Really, really hard wood - how is it cut and formed?

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In the County of the Isles, on Ironwood Island, there grow the Ironwood Trees. Ironwood is close to steel in strength, doesn't take an edge well, and is lighter than steel. The technology level of the Solar Kingdom may be taken to be approximately normal fantasy medieval, although I'm open to variations. Magic is not available, for various reasons (the trees are partly magical, but it's considered a good idea not to mention that).



Anyway, we have a lot of people in Ironville, and more come in seasonally. The island economy is mostly export of ironwood and ironwood products. The town palisade is made of ironwood, which has proven to be a good thing in the past. This is basically what I've committed myself to.



Anyway, people come out and cut down the trees. How? Steel axes aren't all that effective. People do things to it, not with steel knives or adzes or other steel tools. How do they do these things?



I need a way to cut down ironwood trees, cut up the logs and branches, and ideally do some carving.










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    In the County of the Isles, on Ironwood Island, there grow the Ironwood Trees. Ironwood is close to steel in strength, doesn't take an edge well, and is lighter than steel. The technology level of the Solar Kingdom may be taken to be approximately normal fantasy medieval, although I'm open to variations. Magic is not available, for various reasons (the trees are partly magical, but it's considered a good idea not to mention that).



    Anyway, we have a lot of people in Ironville, and more come in seasonally. The island economy is mostly export of ironwood and ironwood products. The town palisade is made of ironwood, which has proven to be a good thing in the past. This is basically what I've committed myself to.



    Anyway, people come out and cut down the trees. How? Steel axes aren't all that effective. People do things to it, not with steel knives or adzes or other steel tools. How do they do these things?



    I need a way to cut down ironwood trees, cut up the logs and branches, and ideally do some carving.










    share|improve this question























      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      In the County of the Isles, on Ironwood Island, there grow the Ironwood Trees. Ironwood is close to steel in strength, doesn't take an edge well, and is lighter than steel. The technology level of the Solar Kingdom may be taken to be approximately normal fantasy medieval, although I'm open to variations. Magic is not available, for various reasons (the trees are partly magical, but it's considered a good idea not to mention that).



      Anyway, we have a lot of people in Ironville, and more come in seasonally. The island economy is mostly export of ironwood and ironwood products. The town palisade is made of ironwood, which has proven to be a good thing in the past. This is basically what I've committed myself to.



      Anyway, people come out and cut down the trees. How? Steel axes aren't all that effective. People do things to it, not with steel knives or adzes or other steel tools. How do they do these things?



      I need a way to cut down ironwood trees, cut up the logs and branches, and ideally do some carving.










      share|improve this question













      In the County of the Isles, on Ironwood Island, there grow the Ironwood Trees. Ironwood is close to steel in strength, doesn't take an edge well, and is lighter than steel. The technology level of the Solar Kingdom may be taken to be approximately normal fantasy medieval, although I'm open to variations. Magic is not available, for various reasons (the trees are partly magical, but it's considered a good idea not to mention that).



      Anyway, we have a lot of people in Ironville, and more come in seasonally. The island economy is mostly export of ironwood and ironwood products. The town palisade is made of ironwood, which has proven to be a good thing in the past. This is basically what I've committed myself to.



      Anyway, people come out and cut down the trees. How? Steel axes aren't all that effective. People do things to it, not with steel knives or adzes or other steel tools. How do they do these things?



      I need a way to cut down ironwood trees, cut up the logs and branches, and ideally do some carving.







      agriculture






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      asked 3 hours ago









      David Thornley

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          3 Answers
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          Fire would work, assuming the tree is still flammable, simple take a large brazier with you, light it. Use it to heat up a metal blade and the blade can then BURN through the wood.



          Burning the wood sufficiently on the surface should also make it carvable.



          Alternativly use the iron wood itself. Preferably the very hardest ironwood available or ironwood that has been further hardened artifically. Kinda like "only a diamond can cut a diamond.



          For very fine work perhaps diamond or ruby tools should be used.






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            2
            down vote














            people come out and cut down the trees. How?




            Quartz sand, water, metal saw and patience.



            Using those above the Egyptians were able to saw granite rocks to make obelisks.



