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Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
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Author:  dzsmith [ Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
I ordered the set on the right because it looked too cool to pass up.
Plan to use it as a top.
Anyone have experience using it?
Not sure what to expect.
Thanks,
Dan
Author:  A.Hix [ Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
Expect it to smell really good!
Author:  Alex Kleon [ Fri Feb 27, 2015 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
Do you have plans for that set, Dan, or did you just had to have it, and figure it out later? Looks really nice!

Alex
Author:  dzsmith [ Fri Feb 27, 2015 8:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
Alex,
Yeah, I buy the wood first and then figure out what to do with it.
It was new at Gilmer, so I jumped on it. Each piece is one inch thick, so I can make a top and back set.
Or, matching Tele and LP.
Who knows?
Dan
Author:  dzsmith [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 10:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
This stuff must be green. Continous warping. I put the pieces between sticks and weighted them down.
I'm afraid to use it in the current state.
Oh well, I boight some figured Maple and Walnut to keep me busy.
Dan
Author:  James Ringelspaugh [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
Wild grain stuff like what you have is going to want to move quite a bit as it dries and will likely crack a lot as well if it is to stay relatively flat. If it's green you're going to want to use a LOT of weight on the stickered pile... a lot more than you probably think. You might also consider using ratcheting tie down straps in a similar arrangement to this:
Attachment:
tie_downs.jpg


These exert a lot of force on the stack and keep everything relatively compact. As it dries and shrinks every so often you can ratchet the straps to get them tight again and keep constant pressure on the set.
Author:  dzsmith [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 4:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
Thanks James,
I have about 10 pounds on it, it has assumed a flat shape.
I'll goose it up with more weight.
Dan

That look's like Perssimon you are drying. If so, I read it's a rascal to dry.
Author:  James Ringelspaugh [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
dzsmith wrote:
That look's like Perssimon you are drying. If so, I read it's a rascal to dry.


It's actually black and white ebony, which compared to drying persimmon is a walk in the park. I've never seen green wood misbehave like this stuff, thus the heavy duty strapping.
Author:  Mike Kroening [ Fri Jun 05, 2015 7:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
Camphor burl, It took about a year for mine from gilmer to dry properly. It will lose all of its color by that time. Camphor has a lot of oil in it and finishing it can be a pain in the butt. Be ready to sand and glue at the same time. Also sand then spray dewaxed shellac as a sealer when it comes time to finish. This guitar has a 1/4" book matched top, stained with very dark red after the shellac sealer, sanded back, resealed shellac, then clear coat lacquer with red tint, black burst, then final clear coats. Picture does not do it justice, it's really more of a red wine color and the dark spots are closer to heavy deep burgundy.

Just my 0.02cents
mk

Image
Author:  dzsmith [ Fri Jun 05, 2015 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
Thanks Mike!
Great looking guitar!
Dan
Author:  Jfurry [ Fri Jun 05, 2015 9:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Camphor Burl: Anyone ever worked with it?
Like the wood Dan.man that's pretty. Love the guitar Mike.
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