Thanks for your detailed explanation Janos.
I didn't appreciate your framing had been oxidising for 25 years,that is a long time.It partly shows that whilst many English Navy Board models were made from Boxwood,most look more like Pear now due to their age.
I do agree buying Online is pot luck and do intend on travelling to collect the timber inview of the quantity I require.Delivery would be getting expensive as well.Ironically,when I moved closer to my new job,I also moved a few miles from what was probably one of the UK's best suppliers of exotic hardswoods.Sadly they have now closed down.
Regarding Ebony,I have found the African variety to be jet black all the way through,but the most expensive.I have used a lot of Madagascan Ebony as I can get this in sheet form,it is cheaper but some of the stave can be unusable as it has the grey/brown streaks.It depends on the piece and where I buy it from shows a picture of the actual item.Generally the pieces that are consistently black command a higher price.
Kind Regards
Nigel
I didn't appreciate your framing had been oxidising for 25 years,that is a long time.It partly shows that whilst many English Navy Board models were made from Boxwood,most look more like Pear now due to their age.
I do agree buying Online is pot luck and do intend on travelling to collect the timber inview of the quantity I require.Delivery would be getting expensive as well.Ironically,when I moved closer to my new job,I also moved a few miles from what was probably one of the UK's best suppliers of exotic hardswoods.Sadly they have now closed down.
Regarding Ebony,I have found the African variety to be jet black all the way through,but the most expensive.I have used a lot of Madagascan Ebony as I can get this in sheet form,it is cheaper but some of the stave can be unusable as it has the grey/brown streaks.It depends on the piece and where I buy it from shows a picture of the actual item.Generally the pieces that are consistently black command a higher price.
Kind Regards
Nigel