Name this wood...

[Dan Friedrichs]

My regular hardwood supplier (Paxton's in Denver) was apparently cleaning out the shop or something, because they had a big pile of "Assorted hardwoods" for $1/bf. I got a 8/4 piece of this (7bf). Any idea what it is?

[Eduard Nemirovsky]

Could be a Cedar?

[Dan Friedrichs]

I don't think cedar. It has no real smell (I resawed those boards in the picture). It is also quite dense - about twice the weight/vol of red oak.

[David Christopher]

maybe tulip wood

[Ron Kellison]

If I had to guess without being able to see the wood up close I would say 1) African mahogany 2) red gum or 3) tupelo (tulip). Regardless, if it's thick enough to resaw it would make some exceptional panels!

Regards,

Ron

[Jim Foster]

Is it Koa?

[Dan Friedrichs]

If I had to guess without being able to see the wood up close I would say 1) African mahogany 2) red gum or 3) tupelo (tulip). Regardless, if it's thick enough to resaw it would make some exceptional panels!

Regards,

Ron


Thanks, Ron. My first guess was african mahogany, but I wanted to see what some other folks came up with, too. It could definitely be one of the other species suggested, but african mahogany is the only species that's been suggested that is regularly sold by this store, so I'm inclined to think this piece was just separated from its kin and sold for way-too-cheap.

I was actually just going to turn it into some picture frames LOML wanted, but after seeing how it looks after being resawn and planed, I almost can't bring myself to rip it down.. :confused:

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Dan, do you have a piece of walnut you could put beside for a comparison, just out of curiosity.

[Alex Shanku]

I, too, would say gum.


http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/gum/gum,%20red%20crotch%20veneer%201%20web.jpg

**Image from http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/gum.htm **

[Todd Burch]

Might be gum. Might be elm. Might be tulip. Might be Cedar elm, depending on what part of the country you are in.

I'd bet elm.

[Danny Hamsley]

It is figured like heart red gum (sweetgum).

[Peter Quinn]

Man, I'm stumped. I was thinking African Mahogany from the pictures, but its a rare piece of African Mahogany that is heavier or denser than oak. And it has a distinct smell like burnt cinnamon when cut. Given your description as very dense and heavier than oak by twice, I'm thinking cumaru because it has similar grain and is quite dense/heavy, but that has a rather distinct smell like mild horse manure. If I had it in my hands I could identify those two species for sure, but its tough from a picture.

Does it smell vaguely like horse manure when cut?

[Jim Foster]

Is it Mesquite?

[Michael Boyle]

I believe I am going to have to go with African mahogany as well. At first I thought it was Tulip Wood, but since there was no real odor when you re-sawed it, I don't believe that is it. Whatever it is, it is certainly beautiful looking.

[Dan Friedrichs]

Wow - great ideas. I went to look for a piece of Walnut to put beside it for steve, but I can't find any.

I also cut it a few more times to see if I could detect either a cinnamon or manure odor from it, but alas - no real smell at all.

I think this is just a very unusual piece - I suspect Paxton's put it in the scrap/cheap pile because it's short and badly checked. The only species that's been suggested that Paxton's carries is African Mahogany, so I'm tempted to go with that.

This piece was also the most reactive board I've ever seen. The 24" long piece I resawed cuped 1/4" at the center after being planed last night. I tried to rip it but barely got 1" past the table saw blade before it was pinching and smoking.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys! Mystery wood is fun :) I just wish I knew the correct answer and could declare a "winner" :)

[Jeff Willard]

Does look like gum, but the weight doesn't jive. If it is, in fact, twice the weight of red oak, I'm thinking canarywood. Canary does have a distinct aroma when machined though. At least all that I've ever worked has. But it's like pornography, I can't define it, but I know it when I see, er, smell :eek: it.

BTW, if it does turn out to be sweetgum, be careful with it. Sweetgum loves to move.

[John Keeton]

This piece was also the most reactive board I've ever seen. The 24" long piece I resawed cuped 1/4" at the center after being planed last night. I tried to rip it but barely got 1" past the table saw blade before it was pinching and smoking.At that point, the correct species for me would be "common firewood."

Although I have no knowledge of exotics, and have never worked with them. When I run across a board that is reactive, I toss it in the burn pile. That kind of wood will follow you all the way through a project and create problems at every level. With all of the labor that goes into a project, it is a shame to let one board jeopardize a project.

Unfortunately, regardless of the price, regardless of the look, I would trash it - unless, you have some way of containing it in a setting in which movement would never be an issue.

[Danny Hamsley]

This piece was also the most reactive board I've ever seen. The 24" long piece I resawed cuped 1/4" at the center after being planed last night. I tried to rip it but barely got 1" past the table saw blade before it was pinching and smoking.

:)

It might not be sweetgum, but it sure acts like it!

[Peter Quinn]

"I was actually just going to turn it into some picture frames LOML wanted, but after seeing how it looks after being resawn and planed, I almost can't bring myself to rip it down.. "

I'll tell you Dan, first look I got at that grain, and I'm thinking regardless of species, ripping it down is going to be dangerous and futile. I've yet to cut anything with those kind of switchbacks and turns that didn't go wild when ripped. Enjoy that but be careful.

[Dan Friedrichs]

"I was actually just going to turn it into some picture frames LOML wanted, but after seeing how it looks after being resawn and planed, I almost can't bring myself to rip it down.. "

I'll tell you Dan, first look I got at that grain, and I'm thinking regardless of species, ripping it down is going to be dangerous and futile. I've yet to cut anything with those kind of switchbacks and turns that didn't go wild when ripped. Enjoy that but be careful.

You are absolutely right. I tried ripping it once on the TS, and it pinched the blade immediately. I couldn't bare to take John's advice and toss it, so I ripped it on the bandsaw. Turned out OK.