Official Luthiers Forum!

Has anyone used wild olive wood? I understand it to be dense as ebony. Silica content? Machinability, bendability, poreosity?

I've turned it and had a couple of small logs. Nowhere near as dense as ebony; more comparable to other typical fruit and nut woods.

Slightly oily, and smells great (like olive oil) when being cut. Machines like butter.

Here's the rub: it's very unstable when green and checks and warps a lot while drying. Seems to do OK after it's fully dried.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Terry, that is a particularly ugly set of wood.
In the true spirit of sharing here at the OLF, I will offer to take that set off your hands for, say, nothing.

You pay shipping?


Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Ah Steve,

You are one funny pastor!! I don't own a set of this, I'd like to though, but at almost $300, I'll wait, but you know how those things get away and you regret it?

Thanks Howard!

Olive wood tonewood sets are hard to come by.

Nice, BTW!!

I believe Bob Connor, a Australian member of the OLF has actually built a guitar out of olive wood and has reported on it's properties in quite a detailed way.

It was Native Olive actually Sam which is a different species (Notelaea ligustrina) endemic to Tasmania.

Cheers

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

Yes it is a different species and endemic to Tasmania. Mind you it is difficult to source in the widths required for guitars. Of course I have a significant amount of wood with some in set form if you need any. Just send me a PM.

I will be at the GAL convention exhibiting several sets in June.

regards

Tim

Australian Tonewoods

I do indeed! And the emoticon is spot on when that feeling hits.
The best practice is to grab it while you can.
(And start working on your defense when you have to explain YET another wood purchase.)

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

This is the way I felt about the Ziricote OLF23 set that was in the wood shed. I kept wanting to pull the trigger 3 or 4 times, and then it was gone. It was a amazing set.

Begging your pardon, Bob!

OOOOOOhhhhh.... I love Ziricote too. This wood was listed with oregon wild woods for near $300 IIRC. GOrgeous! I just simply must wait. Im sure something I like will be available when I need it. (though maybe not THAT species)