In a recent ebay auction that I won, included in the auction lot was a bottle stopper blank from a wood the seller called "wild mountain juniper" along with other blanks, some exotics and others quite plain run of the mill stopper blank woods. I had just recently purchased a new lathe and was dying to try it out on something other than a pen blank and chose the juniper as the "guinea pig" for a bottle stopper as it had an interesting knot in it and I was rather intrigued by the wood itself.
Was I ever in for a big surprise!
Now I had never before heard of juniper wood being used for any type of turning (just call me "naive"). I was quite aware of the aroma from the blank as it is not dissimilar to the aroma of my favourite gin when I used to drink the stuff. Well it was indeed a true delight to turn, being similar-ish to turning lignum vitae although it does not "self finish" as lignum vitae does as it is not a really oily wood. And the aroma eminating from the freshly turned wood was bliss, although at times somewhat overpowering. Sanding and finishing was a breeze as the wood is extremely tight grained; Standard sanding, steel wool, Yorkshire grit and micro-fine, a few applications of friction polish and then a few applications of micro-crystalline polish, and finally a good hand buffing.
Weeks later it still has that enticing juniper aroma and the grain and figuring are simply fabulous! It sits on my computer desk and so long as I can smell it then I guess I'm clear of covid.
Yes, definitely a keeper this one is. I've now changed the stopper base for a Ruth Niles can tab lifter opener base. I just may get some use out of it as a lifter, as I don't drink wine, seldom liqueur, and don't use oils but do have tins with those tabs (you know things like baked bean and soup tins) and having the tab opener makes opening the blasted tab so much easier. I don't know HOW many fingernails I have ripped to pieces with the blasted tabs. Now if I could only find some more of this fabulous wood. I have an idea for a fountain, rollerball, and pencil set design made from juniper.........
Good news! My supplier has kindly supplied me with some more of this fabulous wood and at a really decent price. I have some stopper blanks and some extra long pen blanks for my pen/pencil set idea. Whooppie!