Hogging out the heartwood from a camphor limb.

[dbhost]

I am making a limb slice band saw box for a Christmas present for my mom. The slice of limb I have to work with is 6" in diameter at the narrows, and from my best research, including what my nose tells me, it is Camphor. I have bored a hole 4" deep in the 6" slice with my largest forstner bit (2-1/8"). I have been chiseling out the remainder, but this stuff is HARD, and I am ending up getting a LOT of practice honing my chisels. Not to mention I am not liking the results...

Once I get the chiseling done, and am close, I was thinking about using a drum sander insert in my DP to to sand the sides... But that leaves me with the big question... How do I sand / smooth the bottom of the hole?

FWIW, I saw a similar project done with I believe it was Olive on a smaller scale on another forum a while ago, but for that persons project, the forstner bit was all they needed. It is a simple swiveling lid, that is using a 3/8" oak dowel as a pivot point. And the entire thing will get shot with simple spray lacquer. I am planning on leaving the exterior of it as natural as possible...

[Stytooner]

It will be tough to get a smooth bottom.
Have you considered putting cork or felt or something in the bottom to cover up the center point.

[dbhost]

I was going to fill it, get it as smooth as possible, and then use that spray flocking inside. Sorry, I failed to mention that...

[pelligrini]

That a pretty deep depth and small area. You could probably get deeper with an extension for a forstner. You might consider putting in a false bottom out of something thin. Even 1/8" hardboard would work since you are going to flock it.

[capncarl]

Saw the bottom of the box off, finish the inside bottom surface and glue it back on, then complete the outsides?

Capncarl

[dbhost]

I am wishing I had done that prior to starting the first hole...