Ancient Kauri, Whitebait on Flame
So you like aged wood? How’s 45,000 years sound? Ancient New Zealand Kauri is being recovered from swamps where it has been preserved from before the last ice age. It has been protected from oxidation by the swamp. That is not to say it hasn't changed , as a wood it is light in density. It bends very easy, One needs to be careful not to overbend it. It will return as easily. due to the figure it can't be paned without chipping, the run out tends to go every which way ! You need a hickness planer and scraper.
It absorbs glue readily , though I like to wash coat it with CA be fore finishing. When washing the CA try to keep the coat even and light or you can get blob spots. Don't pour the CA directly on the wood, ! I alos like giving it a coat of stain , then sanding it back so it stays in the endgrain helps to highlight the figure!
These sets figure feature “White Bait in waves”. White bait are small minnows they net on the west coast of New Zealand & eat as a delicacy. The short curvy lines depict the minnows, the changing Light reflection is the flame ‘AAA’ sets feature the best figure.
The ‘AA’ sets have a less White bait lines but the flame or " waves" is still intense figure.
If you are curious about our grading system, you can find an explaination right here.