This wooden basket is a pattern I created several years ago. I wanted to update the pattern with a new picture and clean it up a bit. Of all the projects I make this is one of the most popular with friends and family.
Coffee Bean WoodAnother reason I wanted to cut this project tonight is that I am experimenting with several different domestic hardwoods. One new wood to me is Coffee Bean Wood. I used Coffee Bean for the weave in this basket. The grain pattern looked good to my eye for the weave.
Coffee Bean is known by a few other names depending on the region of the country you live in. Kentucky Mahogany, Coffeetree and Chicot are a few of it's names. The wood has a coarse straight grain. It reminds me a little of Red Oak. I'm not a big fan of Red Oak for fretwork but Coffee Bean cuts easier and does not seem as prone to breaking along the open grain.
Coffee Bean has the same hardness as White Oak. I did notice that the cut created a lot of dust. I did not notice any allergic reaction to the dust like I have with some other domestic woods.
On a scale of 1 to 10. With 1 being "terrible to cut on the scroll saw" I would give Coffee Nut Wood a 7.
