Cut some cookies of black locust but wondering after some planing and sanding what to bring out the grain in it best. I've not worked with black locust just tinkering here but I like my options here, plenty to work with as a whole. So if I screw up its cut it and try again. Guess this stuff will likely try my equipment in the process?
Don't quote me, but I thought locust was very "porus" for end grain cutting boards. It is a "food safe" wood though. The choice for treatment is mineral oil.(I soak them in a Rubbermaid tub) Then I polish with bees wax. If you put oil on it, any type of working after that is a gooey mess. I've never planed anything with oil, but trying to sand out a boo boo didn't go so well.
Something made out of black locust? It has great color, grain patterns and is hardly ever used for those qualities. Can't wait to see a finished product!
Did a Google image search for black locust cutting boards. Some of them are gorgeous! Good luck and post pics if you do it.
I'm gonna try. If anything id like to just take it one step at a time and apply oil slowly. Give it a chance to absorb.
Sorry for the pics it's a screenshot my phone was set to high mega pxl so I couldn't upload. With and without mineral oil. Cherry maple endgrain.
I think you will really like the mineral oil. Locust is a fairly stable wood, and with colors of the wood should come out nice.
I have mineral oil that has bees wax in it as a butcher block prep. Its best as a rejuvenator since my acacia one got so dry and got slivers in my food and all last summer. Ugh
I don't want to pop your bubble, but, If you are trying to make cutting boards from Cutting cookies out of logs, you will probably be disappointed with the outcome
I would just because it is a porus end grain wood. The pores of the wood will invite bacteria and contamination. You could try both ways, not sure how well a cookie will dry. It's supposed to be a stable wood. Dry the cookies really slow somewhere.
No i was just asking if the cookie is likely to fall apart. Im new to this really. If you think about it this way, ive got wood thats enough to play around and if i make mistakes, chuck those in the burn stack and go get something else. Id probably just noodle the round lengthwise and that might work but if the wood is porous...maybe i need to back off.
I say give it a shot, worst thing that happens is you end up tossing it. One thing I know about wood is that no two trees are alike, so you could get a "not so porus" tree that may work.
The grain seems ok but I wouldn't put it as "tight", the rings are spaced a bit in the middle but toward the edge they aren't as spaced. I'm probably better off sawing some paper birch cookies off maybe
I turned a mallet out of dead locust from my neighbors tree. It was maybe 4" in diameter. I cut the checked ends off, and it still checked in a few places after finishing.
End-grain cutting boards are supposed to be the best for your knives. I say try it. Maybe cut the cookies a little thick, depending on your storage space. Last time I was in China Town, they were selling end-grain boards that were nothing more than cookies off logs. I' not sure what species. I don't see that there is much to lose in trying the locust out. At worst, the board splits during some intense clever action. Then you will know.
Luckily I don't own a cleaver. But you got the right idea that I can keep trying until something works. This cookie is pretty thick. I believe it is over an inch thick. Thanks for the advice!!
