[jusfine]

I purchased about 60 bd feet of 8/4 Jatoba and I'm ready to burn the whole pile of it. Might be toxic though…

I have never used a material that twisted and bowed and checked like this stuff does. It was sitting on a pallet at my wholesale supply, and I asked what the price was, and since it was reasonable, I bought some for myself and a friend.

Some of the pieces were 18" wide x 10' long, most being about 10-12" wide.

I carefully stacked it in the loft of the barn, and took one piece into the shop to see what it would look like finished. After leaving it a couple days to acclimate to the shop temperature, I couldn't believe how it checked along the length of the piece, and not just a bit on the surface, it is deep.

After cutting a two foot piece off, I flattened it on the Performax and took it to the bandsaw to slice it up. I have cut a few hundred board feet on the bandsaw but never heard a crack as loud as this was when it got close to the end of the first cut. There must be tremendous internal pressure in this material.

It is extremely heavy material, but at 8% moisture content, I don't undstand why it behaves like this…

Anybody with a good experience?

 

[jusfine]

It sounds like almost everyone who has responded has used smaller pieces, and I would love to make something substantial out of it, but what I have seen so far with the warping and twisting makes me very nervous.

I did make a small box (2" high) my wife needed to display the jewelry she sells, but I sliced the pieces from the thickness of the planks so they look to be quartersawn and it hasn't moved a bit.

The deep checking and twisting is a real problem. I will post a few photos later tonight.

I really like the floor, Bob, I like the sapwood too!

 

[jusfine]

Thanks John, so is it expensive firewood or what can be done with it? I could make half a million boxes 2" high…

 

[jusfine]

Here are a few photos, hope you can see clearly the amount of checking and twisting. The fourth photo was taken at about 5' from one end of an 11' piece.

It was interesting that I ripped a few pieces vertically about 2' long and they have not moved or checked at all. Last photo.

Thanks for all your ideas and help!

This piece was planed flat and after a day it curled almost 3/4 inch.

 

[jusfine]

Thanks Brad and Mike and Judy!

Not sure why the photos don't show up.. ?

I did take some time to acclimate the material, brought it into the shop and covered it with cardboard to start with for a few days, but maybe it was still too dry too fast… The other pieces still in the cool storage area are cracking and warping too…

I could maybe make a bunch of pen blanks… seems like a real waste as I had planned a furniture project for it.

 

[jusfine]

Tony, I am relieved to hear I am not the only one… what have you been using it for?

Could it have something to do with our climate? Of course you are much warmer three hours south…

I bought this material from PJ White and don't think I will buy anymore…

Thanks for your input!

 

[jusfine]

Thanks Tony.