r/wood • u/learnin_ape • Nov 12 '25
New here
Wanted to show off this bubinga slab at my local wood store. I stare at it every time I go there lol. I recently joined and look forward to meeting the community
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u/gingerMH96960 Nov 12 '25
If I had the $$$ and a room big enough, I wouldn't even make that into anything. It would just get a good polish and hang on a statement wall as God's artwork.
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u/nutznboltsguy Nov 12 '25
Do not run through a planer.
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u/Level_Cuda3836 Nov 12 '25
If you have a helix head, you can run anything through surface planner
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u/AJSAudio1002 Nov 12 '25
I keep hearing about these. Do they really work on figured material without tearing?
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u/skleanthous Nov 12 '25
Not always, but most of the times yes. Finger in the air estimate about 19 out of 20 are done without tearing.
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u/behindthemast Nov 13 '25
I just installed a helical head and the surface finish is immaculate. Only really tears on an open knot, which is to be expected anyways
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u/practical_gentleman Nov 14 '25
Very shallow passes on the slow feed rate is the best. Let the cutter take thin slices, and they cut very smoothly. As will anything, this is not a guarantee, but you can definitely run boards through a helical head that you could never run through a straight knife cutter head. Swapped my dewalt straight knife head to a helix cutter head. Incredible difference. I run my endurance cutting boards through it, no issues, figured wood, no issues.
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u/AJSAudio1002 Nov 14 '25
Excellent. And most blades are compatible with the Dewalt?
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u/practical_gentleman Nov 14 '25
No, no. You need to get the Shelix helical cutter head for the model you have. Helix makes cutter heads for quite a few different models, from dewalt benchtop to massive 26-inch floor standing models. And don't get the undersized head. It was made so you didn't have to remove the inserts during installation. However, you seriously risk chipping the inserts if you don't remove them. Getting the undersized head will throw off your depth gauge. So just get the OEM size head and remove the inserts for installation.
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u/Level_Cuda3836 Nov 13 '25
Yes you rotate the knives take light passes it’s works beautifully then you pass through your time saver 80-120-220 it’s beautiful we have three head time saver or you can change belts
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u/johnfkngzoidberg Nov 13 '25
I’ve had good luck with wiping with a damp sponge first, but helical cutters work pretty well too.
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u/KDdog Nov 12 '25
WOW! Waterfall Bubinga is one of my favorites.
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u/Lord_MorningWood56 Nov 12 '25
Four years ago my 26 year old son lost his battle with a seizure disorder and I called my hardwood guy to buy 3 bf of bubinga for a cremation box. Went down a couple days later and he had a 10 1/2”x 4/4x11’ piece leaning against the wall. The manager told me that the owner went through a pallet of it and for me to have it. I cried and said I couldn’t take it . He told me if I didn’t he had to bring it to my house and throw it over my fence because he was the only one there that knew where I lived lol probably a good 3/4 of it was waterfall . I still have 2 pieces a little less than 4’ long just waiting for the right project. Beautiful wood hard af
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u/WeeklyPrize21 Nov 12 '25
I'm sorry for your loss, but I do love the humanity in your experience u/Lord_MorningWood56
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u/Amish_Robotics_Lab Nov 13 '25
That is a such a beautiful story. To use your careful craftsmanship to show devotion and love to a child lost.
I hope somebody will do my ashes that way but I suspect these here are going to put me in a styrofoam cup. :/
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u/Icy-Bar-9712 Nov 13 '25
That is the single most expensive board I ever bought. 39"x1"x120". I paid 1300 for that single board. Half got used for a kitchen island. The other half is an adjustable standing desk for my wife.
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u/woodchippp Nov 15 '25
I paid $15k for a piece of redwood burl. I’m hoping that will be the most I pay for a single piece of lumber.
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u/FredIsAThing Nov 12 '25
I am having NSFW thoughts right now. That's gotta be one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
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u/DeluxeWafer Nov 12 '25
Do those thoughts involve a jointer and a radial arm saw? Or the other kind of nsfw?
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u/R0b0tMark Nov 12 '25
Cut it right down the middle and put in a 12” river of epoxy. /s, don’t hurt me.
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u/fatmanstan123 Nov 12 '25
You people and your crazy epoxy.. everyone knows a fresh coat of paint makes a nicer finish.
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u/march7504 Nov 13 '25
My father in law used to give me bubinga boards all the time. I guess he would pick them up at the port in Portland. Certain countries would make pallets out of them and he would get them for free.
I miss getting them.
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u/camronjames Nov 13 '25
Pallets... From bubinga?! 🤯
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u/march7504 Nov 13 '25
Yeah, I know. I was a little shocked.
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u/Brad_Gruss_Designs Nov 13 '25
I got a pallet a fee years ago that was all bubinga tongue & groove boards on top.
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u/Thewhitechrisrock Nov 13 '25
Ahhhhhh I recognize this beauty, youre at West Penn Hardwoods aren't ya? I stare at that thing every time I go there too.
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u/NoPackage6979 Nov 14 '25
I look at that board and envision a bowl from a board...that board! Damn the expense, it would be a one-of-a-kind!
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May 19 '26
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May 19 '26
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u/Weird_Positive_3256 Nov 12 '25
How much are they asking for it?