            A blend of water and quartz sand, used to lubricate a saw moving back and forth in contact with the hard material will slowly ablate it, opening a cut in it. Applying the process for long enough, it is possible to cut the tree and also the trunk into planks.






            share|improve this answer



























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              Can your society make water jets, with pressures high enough to cut the ironwood?






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                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes








                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes








                up vote
                2
                down vote













                Fire would work, assuming the tree is still flammable, simple take a large brazier with you, light it. Use it to heat up a metal blade and the blade can then BURN through the wood.



                Burning the wood sufficiently on the surface should also make it carvable.



                Alternativly use the iron wood itself. Preferably the very hardest ironwood available or ironwood that has been further hardened artifically. Kinda like "only a diamond can cut a diamond.



                For very fine work perhaps diamond or ruby tools should be used.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote













                  Fire would work, assuming the tree is still flammable, simple take a large brazier with you, light it. Use it to heat up a metal blade and the blade can then BURN through the wood.



                  Burning the wood sufficiently on the surface should also make it carvable.



                  Alternativly use the iron wood itself. Preferably the very hardest ironwood available or ironwood that has been further hardened artifically. Kinda like "only a diamond can cut a diamond.



                  For very fine work perhaps diamond or ruby tools should be used.






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    Fire would work, assuming the tree is still flammable, simple take a large brazier with you, light it. Use it to heat up a metal blade and the blade can then BURN through the wood.



                    Burning the wood sufficiently on the surface should also make it carvable.



                    Alternativly use the iron wood itself. Preferably the very hardest ironwood available or ironwood that has been further hardened artifically. Kinda like "only a diamond can cut a diamond.



                    For very fine work perhaps diamond or ruby tools should be used.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Fire would work, assuming the tree is still flammable, simple take a large brazier with you, light it. Use it to heat up a metal blade and the blade can then BURN through the wood.



                    Burning the wood sufficiently on the surface should also make it carvable.



                    Alternativly use the iron wood itself. Preferably the very hardest ironwood available or ironwood that has been further hardened artifically. Kinda like "only a diamond can cut a diamond.



                    For very fine work perhaps diamond or ruby tools should be used.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 2 hours ago









                    Ummdustry

                    2,588514




                    2,588514




















                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote














                        people come out and cut down the trees. How?




                        Quartz sand, water, metal saw and patience.



                        Using those above the Egyptians were able to saw granite rocks to make obelisks.



                        A blend of water and quartz sand, used to lubricate a saw moving back and forth in contact with the hard material will slowly ablate it, opening a cut in it. Applying the process for long enough, it is possible to cut the tree and also the trunk into planks.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote














                          people come out and cut down the trees. How?




                          Quartz sand, water, metal saw and patience.



                          Using those above the Egyptians were able to saw granite rocks to make obelisks.



                          A blend of water and quartz sand, used to lubricate a saw moving back and forth in contact with the hard material will slowly ablate it, opening a cut in it. Applying the process for long enough, it is possible to cut the tree and also the trunk into planks.






                          share|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote










                            people come out and cut down the trees. How?




                            Quartz sand, water, metal saw and patience.



                            Using those above the Egyptians were able to saw granite rocks to make obelisks.



                            A blend of water and quartz sand, used to lubricate a saw moving back and forth in contact with the hard material will slowly ablate it, opening a cut in it. Applying the process for long enough, it is possible to cut the tree and also the trunk into planks.






                            share|improve this answer













                            people come out and cut down the trees. How?




                            Quartz sand, water, metal saw and patience.



                            Using those above the Egyptians were able to saw granite rocks to make obelisks.



                            A blend of water and quartz sand, used to lubricate a saw moving back and forth in contact with the hard material will slowly ablate it, opening a cut in it. Applying the process for long enough, it is possible to cut the tree and also the trunk into planks.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 1 hour ago









                            L.Dutch♦

                            62.5k18145293




                            62.5k18145293




















                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote













                                Can your society make water jets, with pressures high enough to cut the ironwood?






                                share|improve this answer
























                                  up vote
                                  0
                                  down vote













                                  Can your society make water jets, with pressures high enough to cut the ironwood?






                                  share|improve this answer






















                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote









                                    Can your society make water jets, with pressures high enough to cut the ironwood?






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    Can your society make water jets, with pressures high enough to cut the ironwood?







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered 18 mins ago









                                    Jasper

                                    2,383924




                                    2,383924



























                                         

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