luisa_calif
Well-known member
found out that people can be allergic to the sawdust. Now I'm afraid to use them.
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KYHeirloomDo you use ipe wood? I made a few breadboards out of scraps of this beautiful wood but..
- Thread starter luisa_calif
- Start date
kyheirloomer
Well-known member
I'm not familiar with ipe. What's it like?
There are a number of woods that can produce allegic and toxic reactions if you breath the dust. So it's always a good idea to use a mask when finishing them. Even cherry can be toxic to some people.
Most of my cutting boards and chopping blocks are designed in conjunction with the person buying them, and I use woods that fit their decor.
For instance, right now I'm building both a cheese board and a set of trivets for somebody who's kitchen is in shades of gray. Woods of choice are purpleheart and cyprus.
For another project, people whose kitchen had a southwestern theme, I used osage orange and lemonwood
As a wedding present for my son, I made them a board that was maple, but with purpleheart accents.
For breadboards you can get away with flatgrain pieces, and scraps often work out. But cutting boards, chopping blocks, and counter tops should be either edge-grain or end-grain; and that requires measured amounts of the stock.
There are a number of woods that can produce allegic and toxic reactions if you breath the dust. So it's always a good idea to use a mask when finishing them. Even cherry can be toxic to some people.
Most of my cutting boards and chopping blocks are designed in conjunction with the person buying them, and I use woods that fit their decor.
For instance, right now I'm building both a cheese board and a set of trivets for somebody who's kitchen is in shades of gray. Woods of choice are purpleheart and cyprus.
For another project, people whose kitchen had a southwestern theme, I used osage orange and lemonwood
As a wedding present for my son, I made them a board that was maple, but with purpleheart accents.
For breadboards you can get away with flatgrain pieces, and scraps often work out. But cutting boards, chopping blocks, and counter tops should be either edge-grain or end-grain; and that requires measured amounts of the stock.
luisa_calif
Well-known member
Very hard wood, my sis used it for her deck. It's from South America.
Ipe can look like good Mahogany or like Koa, KYHeirloomer
It is used in many different applications here in Hawaii- floors inside and decking outside, cabinets, trim, boxes, frames. It resists termites so it is especially desirable. We almost put in Ipe floors when we built our house but I got a great deal on Brazilian Cherry so we installed that instead.
It is used in many different applications here in Hawaii- floors inside and decking outside, cabinets, trim, boxes, frames. It resists termites so it is especially desirable. We almost put in Ipe floors when we built our house but I got a great deal on Brazilian Cherry so we installed that instead.
kyheirloomer
Well-known member
OK, I did some research
and ipe is the wood I know as greenheart.
It's an incredibly hard, brittle wood that is all but impossible to work with hand tools. For several reasons I don't consider it suitable for cutting boards and chopping blocks.
If there weren't so many alternatives I would consider it for the decorative edging on breadboards. But given the difficulty applying finishes to it, I'd hesitate even there.
and ipe is the wood I know as greenheart.
It's an incredibly hard, brittle wood that is all but impossible to work with hand tools. For several reasons I don't consider it suitable for cutting boards and chopping blocks.
If there weren't so many alternatives I would consider it for the decorative edging on breadboards. But given the difficulty applying finishes to it, I'd hesitate even there.
luisa_calif
Well-known member
I just hand my husband round off the edges, & sand it. then I just applied mineral oil. It is just
so beautiful I wanted to use it but I don't want to make anyone sick. All I can find out is that some people are allergic & something else ( I forgot what-I need to check the bookmarks on my other computer)
so beautiful I wanted to use it but I don't want to make anyone sick. All I can find out is that some people are allergic & something else ( I forgot what-I need to check the bookmarks on my other computer)