I'm doing some bonsai display tables out of redwood. Very pretty wood, easy to work, light weight but - SOFT! You can accidently crush the grain with your fingernail.
Now I recall seeing Frank Klausz make a water box for japanese water stones. He used pine. He take a piece of wire, maybe 1/16th inch diameter, set it on the centerline of the bottom of each of the side parts and tap it down into the wood. He then lightly planed that edge. When the sides were tacked to the bottom board and water was added into the box, the crushed grain would swell back to its original size. Since a little of the adjacent wood had been planed off, when it swelled up it acted line an "O ring" seal.
So I'm thinking "If I draw a design in the face of one of these pieces of redwood - say with something like a large ball point pen (I've got jeweler's doming tools
- a steel shaft with a ball on the end ) - and I press hard enough - AND keep the pressure consistent THEN run the board through the planer for a very light cut I SHOULD get a raised design as the wood absorbs moisture from the air (or if I spritz it with water).
Anyone done this sort of thing or am I way outside the box - again?
charlie b