Olive wood

[PuzzledMoose]

Has anyone ever used it - and is it obtainable generally in N America? I came across this site http://www.bethlehemolivewood.net/slabs_ss.htm

That is beautiful looking wood ..

[workin for wood]

I have some nice big chunks of olive, but haven't used any yet. It has nice contrasting colors, heavy grain patterns, it seems like I have lots, but am fascinated by it as a chunk of wood all by itself. It seems to be pretty heavy, and the price is not too expensive. Of course that's all relative to what your used to paying for your selection of lumber. Olive is a classic wood in early italian furniture and artwork such as intarsia and marquetry. The wood seems to be a little bit oily...I bet it takes to an awesome shine. Next closest wood I have that is similar to olive is Goncala Alves.

[Minnesota scroller]

I stopped at a local craft show a week before Christmas and there was an individual there selling christian figurines and shelves etc. Everything was made out of olivewood. He had some beautiful products. He didn't make any of the stuff but his wife travels to Bethlehem every year and buys it from the artisans there. I can't think of a better wood for religious giftware. The wood actually comes from the birthplace of Christ. I tried a search for the wood and couldn't find anything thicker than the 1/4" that Ian's link takes you too.

[PuzzledMoose]

This place in PA has some - at a price! http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/xcart...ufacturerid=37

[Minnesota scroller]

I don't think that is the same olive though. It isn't the same unless it comes from Bethlehem. I'm not real good with my geography but I don't think Bethlehem is in Italy or Africa.

[workin for wood]

unless you do a dna test, who can tell?

and yes...i saw on discovery channel that you can do a dna test on a tree and every tree has it's own dna, just like people, unless the tree is a clone.

I have a block of olive with the price still on it. it's about 4" wide, 2" thick and 24 inches long...it says I paid $21 for it. I suppose that could be calculated at about $18 bf...yikes. I'll take back the not so expensive comment

[PuzzledMoose]

I don't think that is the same olive though. It isn't the same unless it comes from Bethlehem. I'm not real good with my geography but I don't think Bethlehem is in Italy or Africa.

No I don't think Bethlehem is in Italy or Africa either ..lol Olive trees grow all around the mediterranean area for sure - I've seen them in Greece, Spain Turkey and S France. I'm not sure why ones in the israel/middle east would be much different but I could be wrong ..

According to wikipedia:
"The Olive (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Lebanon and the maritime parts of Asia Minor and northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea. Its use as a major agricultural product in preclassical Greece led to its wider distribution throughout the western Mediterranean."

[Minnesota scroller]

My point is, if you are going to make christian items to sell at a craft show or in a christian gift store, they will sell much better if you can tell a person the olive wood actually comes from Bethlehem. It makes it much more of a conversation piece. The wood may actually have come from a tree that Jesus leaned against.

[PuzzledMoose]

My point is, if you are going to make christian items to sell at a craft show or in a christian gift store, they will sell much better if you can tell a person the olive wood actually comes from Bethlehem. It makes it much more of a conversation piece. The wood may actually have come from a tree that Jesus leaned against.

OK I do see your point there. I'm not of any particular religious persuasion, so I was merely thinking of the wood from an aesthetic point of view.

[bearfretworks]

Olive from the Holy land comes with certification cards and stickers identifying it as such. The "holy" olive comes form Bethleham, Jerusalem, and Nazareth...and each has it's own look. While easy enough to duplicate, any and all "Holy Land" olive products should have the stickers......never rely on word of mouth...........

"Regular" olive comes from all over the world......I've turned some from California, Florida, Spain, and Africa....

[Minnesota scroller]

Dang Barry, you're just a walking wood encyclopedia. Thanks for the info.

[meydenhart]

Olive wood

Mike, we do actually have a Bethlehem in South Africa! Wild Olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana) occurs naturally in S.A. and Africa. I have scrolled with it and since it's very oily, it does tend to clog the blades. Wild Olive is beautiful once polished. This logo is scrolled from Wild Olive

[earlinjax]

Question? What is the best way to finish olive wood? Oil? Just a wax?
Just curious.

EarllinJax

[Cutting Cathy]

Ian, I bought some Olive Wood from that sight in December. I ordered pretty late in December and they got it to me within 4 days. I had ordered 3 - 1/2" x 4" x 12" pieces and was a little disappointed when the pieces were only 3" wide, but then I realized they gave me double my order. I actually got 6 pieces, so I decided that wasn't too bad a deal. I made a prayer cross for my mother in law and just had to shrink the pattern a bit to make it work.

Mike, They have 1/2" thick slabs (the ones I got). Click on products, then slabs, then you can choose from 1/4" thick slabs, round circles or 1/2" thick slabs. It is beautiful wood and well worth the price I paid. Used carefully I'm sure I can make several prayer crosses + some smaller pieces. And yes they sent me stickers and authencticity cards to go with the wood.

Here is a picture of the cross I made:

Prayer Cross.jpg

Finished with Deft spray. You should give it a try, the pictures don't show the real beauty of this wood. And I agree with what Mke said about this being from the birthplace of Christ. That's a powerful statement in one little piece of wood!!

Cathy in NE

[PuzzledMoose]

That is beautiful wood Cathy and very nicely done - what did you use to finish it?