“No matter how [Ancient Kauri] is worked, a fascinating woodworking opportunity exists for us right now. Seize the opportunity now, because no one is certain how long it will last.”
-Russ Filbeck, Master Chairmaker
On this page we share some of what we’ve learned in our years working with Ancient Kauri. Here you’ll find a basic overview of the Ancient Kauri’s characteristics, more information about the drying process, a description of the “whitebait” that gives the wood its unique iridescence, insights into sanding and finishing your project, and instructions on how to calculate board feet and order wood.
Please contact us if you have questions that are not answered on this page or would like to discuss the details of your project.
Ancient Kauri cuts, machines, sands and finishes like normal wood using regular tools, methods and finishes.
• Every order comes with sanding and finishing instructions.
• All orders will be filled with dry Ancient Kauri (moisture content 6-10%).
• Ancientwood will cut for most orders without extra charge.
• Ancientwood is an American company based in Wisconsin with on-hand inventory located in the United States.
• Our active inventory includes regular size boards, large and small natural-edged slabs, freeform slabs, boards, timbers, flooring and millwork, veneers, plywood and all sheet goods.
Our stock is rough cut. Planning is available at our normal shop rate of $45 per hour. Our inventory typically includes:
• 1-inch, 2-inch, and 2½-4 inches thick boards.
• Various shapes and sizes up to 7 feet wide and 40 feet long.
• Natural-edged timbers and boards have two natural edges.
• Natural-edged freeform slabs cut from the root section of the tree.
• Large slabs up to 80 inches across.
• Large and small turning blocks starting at $35.00 per board foot.
• Unusual pieces and thicker blocks for turning, sculpting, and carving.
Check our inventory of Ancient Kauri sample bundles here.
The density and characteristics of Ancient Kauri can change from piece to piece. Some are dense, hard, and heavy while others are light and almost soft. Pieces can be full-figured and wild or they can be refined and calm. Ancient Kauri wood can be cut, shaped, sanded, and finished using normal techniques.
When Ancient Kauri logs are extracted from the peat bogs in New Zealand, they are not petrified; their moisture content is 100%. The drying process is a critical element of caring for the wood and ensuring its integrity for years to come. Once dried, Ancient Kauri can be worked with normal woodworking tools, in the same ways you are used to working with other species.
Ancientwood’s team spent over two years researching drying techniques with the help of the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, the University of Minnesota Bio-Based Products Department, and numerous kiln manufacturers and operators in the United States. Many hands-on trials later, the result is a unique approach that guarantees the most stable Ancient Kauri available anywhere.
Ancientwood dries Ancient Kauri wood to 6-8% moisture content, in accordance with standard commercial practices. We are also happy to supply “wet” or “green” pieces to woodworkers who prefer it.
Plan to spend a little extra time sanding when you work with Ancient Kauri. Some pieces are like pine: there can be buildup if you go too fast. High-gloss finishes bring out the most intense color, depth, grain, and iridescent qualities when paired with very fine sanding. Sanding to 600-grit will work for most pieces. Taking it down to 1200-grit will yield truly stunning results.
“Whitebait” refers to the beautiful, iridescent grain activity that is unique to Ancient Kauri. It is very interesting, visually stunning, and quite rare.
The name “Whitebait” comes from a similar visual phenomenon observed in schools of small fish (Whitebait fish) that swim in the sub-tropical ocean near to Ancient Kauri trees recovery sites. Observers can see a brilliant but fleeting shimmer of light that comes and goes as these schools of Whitebait fish swim. The same shimmer can be seen in the Whitebait grain of the Ancient Kauri wood.
This beautiful, powerfully iridescent grain activity is an interesting confluence in the grain of the wood. Satin-like cords with subtle shading of color tones within the wood makes this a highly sought-after characteristic that is found only in Ancient Kauri wood.
Whitebait is a luxury in Ancient Kauri wood that, while stunningly beautiful, requires a more intense and difficult treatment process. Considered the best of the best, pricing ranges from $100.00 per board foot to $60.00 per board foot, depending on the size of the order and the amount of Whitebait activity in the piece itself.
Please note that Whitebait grain is extremely difficult to photograph: the very iridescence that makes it so exceptional tends to fool the image-capturing capabilities of digital cameras. We have captured it as best we can on both still and video camera, but we are happy to supply you with finished samples and support information for your proposals.
Ancient Kauri cuts, machines, sands and finishes like normal wood, so you can use your regular tools, methods and finishes. Like every species of wood, Ancient Kauri has its own unique characteristics. Start slowly and you will learn what finishing methods work best for you.
Ancient Kauri takes every finish we have tried, including:
• natural oil finishes and polishes
• oil-based varnishes and finishes
• water-based varnishes and finishes
• oils
• waxes
• epoxies and two-part finishes (e.g. AwlBrite®)
• shellacs
• stains
• spar varnishes
• linseed oil
Read more about Ancientwood’s experience using a variety of finishing treatments on Ancient Kauri below.
• Oil – Ancientwood has conducted extensive testing using an extensive selection of oil finishes—we even cooked and tried a variety of recommended recipes. Our tests revealed that some oil finishes can hide active grain but, conversely, one product set off the grain more beautifully than any other: Rubio Monocoat®. The results of Rubio Monocoat® are so good, in fact, that Ancientwood has become a distributor of this extraordinary finish.This finish goes a long way, and it is well worth its price. Connect With Us to learn more about Rubio Monocoat®.
• Wax – Oil finishes topped with wax finishes give Ancient Kauri a really rich aesthetic, but Ancientwood has found that this treatment is less durable without reapplication.
• Varnish – Satin finishes work beautifully on Ancient Kauri when applied as a topcoat over clear varnish base coats. We learned this the hard way after we applied several coats of satin finish directly on top of varnished test pieces. The flash and iridescence using this approach were missing—the finished product just looked cloudy.
• Shellac – For best results, build up shellac over several coats using a thinner mixture. A hand-polished finish gives Ancient Kauri a beautiful deep finish. Shellac can also be treated to a furniture polish for that final touch.
• Standard glues, screws and joints are compatible with Ancient Kauri.
• Ancient Kauri is not an oily wood; it is very similar to regular woods.
• Plan to spend a little extra time sanding. The most intense color, depth, grain, and iridescent qualities come through with very fine sanding. While sanding to a 600 grit will suffice, 1200 grit will produce truly stunning results.
• Ancient Kauri will accept a wide variety of finishing methods. Oil, varnish, shellac, stains, water based finishes, oil based finishes, spar varnish, waxes, linseed oil—everything we have tried has worked.
Please note these calculations use feet and inches.
Here is the formula to figure out board feet:
Thickness x Width x Length ÷ 144 = __ board feet OR T x W x L ÷ 144 = __ board feet
To calculate board feet for many pieces:
T x W x L ÷ 144 = __ board feet x Number of Pieces = __ Total board feet
More details to consider:
• A Board Foot is equal to 1 inch Thick x 12 inches Wide x 12 inches Long.
• The shorthand for board feet is “BdFt”.
• “5/4 stock” is thicker than 1 inch stock. So if you are calculating board footage for “5/4 stock” use 1.25 for the Thickness.
• For “6/4 stock” use 1.5 for Thickness.
• For “8/4 stock” use 2 for Thickness.
• For “10/4 stock” use 2.5 for Thickness.
Example:
To calculate the board footage of a 5/4 x 12 x 120 piece of material, perform the following calculation:
1.25 x 12 x 120 ÷ 144 = 12.5 board feet.
We look forward to hearing from you, call 715-292-1629 or email us info@ancientwood.com