Wood Senator?

[steelhead_killer]

Check it out!  Pretty cool!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208223402571356&set=pcb.10208223419651783&type=3&theater

Andy

[Robert Janssen]

Who made it?

[Alto Mare]

Paolo Lobrano

[STRIPER LOU]

Sweet!

[Alto Mare]

The reel is fully functional, made from olive tree from Sardegna.

[Tightlines667]

Wow!

Thats pretty cool. 

I wish my grandpa was still around.  He would be capable of producing a fully functional wood big game reel. 

He made a pair of grandfather clocks that were entirely made of wood.

[Gfish]

Where's a olive tree fall in wood hardness spectrum? Seems like it'ed be high up there, esp. if the tree was a real old one.
Gfish

[foakes]

Very high on my hardness chart, Greg --

Harder than exotics like South American Ironwood or Purple Heart.

Ends up being expensive because as a permanent crop for fruit production -- it is seldom available in bulk.

Sometimes branches that are trimmed, old diseased trees, storm damaged trees, are available.

The grain can be straight or wavy -- generally interlocking and very dense.

Wood turners love it because of the way it can be worked -- and how well projects turn out -- for decorative items such as pens, plates, bowls, plaques, nameplates, vases, even custom knife scales.

Pieces are not large or straight enough for lumber construction projects.

I use a lot of American Red or White Oak for projects -- and Olive wood is 2.5 times harder than these, and nearly twice as hard as American Walnut.

Best Always,

Fred