I have a bunch or small pieces of Ipe that I scrounged from a deck project on a house down the street from me. I have mostly 5/4 X2" (various lengths and other widths ripped from wider boards on site. I have been using some of the 5/4 X 2" for garden trellises etc. also I have about a 6' 4" X 4" that was apparently split when fastening it to other structural parts - the holes were probably too small and the bolts were too large and the would split.
I am trying to figure out some use for the pieces and I will probably make some mallets out of 1 X 4 by cutting them to size (with slightly angled faces) and then sandwiching two of them together with smaller pieces to allow for a rectangular opening for a handle out of IPE or oak. I might even make a mallet ( large with long handle for driving stakes into the ground?) from the 4" X 4" piece that I have although I imagine drilling a hole for the handle will be tough and slow.
I can use my BT3K or Hitachi miter saw to cut the pieces - I am trying to figure out the best blade to use. I have a 100 tooth carbide blade that is for cutting ferrous metal and I am wondering if that is a good choice. The blade works great for aluminum but I am concerned that the Ipe may damage or severely dull the blade. I have other crosscut blades that I can use.
Would Ipe turn very well on a lathe?
Any comments on projects with Ipe and the type of blade to use will be appreciated.
I am trying to figure out some use for the pieces and I will probably make some mallets out of 1 X 4 by cutting them to size (with slightly angled faces) and then sandwiching two of them together with smaller pieces to allow for a rectangular opening for a handle out of IPE or oak. I might even make a mallet ( large with long handle for driving stakes into the ground?) from the 4" X 4" piece that I have although I imagine drilling a hole for the handle will be tough and slow.
I can use my BT3K or Hitachi miter saw to cut the pieces - I am trying to figure out the best blade to use. I have a 100 tooth carbide blade that is for cutting ferrous metal and I am wondering if that is a good choice. The blade works great for aluminum but I am concerned that the Ipe may damage or severely dull the blade. I have other crosscut blades that I can use.
Would Ipe turn very well on a lathe?
Any comments on projects with Ipe and the type of blade to use will be appreciated.
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