Sappy blackwood

Irish Flute
1

Here is yesterday’s blackwood haul from my wood supplier. I will use these for the middle and lower joints on Folk Flutes. These are from the pieces rejected by the clarinet manufacturers for various reasons - usually knots, checks, cracks, bark, rot and sapwood. My wood supplier (Gilmer) gets this for cheap and then sells it for cheap, either in 30kg bags or by the piece. I usually go through a large barrel of these and pick out ones that have no visible cracks or checks or rot. I don’t mind the occasional knot and these are very easy to cleanup when encountered. But what I really look for are pieces that have the sapwood, and yet are otherwise clear and perfect. As if sapwood was a defect! If possible I like to include some sapwood in the finished Folk Flute as an inclusion. Many of my Folk Flute clients like this; but I have also observed that some clients are horrified by it. Sapwood may have been the sign of an inferior instrument 100 years ago. Now its use is part of the modern lutherie style and philosophy of making the best use of the resource. The people horrified by this need to get over it.

I just saw pictures of a gorgeous guitar by Shelley Park with blackwood back and sides, featuring a strip of sapwood at the bookmatch join, and on the upper edge of the sides. I am wondering why I didn’t order the one she made me with such blackwood three years ago, instead of East Indian Rosewood. What was I thinking? I may order one someday…

Sappy blackwood… (thanks for the editing Kevin!)

Here is that guitar that Shelley just finished. This gives an idea of what this blackwood sapwood looks like in a finished instrument.
For more information on her guitars see http://www.parkguitars.com/

Casey

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Casey, your top photo is labelled “Sappy boxwood…”, not blackwood.

[Edited to correct name spelling]

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Kevin, You called him “Casy,” not “Casey.” :poke:

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Wisea**.

Where’s me petard?

5

I take it back. :slight_smile:

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Thanks for posting Casey very interesting to know your take on buying your African Blackwood stock, for the sake of a complete novice who is bewildered by the whole making set up, but still kean to give it a go as a hobby, how much would 3 or 4 pieces of AB come in at ? and would you or anyone know if there is import restrictions to the uk ?

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Timberline in uk.

http://www.exotichardwoods.co.uk/Woods_List/African_Blackwood.asp

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You might check in with your local wood turning association. They would know where best to buy it locally. Currently I am paying anywhere between $6 for these sappy pieces of random length to $40 for a 40mm X 40mm X 540mm squares. The more expensive wood is more reliable in terms of not discovering checks at the very end after all the work is done. This is not infrequently the case with the $6 wood, unfortunately. Selecting pieces with sapwood seems to minimize this risk.

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My Olwell flute has a bit of sapwood in it.

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Thanks for the advice, much appreciated :slight_smile: