WOW! So may replies! I love your responses. Thank you all! I’ve examined every reply – several suggestions seem quite likely. But the sticking point is specific gravity. I happen to be reading “Understanding Wood” by Hoadley. He has a chart showing the specific gravity of 20 hardwoods and 8 softwoods. Only 3 are higher than .77 – Satinwood at .9, Rosewood at 1.0, and Lignumvitae (?) at 1.22. From other places I know Ebony is .9. The .9 specific gravity for my mystery wood means it is <!—->VERY HEAVY<!—->. This is roughly the size of a 3′ long 2×4 and it weighs 7.5 pounds. That seems really heavy to me! It is also VERY DENSE – there is absolutely no sanding required on the endgrain after cutting without a fancy blade. I do not know of a good wood specific gravity chart. I was pretty careful in my calculations, but… I was WRONG about the wood’s SPECIFIC GRAVITY – the wood SINKS in the tub! —————- ORIGINAL POST BELOW —————————– I’m new to WW and have a wealth of ignorance! I picked up the wood below at a garage sale – the seller didn’t know what the wood was or where it came from. I paid my $1 just because I was impressed by its weight. It is 36″ long and just under 2×4 in cross section. It weighs 7.5# with about 10% moisture content. I calculated the specific gravity at .90 – the same SG as ebony. I cut a slice off the end to expose the end grain and I sanded one side. I did not see any evidence of bleach or a damaged finish in the area with the dramatically lighter area – I can send an additional macro of that area if anyone requests it. The first picture is the overview, the next one gets a little closer to the sanded side, and then I have some macro pictures from the side and of the end grain. I included a penny to give a reference for both size and color. Good luck, geniuses! I am glad to give you a chance to share your wisdom.
Edited 1/22/2006 2:07 pm ET by GDH2
Replies
Anyone else think it looks like ipe?
I'm thinking a Rosewood, something Dalbergia, and possibly Brazilian pre-ban? It's the color, grain pattern and the bit of sapwood that has me leaning this way (plus the weight/density although it seems abit heavy). Just my opinion...Tim
P.S. Specific gravity of Brazilian rosewood is .85, just checked.
Edited 1/19/2006 12:30 am ET by Danceswithwoods
Edited 1/19/2006 1:39 am ET by Danceswithwoods
Maybe Zircote.
GDH2, It looks like jatoba to me. I use the material alot. Its a dense, beautiful, and heavy hardwood commonly known as "Brazilian cherry". It will change color with exposure to uv and takes a good polish with a little sanding. It also has a distinct fragrance. Hope you like it as much as I do....and its relatively cheap too-around $4.80 a board foot on Maui. aloha, mike
I'm thinking Brazilian Rosewood, too. It has the swirls, the color range and sounds like the same density.
Is there any chance of seeing the other side?
The "medium" picture shows some grain feature that makes me pretty sure it's cocobolo, which has the red/orange range and tan/whitish sapwood. And it's heavy and hard.
Try looking up good web pics of cocobolo on lumber seller's sites.
cocobolo, being a daubergia has a smell (rosewood) except it smells like peppers-hot ones. Brazilian cherry is way milder but also dense and heavy. Does that help? aloha, mike
Looks like Mexican Cocobolo to me. End grain looks right, coloring and weight description fits also.
just my guess! LOL:))))
edited to add: If it is Cocobolo be careful as it can be a very allergenic wood. Wear a dust mask when sanding this wood and cover your skin as many people will have skin reactions and problems breathing if inhaled.
MK
Edited 1/19/2006 8:38 am by MiKro
I'd say cocobolo also. whats does it smell like? Cocobolo smell like christmas spice potpourri to me. Ebony is pretty much oderless.
-wes
My 20 year-old son thinks a very small fresh cut smells slightly nutty (my 60 year-old nose finds no scent).
I included another picture because someone stated the view of the sapwood was useful.
yahh....coco
http://www.woodworkerssource.net/Merchant3/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WS&Category_Code=Rosewood_Brazilian
Check out this link...Tim
<My 20 year-old son thinks a very small fresh cut smells slightly nutty (my 60 year-old nose finds no scent).>Probably not cocobolo then. Check out jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) its very available every where now and quite cheap. aloha, mike
Looks a lot like Brazilian rosewood to me. I find a lot of ipe has a greenish tint to it in the fresh cut or sapwood areas.The older I get, the better I was....
I think it means that, as a quote, "Poor planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part".
You got it! LOL:)))
mk
El planeamiento pobre en su parte no constituye una emergencia en mi parte
edited to add: thanks HF I added the quotes, DOH!!!! I'm not all here at times LOL:))))
Edited 1/19/2006 2:57 pm by MiKro
Nope, but HighFigh got it LOL:)))))
mk
Your snapshots look a lot like three pieces of cocobolo I have on my desk. Does it have a spicy fragrance?
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
My guess is a rosewood(true dalbergia). Can't really tell from the photos. My first two guesses would be cocobolo, or kingwood. The sap wood is more on the line of cocobolo, but one photo shows the color to be more like kingwood. In that photo, on the edge, the color looks more on the brown side which is characteristic of aged kingwood. Aged cocobolo tends to be darker.
But maybe my screen isn't showing the true colors
As to the smell, kingwood, cocobolo and other true rosewoods have a sweet smell. So maybe it's neither.
My first impression - like migraine's - is kingwood. At least one of the pics shows a purplish cast that screams out kingwood. But the later pic with the sapwood seems to show some checks that I've never seen in kingwood so who knows?
If you build it he will come.
Brazilian rose wood. Good purchase.....James
Ya' Get that in the petrified forest?
I added this as an edit to the original post, but maybe there are advantages to showing the additional text here also.
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WOW! So may replies! I love your responses. Thank you all!
I've examined every reply - several suggestions seem quite likely. But the sticking point is specific gravity.
I happen to be reading "Understanding Wood" by Hoadley. He has a chart showing the specific gravity of 20 hardwoods and 8 softwoods. Only 3 are higher than .77 - Satinwood at .9, Rosewood at 1.0, and Lignumvitae (?) at 1.22. From other places I know Ebony is .9. The .9 specific gravity for my mystery wood means it is <!---->VERY HEAVY<!---->. This is roughly the size of a 3' long 2x4 and it weighs 7.5 pounds. That seems really heavy to me! It is also VERY DENSE - there is absolutely no sanding required on the endgrain after cutting without a fancy blade. I do not know of a good wood specific gravity chart. I was pretty careful in my calculations, but...
I was WRONG about the wood's SPECIFIC GRAVITY - the wood SINKS in the tub!
a late response, but I agree with the Dalbergia classification. It looks to me like Honduran Rosewood, or Brazilian, but there is a bit more pink in it than Brazilian tends to have. The Honduran rosewood I have worked with smells a little like some type of herbal tea - with a bit of sweet mixed in there. If you have ever smell Brazilian rosewood, you will never forget it. Cheers,
Konrad
Looks like some pieces of wood I have that I have used for some handplanes. I think it is Cocobolo.
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