Working with Rosewood

[Lodgepole]

I picked up a couple of chunks of Rosewood last week. I am planning on making a heart shaped bandsaw box for my bride.

Does anyone know if there are any concerns relating to the type of glue used or what finishes will work or not work?

Thanks.

[a1gutterman]

Hi lodgepole,
I have no personal experience with rosewood, but I did find this: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=24061 . I hope this helps.

[Nick]

Rosewood, like many tropical woods, is extremely dense and contains natural oils. Both the density and the oils prevent most glues from penetrating and forming a strong interface (or interphase, depending on whether you are a craftsman or an engineer). Typically, rosewood parts glued with ordinary aliphatic resin (yellow) glues or polyvinyl (white) glues will not bond. There are four common work-arounds for this.

1. Wipe the surface of the rosewood with dentaured alcohol just before you glue it. This removes the oils closest to the surface and allows the glue to form a shallow interface. Not the best fix, but adequate for bonding decorative parts.
2. Use glues especially formulated for rosewood, teak, and other oily woods. These are expensive, but form reasonably strong bonds.
3. Luthiers (musical instument makers) traditionally use hide glue for most of the joinery in a wood instrument, including applying a rosewood or ebony fretboard to a neck. The glue does well in this application, but these are typically not joints that require a great deal of structural fortitude.
4. Use a two-part epoxy glue. Several friends in the boat-fitting industry (finish carpenters for yachts) who work with teak and rosewood tell me this is their preference.

In the end, you may be stuck with using cleverly-hidden mechanical fasteners such as screws and bolts. The Wood Products Laboratory gives the lowest possible "bondability" rating to rosewood in their indispensible Wood as an Engineering Material.

With all good wishes,

[kalynzoo]

I use small pieces of rosewood in intrasia. Usually no larger than 4x4 and 1/4 to 3/4 thick. I have not had a problem with yellow Titebond glue to a plywood base. Usually I will finish a project with Danish oil, followed with polishing and a wax finish. If there is not a lot of surface area to connect I might try a 23G headless pin. Another concern with Rosewood is that the saw blade will easily burn the wood on the turns. So keep your blade speed down, and try some cuts outside of the plans to gain comfort with the material. Good luck, I'm sure she will treasure the gift.