Cypress

[geneVG]

I got a board of 1X6X6.  I have never worked with this type of wood before.  Can anyone give me hints on what I cando with it like, stains or no stain or just in general how can I work with this type of wood.  I also have a few boards of Olive wood.  The same goes woi with this type of wood.

Gene

[dgman]

Hey Gene, I have never worked with cypress, But I have worked with olive. It is a fun wood to work with if there are no voids in it. It cuts very cleanly without splintering. It deserves an oil finish to bring out the grain. It smells like olive oil when cutting!

[jimbo]

Cypress is OK but a little soft, oil generally darkens the wood a lot, it is the same family as the Macrocarpa only the Mac has a better grain
Jimbo

[geneVG]

Hi guys
can you explain the oiling of the wood.  That a new one I haven't heard about.  Also thanks for the info.

gene

[dgman]

Hi guys
can you explain the oiling of the wood.  That a new one I haven't heard about.  Also thanks for the info.

gene

Gene, I use oil to bring out the color and grain of hardwoods rather than using stains. If you look at any of my projects, you will see what it does. I use a 50/50 mixture of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. Some folks use mineral oil, lemon oil, walnut oil and so on. the linseed oil and mineral spirits are more economical because you can buy them by the gallon for what the other oils cost for a quart.
I soak the project in an old metal baking pan for about five or ten minutes. Shake off the excess oil, then wipe it down with a clean lint free rag. Let it dry for a day or two, then use a top coat of lacquer to finish it off.

[geneVG]

The lemon oil, is that what Steve uses?  With the lemon oil after it drys, can you still use lacquer to finish it off?

gene

[dgman]

Yes.

[Gabby]

If the item is going to be used for food service as in bowls or mugs, don't use any of the vegetable oils as they can become rancid. Stick to mineral oil as it is inert and food safe.
Brain fart. It just went poof out of my head.
Jump up and tell him what the other food safe products are.
Dan or whoever

[Rapid Roger]

Shellac is food safe. They coat candy and pills with it. And it is very easy to use and fast drying.

Rog