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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:36 pm 
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And I don't mean that cheap stuff the big boxes sell.

When I look for white hardwood among the pictures of wood samples available on the internet all I see is yellow/tan wood labeled white.

I have this vision in my head of something I saw a long time ago made of a bone white wood with a grainy surface (is this the right description?) that had a dark color possibly rubbed in to it. I don't think it was painted but who knows? Maybe I am imagining this, it was a long time ago.

Is there a white hardwood or is there some white paint or dye that doesn't leave the surface looking like it had been painted?

Richard


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:14 pm 
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Black walnut sapwood is a very plain white color. But only if it has not been steamed, which many hardwood dealers will do before drying it. If you can find some which a has been air dried, check that out.

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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:27 pm 
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If I recall correctly, holly is one of the whitest woods available.


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:39 pm 
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brantleytl wrote:
If I recall correctly, holly is one of the whitest woods available.



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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:56 pm 
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I was thinking Holly as well. Not easy to get large section stuff... holly trees don't get all that big. Other than that try bleeching a pale wood. I remember Ian Norbury the carver produced a white dove out of I think Europian Lime (not the Citrus Tree) which he bleached with professional hair Bleech
:shock: Came out stark white but didn't look painted. Don't know how long it would stay white though.

Ray

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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:19 pm 
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I agree with the others... holly is about as white as you can get. you can also experiment with A/B type bleach (wood bleach) you can get it online from rockler

Lawrence


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:08 pm 
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Hey Richard,

As others have said, holly is what you want. I have seen thin turnings of holly that you would swear were fine white Chinese porcelain.

One of the problems with holly is keeping it white. As with any porous white material it is easily stained with other pigments. If you are using a contrasting wood, sanding dust can mess up your project. That's why I always try to use a scraper for the final surface when using holly.

Don't forget to post some pictures when you're finished. :wink:

Tom

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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:17 pm 
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I am thinking that it may have been white-washed.
I have seen white-washed oak it has a lot of grain.
A wash is generals a thinned out paint I have used based paints, I have heard that you can use acrylic paints.

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PostPosted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:42 pm 
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richardk wrote:
...a bone white wood with a grainy surface (is this the right description?) that had a dark color possibly rubbed in to it.


Hey Richard,
Is it possible that you were looking at spalted wood? Spalted wood is a natural phenomena caused by various mold species. Some create a bleached white appearance, and others various colors from red to blue, and brown to black. Some woodworkers maintain cultures of these molds in order to specifically color the wood and its grain patterns. Most folks just pay extra for naturally spalted wood, or are lucky enough to score a windfall with an interesting spalting to it.

Tom

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PostPosted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 12:39 am 
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Koto is another very white wood with often pronounced grain lines.

Good luck!

eric


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 1:09 am 
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If you have trouble locating holly, which is the whitest if it was harvested at the right time. Take a look at aspen. It is more redily available and a close 2nd to holly.

Len


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 1:53 am 
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Some parts of holly have a very mesmerizing natural pinkish tint. One of our members, about 4 or 5 years ago, posted such projects made of holly. Offhand, I can't remember who it was, seems like the intials had a couple of c's in the name.

Jiggy

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PostPosted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:11 am 
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popeye wrote:
If you have trouble locating holly, which is the whitest if it was harvested at the right time. Take a look at aspen. It is more redily available and a close 2nd to holly.


Yes, the true poplars' sapwood is about as white as you'll get, and the annual rings are pretty indistinct as well. One reason it's highly regarded as pulpwood, in spite of its low density.

I've seen it sold in yards as "whitewood," but I now see that applied to spruce and fir.


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:10 am 
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I was reading yesterday that English Sycamore is almost as white as holly.

Thanks BumblinBob (next post) - I knew I read it somewhere.


Last edited by Paulzzz on Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:39 am 
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The current issue of Woodshop News has an article on English sucamore. Page 20 and 21.


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:05 am 
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Paulzzz wrote:
I was reading yesterday that English Sycamore is almost as white as holly.

Thanks BumblinBob (next post) - I knew I read it somewhere.


Acer pseudoplatanus, a maple. If you get fresh basswood Tilia americana or what the Europeans call Linden, it's very white. Leave it in the log it goes brown quickly.

You must be selective in your finish choices to keep from adding color. [/i]


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:32 pm 
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White fir is also another option...

peter


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:16 pm 
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I agree with Popeye, Aspen is very white. A bit soft but it machines well and with a good hard finish will be as durable as anything.

Good seeing you again Len. 8)

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PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:10 pm 
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Another vote for the Aspen. I'm using a strip of it in the latest canoe build and it is not a true solid white but it is an extremely pale almost white. Machines well.


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PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:49 pm 
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I work at a veneer shop and was splicing together some english sycamore today. It looked pretty white to me. If I get a chance, I'll take a picture. I'm bringing a buncy of cutoffs home to make accents in some bandsaw boxes.

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