Jeff,
RE: "bought a piece".
It was a gift. I visited Emalino Achaval's shop when we cruised to/through Hawaii in December/January 2017/18. He gave me the wood, told me what it was and said make a box and send him a picture. Being old and on a cruise ship, the brain cell where the wood type was recorded shorted to ground pretty quick. Since he well be demo'ing in Raleigh at the AAW, I thought I would just take it to show him.
I'm pretty sure it is not Koa. Before turning this block was really red (heart) wood with really white (sap) wood. The sap wood was lost in prepping the blank. Turning really changed the color from red to brown.
And, dearly beloved likes the stuff shiny.
Bas,
Lacquer is how I usually keep dearly beloved engaged enough to let me buy more tools. New Jorgy clamps today (2nd set) for my birthday.
Stuart/Mike,
Being an engineer, I have no idea what you mean by, "... something with more defined shapes...", and "...less is more...". Unless you mean a round knob?
All,
I tried to make another finial from the cutoff's from the blank. It was all edge grain and I couldn't keep it from shattering during turning.
I dyed all three finials black. Really does make the spalting come to life. There was some blue spalting right at the top but it faded overnight.
Seems the guys like #3. The women I asked wanted #2.
Thanks all.