While I'm Waiting

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Weird Wood Pusher
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Jun 13, 2011
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My next batches of stabilized wood won't show up until next week.
So while I am waiting, I am making chopsticks.
It is mindless work that I can do indoors where it is warm and dry.
I have a bunch of sets roughed out. Now I will start the shaping and then the finishing.
In the past I used a mineral oil finish but this time I plan on a hard, salad bowl finish.
The woods I have roughed out are Silky Oak, Bubinga, Ebony, Bog Oak and Figured Maple.

cs001_zps43424630.jpg
 
Maybe I should start eating more Chinese :D
 
Can I reserve a couple sets of ebony?

I'll let you have 1st pick of the ebony ones when I finish them.
I haven't decided on the price yet because I want to see how long it takes and how they look when they are finished.
They won't be very expensive. I am guessing somewhere between $25 and $40.

Sometimes I make some for our gallery here but people end up buying them to put in their hair.
 
I am trying out a lacquer finish on some of these to see how they turn out.
From what I have read on some Japanese chopsticks they do a finish with multiple coats of lacquer.
So I am going to try applying about a dozen coats of lacquer sanding in between coats to see how they turn out.

In the past I had done the sticks and finished them with mineral oil.
But some of the pairs I had at home got tossed into the sink of dish water and the abuse caused a couple to warp a bit.
This time I am trying to make them dummy proof for my own sake. Because even though I know how to take care of them, sometimes stuff just happens.
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The cold damp weather is slowing down the curing of the lacquer.
But, I have done one coat, sanded and applied a second coat.
The Bog Oak and the Bubinga have fairly coarse grain so I want to do enough coats that there will be no visible pores when I am done.
 
EChef and Guss2, I will let you know when they are done and let you have 1st choice.
EChef, I will attempt a square set with fine tips like the photo you sent me last time I made sticks.
 
You could take those sticks with you to King's for a feast.Lacquer?Have you experimented with any wax finishes?They look nice....
 
Mark, I'm less interested in wood type (though bog oak or bubunga would be nice). Sure would like a pair or two of square tips.
 
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