Olive tree wood strips
Olive tree wood: a kind of wood that we haven’t made the most of, while it is one of the finest kinds of wood on earth.I should point out that it is a rough kind of wood, rigid and heavy, with approximately 95% density and it belongs to the kinds of wood that do not sink in water. It is not easy to dry, while it is very easy to crack when fresh.
However, every problem has its solution.
With the right drying and the proper process, it can become a work of art. Every object to be made will be a unique item, with its own colors, with its own touch. The olive tree wood has got distinctive qualities, a fine tone quality and amazing colors.
What you should bear in mind in order to achieve the best possible outcome in making a musical instrument is simple, but essential.
The wood should be cut in the right season (during the waning crescent of the moon and, if possible, in January), have proper drying (natural or artificial), its moisture should not exceed 8% during process, be carefully selected, the colors should be meticulously chosen and you should have a lot of patience when you do the concaving of the body strings (dougies). Like in every kind of wood, we use fish glue to bond the strips together.
I strongly believe that the result will be a rewarding one, when you hold a musical instrument that the older it gets, the better it becomes –like the old wine, as we are used to saying in Crete.
If you will allow me, a final tip: do not attempt to use the wood while fresh. You will be disappointed and you will have wasted your time and effort.
