Replies

1. 
   RichinVA | Sep 10, 2009 12:23am | #1

   FG,

   Yes, I turn a bit of it. Make sure you wear a GOOD mask or respirator and smock or similar. Very nasty stuff when you turn it to dust. I do a lot of drink coasters out of left over deck boards. Always seemed odd to me that the dust is yellow when the wood is brown!!!!!!!!!!

   It is very hard and seems like a lot of silica or similar, so be prepared to sharpen frequently. Some tear out even with proper technique and sharp tools, but not overly so. Don't be too aggressive with the gouge. It does polish nicely. And I have gotten a bit of checking with it.

   Good luck, look forward to seeing your work.

   Rich

   
   

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   Edited 9/9/2009 5:24 pm ET by Richard Jones

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 10, 2009 05:37am | #2

   Thanks, Rich, coasters are a good idea -- have a friend who entertains alot and uses them.

   Yep, that yellow dust is weird.  I've been warned about dust protection with Ipe and made my husband be careful when he was building the deck.

   Will let you know if I turn any Ipe!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Sep 10, 2009 02:07pm | #3

   I'm in the same boat -- lots of ipe scraps looking for a reason to exist. One thing I've learned is that ipe is very good at heat/flame resistance (NOT good firewood). I used some of my scraps for tools for my wood-fired oven since it gets extreemly hot and tends to eat ordinary wood handles. You may want to consider trivets for hot pans as a use for some of your scraps.

   I also think it makes decent "regular" tool handles -- it's hard and has a bit of friction in the hand that makes it easier to hold on to. Maybe a good excuse to hit the flea market looking for some nice old chisels to re-handle. ;-)

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA
   Everything fits, until you put glue on it.

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 10, 2009 05:56pm | #4

   Great ideas, Mike, thanks.  Wonder about wine stoppers too, whaddya think? forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Sep 10, 2009 06:24pm | #5

   Whine stoppers? I guess that would work, but you'd need an awful big chunk to stop my whinin' ;-)

   But cerially, I dunno if ipe is food safe -- it sure has some foul dust. But if it is, I don't see why not. Or "wine knot", as the case may be.

   I seem to be in a punning mood this morning. ;-)

   You got any younguns around? Ipe would make some great spinning tops, as heavy as it is.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 10, 2009 09:43pm | #7

   I think the Ipe would not be in contact with the wine -- it would be the decorative top to the cork, right?

   Yes, tops would be good too.  An 11-year-old grandson.  Also a nearly-2-yr-old, but I would make anything out of Ipe for him until he exits the "put it in my mouth" stage, LOL.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Sep 10, 2009 09:58pm | #8

   "it would be the decorative top to the cork, right"

   That would work, even if the ipe had nasties. I've seen them turned so the part going into the bottle was wood as well, and that would make me nervous, as well as possibly affect the taste of the wine, stuff being as nasty as it is.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.

2. 
   forestgirl | Sep 10, 2009 10:06pm | #9

   "...as possibly affect the taste of the wine, stuff being as nasty as it is."  Yuck! Ptdhdpeh!!  Nope, wouldn't want Ipe in my wine, LOL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   WillGeorge | Sep 10, 2009 08:22pm | #6

   Something I found. Not sure how accurate the info is.

   http://www.connectedlines.com/wood/wood35.htm

    

   I have never 'turned' IPE but have worked with it for decking. I can say it is full of mineral deposits of some kind. I even found some stones inside.. Bummer on a saw....

4. 
   sapwood | Sep 11, 2009 08:59am | #10

   I've got a feeling, no... more like... I'm sure, you will get a lot of practice sharpening your tools when turning ipe.

   Really, something easier to turn will be a lot more fun when you're starting out.

1. 
   forestgirl | Sep 12, 2009 12:11am | #11

   I'll take a hunk or two to the class, see what the instructor says.

   Gotta find those tools.....can't believe I put them in such a safe place!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   maybaby | Oct 06, 2009 08:07am | #12

   FG.   Yes, IPE very nasty stuff because of the dust but very good for jigs as its almost like metal. It does turn okay but as been stated, you sharpen quite often. Polishes up great and makes wonderful tops.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 06, 2009 01:22pm | #13

   IPE very nasty stuff because of the dust ..

   I am not a 'turner' by any stretch of the imagination but I have a small lathe and have turned some small items from IPE cut-offs and also some Panga-Panga.

   Both woods create really fine dust. As one poster noted in here some time back

   'You will look like a Welch Coal Miner leaving the mine after a days work' or words similar in thought.

   It DOES polish VERY nicely.

2. 
   forestgirl | Oct 06, 2009 06:58pm | #14

   Well, I'm in trouble if it makes wonderful tops, 'cause I'm enchanted with the little things.  I'll bet it doesn't take those water-colors very well, though.  LOL!

   I guess I could set up a 250 mph blower behind me, with the lathe outside, to keep the shavings off.

   ....I'm a May Baby too....forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)