae: it's for
projects like mallets--and bandsaw guides. A waxy, waxy, waxy wood once
used for bearings for ship propellors. Rare, endangered, expensive as
all get out now.

According to an aquaintance who's into all things marine, they're still
used for bearings in some ships. Apparently lasts longer than metal in
that application.


Gotta watch out for that shaft rub and beaver squeak in naval
applications. Seriously!

I was going to provide proof but I googled for those terms and ...um... I
gotta go... ;-)

PCPaul said:

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:59:34 -0800, Larry Blanchard wrote:

On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:52:14 -0800, Charlie Self wrote:

You don't really want 50-60 board feet of lignum vitae: it's for
projects like mallets--and bandsaw guides. A waxy, waxy, waxy wood once
used for bearings for ship propellors. Rare, endangered, expensive as
all get out now.

According to an aquaintance who's into all things marine, they're still
used for bearings in some ships. Apparently lasts longer than metal in
that application.


Gotta watch out for that shaft rub and beaver squeak in naval
applications. Seriously!

I was going to provide proof but I googled for those terms and ...um... I
gotta go... ;-)

To practice foreplay, one could assume. ;-)


Greg G.

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:36:44 -0500, (J T)
wrote:

Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 8:41pm (skeez) doth offereth:
hey JOAT! I got a small pieceof lignum vitie hangin round here
someplace. I could lop off a piece big enough for cool blocks if ya want
to come pick it up. gonna be in the shop tomorrow. drop a line here and
i'll get back to ya. I'm near youngsville though so the gas might cost
ya more than its worth! :-}

I just looked at the Atlas. You're not :really: far from me, but
I could probably buy a small tree for the gas it would cost me. LMAO
If you wanna mail it, I'd be more than willing to cover postage. Best I
can do. LOL I wouldn't be able to get that far tomorow anyway. But,
thanks for the offer.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.


I have an employee that lives in claytonia! will see if he can get a
chunk to ya. try to let ya know tomorrow. yur right bout the gas! lol

skeez

On Jan 17, 6:07 am, "dadiOH" wrote:
J T wrote:
http://home.mchsi.com/~lawlhote/guid...blockspage.htm

This has obviously been discussed here before. However, I
never tried it. But I've not been thrilled with my present metal
guide blocks for a bit and decided to give wooden guide blocks a
try.

The thing is I'm wondering what wood to try.

Lignum vitae. No other can come even close.

--

And if you hit Crafts, Woodworking on Ebay you may get the same
surprise I got: there is a LOT of it for sale in turning block and
small spindle size at semi-rational prices.

On 18 Jan, 14:59, Charlie Self wrote:

Lignum vitae. No other can come even close.

And if you hit Crafts, Woodworking on Ebay you may get the same
surprise I got: there is a LOT of it for sale in turning block and
small spindle size at semi-rational prices.

And I'd lay odds that two-thirds of it is actually an African
blackwood, not genuine lignum vitae.

Still a pretty good choice, dense and hard, but not as self-
lubricating as lignum vitae.

"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
On 18 Jan, 14:59, Charlie Self wrote:

Lignum vitae. No other can come even close.

And if you hit Crafts, Woodworking on Ebay you may get the same
surprise I got: there is a LOT of it for sale in turning block and
small spindle size at semi-rational prices.

And I'd lay odds that two-thirds of it is actually an African
blackwood, not genuine lignum vitae.

Still a pretty good choice, dense and hard, but not as self-
lubricating as lignum vitae.

Of course a lot of people oil their blades and thus the guides periodically
anyway.

Andy Dingley wrote:
On 18 Jan, 14:59, Charlie Self wrote:

Lignum vitae. No other can come even close.

And if you hit Crafts, Woodworking on Ebay you may get the same
surprise I got: there is a LOT of it for sale in turning block and
small spindle size at semi-rational prices.

And I'd lay odds that two-thirds of it is actually an African
blackwood, not genuine lignum vitae.

Still a pretty good choice, dense and hard, but not as self-
lubricating as lignum vitae.

There are different grades of lignum vitae as well. The stuff the
local supplier has is from Argentina (all his exotic hardwoods are
from Argentina) but it's not the grade used for shaft bearings.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Jan 18, 2:00 pm, "J. Clarke" wrote:
Andy Dingley wrote:
On 18 Jan, 14:59, Charlie Self wrote:

Lignum vitae. No other can come even close.

And if you hit Crafts, Woodworking on Ebay you may get the same
surprise I got: there is a LOT of it for sale in turning block and
small spindle size at semi-rational prices.

And I'd lay odds that two-thirds of it is actually an African
blackwood, not genuine lignum vitae.

Still a pretty good choice, dense and hard, but not as self-
lubricating as lignum vitae.

There are different grades of lignum vitae as well. The stuff the
local supplier has is from Argentina (all his exotic hardwoods are
from Argentina) but it's not the grade used for shaft bearings.


True, but the stress on a bandsaw blade guide is not close to what it
is on a prop shaft. Or, if it is, adjustment is in order.

On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:49:45 -0800 (PST), Charlie Self
wrote:

True, but the stress on a bandsaw blade guide is not close to what it
is on a prop shaft. Or, if it is, adjustment is in order.

Depends on your boat. Ever seen the bearings on a paddle steamer?
Lignum vitae staves too, and a _lot_ of radial force.

If you want to see wooden bearings having a hard time, look at the
history of the first Royal Navy destroyers, around 1900 - especially the
first turbine-driven ships with ungeared turbines.

Fri, Jan 18, 2008, 2:00pm (J.*Clarke) doth
gradeth:
There are different grades of lignum vitae as well. The stuff the local
supplier has is from Argentina (all his exotic hardwoods are from
Argentina) but it's not the grade used for shaft bearings.

I'm getting a bit of the finest grade. Free. Heh heh. And the
Woodworking Gods have blessed the donor.



JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.