Redheart Turning Blanks

With its warm red tone and fine, uniform grain, Redheart is an ideal candidate for ornamental turnings. The wood is remarkably easy to work and exhibits very little tearout. Cut from a small, gnarled shrub, it is difficult to find in larger pieces. These turning blanks are available in an assortment of sizes for bowls, platters, carvings, bottle stoppers, chess pieces, tool handles, table legs, spindles, finials, candlesticks and whatever else your imagination can conjure up!

Due to high demand and limited supply, we cannot always guarantee that this item will be in stock. Source region: Central America Color: Deep red; similar to Bloodwood Sands and polishes nicely Usually exhibits smooth tight grain

Customer Reviews and Photos for: Redheart Turning Blanks Average Rating: 4.5 (6 customer reviews) $59.99 Add your review...

1) Submitted by Leland Stone, from Buena Park, CA on 1/1/2012 Customer Rating: This wood is one of my top three exotics along with Lignum Vitae and Cocobolo, with a beautifully dense and slightly ranging color, even grain, and excellent workability. With a well-sharpened gouge, the red shaving peels off a turning blank in a long, fluttery red ribbon. It really is a delight to work, and when the finished piece is given a coat of lacquer it becomes a delight to see as well. For whatever reason, the blank I purchased cracked significantly upon being worked, occurring within hours of exposing the interior of the blank by turning. The blank from which the piece was parted off, and the completed piece, both cracked, and applications of paraffin to the remaining blank and lacquer to the finished piece did nothing to halt further cracking. Almost certainly moisture content and changes in temp/humidity caused this problem, and while I don't a moisture meter I will be allowing future blanks to acclimate in my shop before machining. Beautiful wood, which in my opinion should be purchased and stored well in advance of use.

2) Submitted by Paul Snyder, from Sauk City, WISCONSIN on 11/6/2009 Customer Rating: I have been making Spurtles (used for stirring soups, puddings, eggs or any thing that needs stirring) the past year or so and bought the Redheart for that purpose. I also turn Muddler/Pestal’s from the Redheart which are used for crushing. The turnings are coated with food grade Mineral Oil to protect and to slow the drying time as the waxed wood has a fairly high moisture content. These make great gifts.

3) Submitted by Bert Atsma, from Hackettstown, NJ on 9/29/2008 Customer Rating: I’m a big fan of wood species with some red tones that are brought out nicely by tung oil. So when I recently got back into turning, no surprise that redheart fits in among some of my favorite species. The colors range from dark mahogany to cherry red to pink - all blended together nicely. The pieces I’ve worked with so far don’t have the distinct, striking grain patterns found in other species popular for wood turning, but it doesn’t look “blotchy” either. However, for that reason, I think redheart works better for small pieces like these ceiling fan pull chains. The one on the right is actually a small leftover piece of redheart laminated with a couple of pieces of cocobolo shavings to make it large enough to turn into the light pull. These are both sanded to 600 grit and then finished with tung oil and 3 coats of clear shellac. Redheart (click to see full-size picture in new window)

4) Submitted by Callan Campbell, from Chicago, IL on 4/13/2008 Customer Rating: I've just started turning on a lathe over the past few months. I also was unaware of Redheart as a wood until I DID start using it for lathe work. Now, all my family and friends want things made of Redheart! The other wood blanks that I've bought are starting to gather dust in my shop since everyone raves about whatever I'm turning out of Redheart. Easy to turn, zero tear-out, and a stunning finish if you take the sanding to 600 grit and finish with an oil, then topcoat with orange shellac. Great tropical wood to give a try in your shop.

5) Submitted by Dan Arnold, from Canon City, CO on 5/1/2009 Customer Rating: This Redheart is a lot different than all the other Redheart that I've worked with. This one is harder & doesn't have all that much red to it. The Redheart that I've had before was a dark red and a softer, lighter wood.

6) Submitted by Robert P. Giese, from Bedford, WY on 1/22/2008 Customer Rating: A great looking piece of wood.