A New Exotic Wood... Aka "Piano Wood"

[James Combs]

I went on a mission trip last fall with some friends to Cumberland Maryland. We were there to help a sister church put up a retaining wall and do some work inside the church. One item inside the church was to remove an old upright piano from the basement. We had to destroy it to get it out. I got to keep the wood from it. I have made a couple of pens from some birdseye Maple:D I found in it and there are some other nice pieces. Even a little bit of old cherry. Most of it was veneered poplar, however I am curious about some structural columns that were veneered with 1/8" Maple. The wood doesn't look like anything I have seen before but I am guessing that it is fir.:confused: Take a look and give me your opinion.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/album.php?albumid=309

[Bill Bolen]

The cross grain looks like some sort of fir...pine maybe? ..Bill...

[Ray Bell]

Very nice, I wonder if my wife would object to me tearing up the dining room table, or maybe the entertainment center. Might be some really nice pen wood in there;)

[Nathan Hawkes]

Soundboards in (good) pianos are usually made of spruce, I believe.

[Nathan Hawkes]

Looked at the link. Doesn't look like spruce, and it obviously wasn't the soundboard. I'd guess fir as well, but my experience is pretty limited. Whatever you do, don't waste it. That is some tight grained old growth stuff there.

[Andrew Kertesz]

What were the keys made of? Even if they were ivory veneer it would make some nice inlays in some pens.

[James Combs]

Not to worry. There is no such thing as wasted wood in my shop.:)


Looked at the link. Doesn't look like spruce, and it obviously wasn't the soundboard. I'd guess fir as well, but my experience is pretty limited. Whatever you do, don't waste it. That is some tight grained old growth stuff there.

[Roland Martin]

My best guess would be fir also.

[James Combs]

I don't know ivory from soap. However, I have been thinking the same thing as far as a pen inlay. I only kept maybe half a dozen, never thought about using the ivory at the time just kept some for the sake of keeping it. The white keys have a grain to them. Probably not plastic that early in the century. I will try to burn a flake of one and see what I get.


What were the keys made of? Even if they were ivory veneer it would make some nice inlays in some pens.

[kenneth walker]

The black keys should be Ebony.

[John Keeton]

JD, the white keys could be cellulose. It has a grain similar to ivory, but doesn't yellow as much as ivory does. Many of the older pianos/organs had cellulose.

[Brian George]

The way you can tell if it is real ivory is to touch it to a flame. Rel ivory does not burn, just gets smokey. I brought back an ivory carving from Africa many years ago and someone told that's how to test. It does work.

[charlie knighton]

James, thanks for sharing and for the ideas!!!!!

[James Combs]

I believe you are right on the black keys. They kind of chuck out like hard candy (not as easily) if you break one.


The black keys should be Ebony.

[James Combs]

Good possibility on the keys being cellulose because they aren't yellowing. Being that they are nice and white makes them good candidates for pen inlaying or segmentation borders. Will do one and post a pic.


JD, the white keys could be cellulose. It has a grain similar to ivory, but doesn't yellow as much as ivory does. Many of the older pianos/organs had cellulose.

[kenneth walker]

years ago i knew a man that worked on pianos he rekeyed them and I would get all the old ebony and ivory keys I wanted.