aeli Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 I've laid my hands on a piece of lignum vitae and it is the most amazing wood I've ever seen. It is pretty weird, because it was blue when it was raw, when I planed it, it became goldish yellow. The next day, it started to become green again. The color goes away as I wipe it with alcohol and it turns to it's yellow color again, only to start greening again in a few hours. Also the substance on the wood is sticky to an evil degree. What is the proper way to get the resin/wax or whatever out of the wood for good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGGR Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 (edited) lignum vitae Wood of life???? Probably coming from the Tree of Life. ;-) Do you have any pics?? Edited October 31, 2004 by RGGR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 I was under the impression that that wood was like the heaviest wood known to mankind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javacody Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 Also the hardest and most resin filled. I've read that its used for wooden ball bearings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeli Posted October 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 Yes it is hard, heavy and resin filled, but there has to be a way to get that resin out, since it is obviously not going to work as a fingerboard with so much of it in it. Alcohol seems to work, but what is the proper process of it, anybody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 Not trying to rain on your parade, but where did you get the idea to use this wood for a guitar? Seems like a bad idea to me, but I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javacody Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 I've thought of using it for a fretboard. It would probably really stiffen up a neck. I'm not sure how you would get the resin out of it to glue well enough though? I've read Drak's tutorial on bleaching wood, I wonder if this would dissolve the resin in the top layer of the wood as well, at least enough to glue it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsilver Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 As far as I know, lignum vitae is the densest wood on the planet, so dense it sinks instead of floats. I believe it has been used to make wooden mallets for carvers / cabinetmakers and as sole plates for wooden planes. I'm not sure what application it would have in a guitar unless you wanted to make knobs or pickup rings or something. Even a fretboard would be very heavy. If you want to try to work with it, try using mineral spirits (good for removing wax), naphtha (good for oil and silicones) or xylol/toluol/toluene (good for grease, oil). I've heard the resin/wax continues to emit over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 I see nothing but red flags and swimming upstream against the current with this stuff. This is my opinion only, worthless as it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsilver Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 I'm with Drak on this one. My suggestion is to make a guitar while looking at the piece of lignum vitae and don't let the two come in contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeli Posted November 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Yeah, I think I'll return to good old ebony. I laid it in alcohol for a night, and most of the resin came out, but now the wood is not shining anymore and it is pretty dull Heh, where did I get the idea in the first place, I don't know. Also, it is not SO heavy, a few grams more than ebony as a fingerboard. Good idea johnsilver, I'll probably go with the knobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.