Anyone tried Arbutus?

Interested in making clay pipes, meerschaums, olive woods, or some other exotic material? Talk about it here.
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Kada
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:49 am

Anyone tried Arbutus?

Post by Kada »

I have used Arbutus wood for years in other woodworking projects. it is realy hard but notoriously brittle and cracks easy when drying.....which makes me nervous about it in pipe making for cracking....but as far as light woods go it is amazingly beautiful. often white-yellow and some nice pieces being great shades of pink-rose.

curious if anyone has tried it.
Matt
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:42 pm

Re: Anyone tried Arbutus?

Post by Matt »

i havent used arbutus but i have used manzanita its pretty much the same thing what seems to help me with the cracks is working with a freshly cut branch as soon as possible and smoking out of it as soon as possible ive made quite a few manzanita pipes and none of them have cracked using this method
Matt
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:42 pm

Re: Anyone tried Arbutus?

Post by Matt »

i recently found some wild arbutus and i must say, i like it
Kada
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:49 am

Re: Anyone tried Arbutus?

Post by Kada »

when you dry it, what is your method? smoking it soon (green?) sounds interesting. Its sure a lot easier to carve green, but i hate spending time on carving it only to see it split :(
Matt
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:42 pm

Re: Anyone tried Arbutus?

Post by Matt »

Kada wrote:when you dry it, what is your method? smoking it soon (green?) sounds interesting. Its sure a lot easier to carve green, but i hate spending time on carving it only to see it split :(
yes smoke it then carve it. i believe smoking it cures it somehow, maybe the drilling as well.
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