Comments on: Olive

By: Nikolaos

Nikolaos — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 10:09:46 +0000

Olive trees can become much much wider in diameter. I got 4m olive trees in my field. The issue is that they rarely remain straight

By: Charis

Charis — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 10:42:05 +0000

Amazing wood type. It is super hard and heavy wood, but difficult to dry. We are lucky here in Cyprus and we have a lot of olive wood and especially big slabs or huge round roots cookies for unique dining tables and other creations.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:55:02 +0000

In reply to Jeff. I think with the supposed bad reputation of shellac, it stems from people not using freshly mixed shellac from flakes. You really should make it yourself instead of buying a can in a store. I've yet to hear of freshly mixed shellac not curing on a certain wood.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 09:45:20 +0000

In reply to Eric.

Thanks Eric.
I’ve never used Olivewood before, so I’m a little nervous about gluing and finishing it. I’ve been reading here and several other places on tips and techniques. Heat, microwave, clothes iron, paint stripper, acetone, etc.to remove the oil. Then using a non water-based polyurethane glue or epoxy.
As for finishing, the popular suggestion was to seal using 3 coats of #2 shellac, then top with poly. Others have stated the shellac won’t cure, and the only option is resin. Then there is the option of using true oil, or tung oil, which I’ve considered, but would it work…
My brain is fried.
Please forgive my ignorance, but I’m assuming “resin” is referring to clear epoxy…? If so, is there a suggestion of a good quality type or brand?
My apologies for my ignorance and long post. Thanks for any help.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 07:58:52 +0000

In reply to Jeff. In my opinion, when it comes to olive, the subspecies (and even the species) isn't really that relevant, or even able to be determined. Quality of olive wood can be all over the map (both literally and figuratively). In the end, I think that the highest quality olive wood is whatever looks the best. So it looks like you've got the good stuff!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 01:59:11 +0000

I picked up these two pieces of Olivewood recently from a local fine lumber supplier to use for a solid body bass guitar top. They measure around 8″ x 20″ x 7/8″, and the two pieces together weigh in at 11.5 lbs. They are very oily, even leaking a little onto the tissue they are laying on. Granted, the supply warehouse was very cold, and these were brought into a very warm house. They feel extremely dense and glass-like.
The supplier told me he was not 100% sure of their origin, but thinks they came from Ukraine.
Any ideas whether the Ukrainian origin may be correct or not? They could not tell me the sub species either. Thanks for any input and help.
Jeff

By: Geoff Philippus

Geoff Philippus — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 16:16:11 +0000

Sorry, Forgot the side view.

By: Geoff Philippus

Geoff Philippus — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 16:14:53 +0000

First time building a guitar so I decided to go for looks and worry about sound later. I was just playing around with scraps I had, so its a sandwich of woods. The front is Olivewood, the middle is ash and the back is (from outside to middle) Sapele, Ceylon Satinwood, Cocobolo and Ebony down the middle.

By: John

John — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 03:01:01 +0000

In reply to Clive. I have carved a few spoons in Olive and it is a great wood. The only issue i have found it the wood has several species and they are not all the same. I like Bethlehem Olive (not sure of spelling) It also may have internal checks so I ger a spoon carved and I suddenly find a crack in the bowl area but this is fairly rare. It can be carved into a fairly thin bowl for a spoon.

By: Daniel Sanders

Daniel Sanders — Tue, 02 May 2023 19:49:53 +0000

Hard to get pieces without checks and very heavy strong wood. I have these I have been holding onto and now having them made into handgun grips

By: Athan

Athan — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 23:10:00 +0000

Can I use olive tree wood to make a tobacco smoking pipe?
Is it safe or will it release harmful toxins?
Thanks!

By: Cecil Sink

Cecil Sink — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:18:32 +0000

In reply to Amanda. Of you have the shelves made of spalted sugar maple they will look similar

By: Marko Jadric

Marko Jadric — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 22:02:47 +0000

A great way to avoid bitterness in spoons/bowls is to seal them with Carnauba wax. It creates a very nice finish, hard as epoxy, and the best part is that it melts at 130°C so you won’t melt it off in a hot soup. It is a vegetable wax used in cosmetics so it’s definitely food-safe.

By: Filip

Filip — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 00:00:02 +0000

In reply to Lisa. Beautiful!

By: Filip

Filip — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 23:59:18 +0000

When processed, the smell is more like a fruity perfume than the smell of wood. Fantastic bonus!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 18:44:40 +0000

Does anyone know what color stain I could use to make pine look like Olive wood? We’re getting a table made out of olive(similar to pic), and having custom shelves made out of pine, and I would like the shelves to be match/compliment the table as much as possible. Thank you!

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 13:11:46 +0000

I built this Olive wood snare drum. Plays beautifully

By: NikGrysp

NikGrysp — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:34:48 +0000

In reply to Bates woodworking. Try tung...it works great

By: NikGrysp

NikGrysp — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 18:32:31 +0000

In reply to Krys. Absolutely. I have worked with olive wood a lot (I burn lots of it in my wood stove) and it can be from blonde to silvery to almost light golden white.

By: Bret

Bret — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 15:49:43 +0000

In reply to Eric. Thanks.