Replies

1. 
   bobhallsr | Nov 25, 2002 09:24am | #1

   Eric, is that the Kentucky Coffee tree (gymnocladus dioica). Peattie says that the wood is "medium-soft, strong, the heartwood rich light brown,tinged with red, the sapwood thin and paler". The wood is durable when in contact with the soil, and was used for fence posts. He also says that it tends to fork near the ground so it is hard to find good saw logs.

   Sounds like it would be good for outdoor furnature. I've never seen it so I'm just going by my books. I'd like to try it. Where did you find it.

   BJ

   Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland
2. 
   jonsherryl | Nov 25, 2002 06:02pm | #2

   Eric, I think Bee Jay has solved the mystery and what you have is Kentucky coffeetree. The plant that produces genuine commercial coffee beans is more of a shrub than a tree, so it isn't a significant timber producer. Its wood is very fine textured, blond to light brown in color and moderately dense. It turns well, but it's pretty bland in appearance.

   On the other hand, Kentucky coffee tree is a very nice cabinet wood and one of the best of the Acacia-like species. It looks very much like koa or mesquite, but it is a little more ring-porous, like honeylocust. Another of its botanically misleading common names is "mountain mahogany", probably pinned on it because of its warm, pinkish tan color and the fine dark flecks in its grain. It shows up in some 19th century Appalachian antiques, but quality logs have never been common enough to make it an important commercial hardwood. For those who've worked with it and appreciate just how good it is, it's one of those woods you're always looking for...And it's a real treat to find it at some of the smaller mills, often shuffled in with other species that are being sold as "mixed hardwoods" for use as pallet and crating stock...A bargain hunter's dream!

3. 
   jonsherryl | Nov 25, 2002 06:33pm | #3

   Eric, just as an afterthought (and I doubt this is what you have), but there is an exotic that sometimes goes by the name of "coffeewood" that is cut from species in the tropical genus; Caesalpinia, native to Latin America...mostly from Mexico south through Venezuela. It comes by this misleading common name due to the wood's dark, almost blackish brown color. It's also known as Mexican ebano, partridgewood, or granadillo and it's used as a specialty turning wood for fancy tool handles or sometimes inlay work...Not a species you'd find at the local sawmill here in temperate North America.

1. 
   Ecbntmkr | Nov 26, 2002 01:53am | #4

   Jon and BJ

   Thanks for your input. What I have is pinkish in color like light cherry natural. The stuff seems to be as a hard as a rock. I'm unable to dent the edge with a thumbnail and it is very dense. I haven't machined it yet because I don't know what I 'm going to make (I said it was an impulse buy). 3 bd ft at $2 a ft. Enough for a small table top with walnut legs.

   Eric

1. 
   Ecbntmkr | Nov 26, 2002 01:58am | #5

   BJ

   I live in WI and there is a mill about 5 miles from where I live. They only carry oak, cherry, ash, maple, walnut, and some pine so this piece didn't fit and I felt it needed a home. I should probably go back and see if anyone bought the other 2 pieces.

   Eric

1. 
   jonsherryl | Nov 26, 2002 03:04am | #6

   Yes Eric, I'd recommend you go back and pick up the other two pieces. I've bought Kentucky coffeetree for less than $2 per board foot, but it's still a good buy at that price.

2. 
   ScottInMadtown | Nov 26, 2002 03:28am | #7

   Where in WI are you?  I'm in Milwaukee.  Do use Kettle Moraine Hardwoods by chance to buy wood from?

   Scott

1. 
   Ecbntmkr | Nov 26, 2002 04:26am | #8

   Scott,

   I'm in Clyman which is 10 miles north of Watertown on Hwy 26. I've never used KMH though I know of them. The mill that I am talking about is Hanson & Leja (the j is pronounced h) hansonleja.com They are north of Watertown about 5 miles. Selection is good. Sometimes have good deals on out of the ordinary pieces. A while back the stack of ash the was 2-1/2" x 3/4" x about 30" that all had a roundover on them. .50 cents a piece.

   Eric