Little project I'm working on will have a pendulum attached to an axle, the axle will go through either a bearing or bushing (haven't decided yet) and I need to choose a material for that axle. It will be about 1/4 - 3/8 diameter, about 1 - 1.5" long, must be solid, rigid, chip resistant, light colored, and the end needs to be attractive because it will be visible. The material doesn't have to be especially hard or wear resistant as the finished piece will not move much, 99% of the time it will just be supporting the pendulum.
My first thought was wood but almost everything else is wood and I'd like to use something else.
Ivory would be perfect if I had or could get some.
Considered antler but I don't think the end 'grain' would be very attractive.
Bone would be excellent and I have some, just not sure I have a thick enough piece by the time it's turned.
I don't want to use metal for various reasons.
Any more materials I've overlooked?
My first thought was wood but almost everything else is wood and I'd like to use something else.
Ivory would be perfect if I had or could get some.
Considered antler but I don't think the end 'grain' would be very attractive.
Bone would be excellent and I have some, just not sure I have a thick enough piece by the time it's turned.
I don't want to use metal for various reasons.
Any more materials I've overlooked?