Hi guys....
Thank you for your very kind comments...
I must say... I have watched several lidded box videos and still not quite there on the 'understanding' of the proper technique, particularly for aligning the grain. I have seen a few videos where there is no real interest in getting an alignment of the grain, normally on 'plain' woods... This padauk cries out for grain alignment... Finding the best way to achieve that is going to be a challenge!
I have a few more "lidded boxes" to come out of this piece of Pakouk, Padauk, Takula... (?) and I really want to try the various methods I have seen to get the best alignment of grain...
Must say though, I am pretty pleased with the alignment I got on the first attempt! It could have been better, it could have been 'simpler' but it was a lovely learning process!!!
And yes, some exotic wood to 'play' with... A friend of mine is a joiner and makes some amazing doors, kitchens, windows AND, lucky for me, has offcuts! He has given me some really nice pieces that I want to work with and this padauk is just one of them! I hope to get at least two or three more boxes out of the Padauk that I have and, I hope, find the easiest way to get grain alignment.
One thing... I hope someone can point me in the right direction... I have to work with limited opportunities for finishing... Mainly concentrating on olive oil, beeswax and a horrible laqueur... I much prefer trying to oil and then 'seal' with a beeswax mix or just beeswax... Is it possible to achieve a 'glossy' finish with JUST beeswax?