Tagua nuts

[will8989]

Has anyone every scrolled on these? I am planning to cut jewelry & ornaments from them. I am currently looking for sites, I have a few, but was just wondering if anyone has any recommendations. I am looking for the slices, not the nuts, even though they are more expensive, the nut has a void in the center making it unusable.

Betty

[bearfretworks]

http://www.oneworldprojects.com/products/tag_raw.shtml

Here you go Betty......

[will8989]

That one is already on my list!! Thanks!!

Betty

[stevebuk]

i tried to bandsaw these nuts, you will need a crash hat on, mine flew all around my shop, be carefull..

[William Young (SE BC)]

Betty.
I know some woodworkers that have made things with them by turning them on a wood lathe but I have not heard of them being used for scrolling.
Let us know how you make out with them if you are able to successfully scrollsaw some .
W.Y.

[lucky788scroller]

Betty, I got a few slices of tagua nut from someone that used to come in here. They sent me some because I wanted to try them too. I still havent got a chance to though, but I have seen some really intricate earrings cut from tagua, they look great.I will try to find some pictures of them. I dont know of places to buy slices though, but whole ones. Good luck. Dale

[fretnmore]

Scrolled tagua nuts are gorgeous, especially as jewelry. It looks like old ivory when it is all polished up.

You can make a jig to hold a nut securely so you can make your own slices. I've seen it done, but I couldn't describe that jig to save my soul. Perhaps someone else has one and can describe how you can make your own.

[Neal Moore]

I've never seen scrollwork on one but I'd bet it would be beautiful!!! I know a young lady who makes intricate scrimshawed inlays with it and it does in fact look like aged ivory. Beautiful stuff!!! Let us know how you fare with it....might give it a try myself.

[Marcel in Longueuil]

You will also find them here, and they have exceptionnal service.

(They are the full nuts though.)
LeeValley

From the instructions availble on that page:

Caution: If you intend to cut tagua on your bandsaw, it is necessary to securely glue it to a good-sized piece of wood first. It is preferable to glue the nut between two scrap boards so that the slices are not free to fly about after cutting. Hollowing the board with a gouge will create a pocket for the nut. Glue the nut in the pocket and repeat with the second board. The trapped nut can now be sliced.

Regards,
Marcel

[will8989]

All this info is really helpful. Why did they fly all over the place Steve? Were they hard to cut or so soft they just flew apart? I planned on using the smalled blade I could find, probably will start with a 2/0 or something that isn't spiral. I talked to a girl from PS wood at the show in York in November and she scrolls on them and didn't mention anything about flying all over the place. She said they were quite easy to do. She gave me an address in upstate New York where she purchases hers from, but ofcourse I promptly lost it!! As far as jigs go, hubby is a master jig maker!!

Thanks again everyone. I will post a pic when I get some cut. I really need alot of stuff for my 3/31 and April & May shows and I thought they would be good sellers, especially jewelry for Mother's Day.

Betty