Night and day

A couple of years ago, I was having a delve in the wood shed at Yandles and spotted a couple of forlorn lumps of quarter sawn European oak lurking in a corner, perfect for drawer sides...or so I thought. These were purchased, along with some elm and slotted into the racks in the 'shop without further ado.

Yesterday, I started to use it...big, biggy mistake!

Although on the face of it, the appearance is very attractive, with a wealth of ray figure, it turns out that it's been so over kilned as to be to be the most foul, 'carroty' and unworkable timber that I've ever had the misfortune to come across...even with a minuscule mouth on the plane and a razor sharp blade, the grain picks up and tears, no matter which way it's planed. In comparison, the air dried oak I'm using for the main project cuts so sweetly, it's like night and day.

After a night of pondering, I've decided to re-rack it out...in the bin! I'm going to use some Honduras Mahogany instead mainly for two reasons, firstly, I've got a lot of it and secondly, AP recommends it anyway.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, especially if klutz's like wot I am don't read the book first...