Is this Rosewood?

[David Bolson]

So, I might be in a "you suck" situation, but I'm not sure.

There's a store about to go out of business near by and a friend is the store's lawyer. I took a look and there was a pile of lumber that the owner told me was Rosewood and he gave me a good enough price that it was worth it to take even if it wasn't. I took about 60 board feet but there's more left. Is this Rosewood, and if so, any idea what kind? The owner told me that it was very hard and very heavy, makes a pink dust when cut and that I neded to be sure to wear a mask. The pictures I took were both in daylight and inside so the colors may not be true. I wet the wood in the last two pictures and the last picture shows the end grain. Thanks for any help.

David

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[Gustav Gabor]

Hard to say for sure, but looks a lot like Bubinga to me.

[Charles Coolidge]

Need a better (clean cut) shot of the end grain but could be east Indian Rosewood. Agree with Gustav at least the figured piece is something Bubinga is known for.

[Jim Becker]

Hard to say for sure, but looks a lot like Bubinga to me.
You beat me to it...that was my immediate thought!!

[Robert L Stewart]

Another vote for Bubinga here

[Andrew Hughes]

I’m seriously allergic to Bubinga. Your friend was wise to suggest a mask until you find out if your sensitive to the wood.

[David Bolson]

Looking at pictures on the net, I think you guys might be right. The wood was on an upper level in a dark back corner, only accessible with a ladder, probably sitting there for over 30 years. It was marked Rosewood.

But now, my friend told me he just talked to the owner again. Now the owner said that he thinks that it's Bloodwood. Looking at pictures on the net, I suppose that's possible, too. Does it matter?

[David Bolson]

Took a couple more pictures at home on the garage floor. They're overlapping so you can't see the full width (between 12-18"), and they're about 9' long. The board on the left looks different than the others. More brown and different grain. I'm going to go along with Bubinga, at least for all but the one on the left. The paper was there to help set the white balance.

Whatever it is, I like it. I may go get some more.

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[John K Jordan]

Took a couple more pictures at home on the garage floor. They're overlapping so you can't see the full width (between 12-18"), and they're about 9' long. The board on the left looks different than the others. More brown and different grain. I'm going to go along with Bubinga, at least for all but the one on the left. The paper was there to help set the white balance.

Whatever it is, I like it. I may go get some more.

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This is one of the best web sites I know to see the wide variation in colors and figure in various woods. This is the page for Bubinga if you want to check:
http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/bubinga.htm

Best to use a razor blade on the end grain and look at it with a microscope. Section 7 on this page has instructions:
https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-identification-guide/
You can also send a sample to the US gov lab for free id - details at the bottom of the page.

Another thing which can eliminate some candidates: cut a piece, measure carefully, and weigh. If the density is significantly different from the reported density of a candidate wood, consider looking at other possibilities.

Best thing, if you can, is to show some pieces to someone with experience in various species. The color, look of the grain, the feel, and even the smell can help with the ID.

JKJ

[roger wiegand]

If the price is right I'd take it all home and figure it out later. Looks pretty whatever it is!

Hoadley's "Identifying Wood" is my go-to resource.

(this attitude may explain the size of my wood pile)

[David Bolson]

Thank you, John. Hobbit house is an outstanding resource. Looking at their examples, I’m more convinced that I have Bubinga.

Roger, the price was under $5/board foot. I should get more, I think, but I too am building a wood pile that I don’t know when I’ll get through.

[John K Jordan]

Thank you, John. Hobbit house is an outstanding resource. Looking at their examples, I’m more convinced that I have Bubinga.

Roger, the price was under $5/board foot. I should get more, I think, but I too am building a wood pile that I don’t know when I’ll get through.

If it's Bubinga that's a good price. Most want over $15 per bd ft, higher if it's thicker than 4/4. It's getting harder to find too.

[Gustav Gabor]

Took a couple more pictures at home on the garage floor. They're overlapping so you can't see the full width (between 12-18"), and they're about 9' long. The board on the left looks different than the others. More brown and different grain. I'm going to go along with Bubinga, at least for all but the one on the left. The paper was there to help set the white balance.

Whatever it is, I like it. I may go get some more.

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I would say the brown board on the left is also Bubinga, but that one is flat cut and has been exposed to the sun for a number of decades so the color has faded from the surface. I'm guessing it'll be pink-ish when you plane the face down a bit.
The board on the far right under that paper kind of looks like Makore. Somewhat similar to the figure of Bubinga, but generally a nice medium brown color.
But it could also be more Bubinga that has oxidized a bit.

If I had the opportunity to buy Bubinga of that quality and dimensions for $5 bucks a board foot, I'd most definitely buy everything he has.
Some things only come around once ..... this is one of them.

[Jim Becker]

I’m seriously allergic to Bubinga. Your friend was wise to suggest a mask until you find out if your sensitive to the wood.
Ditto...I did exactly one project with it and will never use it again, despite my admiration of its beauty.

[Patrick Kane]

I would say the brown board on the left is also Bubinga, but that one is flat cut and has been exposed to the sun for a number of decades so the color has faded from the surface. I'm guessing it'll be pink-ish when you plane the face down a bit.
The board on the far right under that paper kind of looks like Makore. Somewhat similar to the figure of Bubinga, but generally a nice medium brown color.
But it could also be more Bubinga that has oxidized a bit.

If I had the opportunity to buy Bubinga of that quality and dimensions for $5 bucks a board foot, I'd most definitely buy everything he has.
Some things only come around once ..... this is one of them.

Second this. I think Bubinga made it onto the CITES list, which will make it harder to acquire. Im selling air dried walnut for $5 bdft right now, 8+" wide figured bubinga is easily 2-4x what hes asking. Go buy it all, and if you arent going to use it then sell it to someone who will for $10 bdft.

[Mike Henderson]

No matter what it is, if the price is good, I'd buy it. Bloodwood is pretty heavy, much heavier than most other woods.

My first impression was also bubinga.

If you can't figure out what is it, call it "wonder wood" - I wonder what it is.

Mike

[Rob Damon]

Not bloodwood. I have some bloodwood and that is not it.
I have a couple pieces of bubinga and it is a close match. Also bubinga is referred to as African “rosewood” which may be why the seller referred to it as rosewood.
I have a collection of over 90 species of wood and it hits closer to bubinga.

[Mel Fulks]

Bing says, “Yess...bub,bub, binga !” I’ve found people don’t like the name ,and it certainly can not compete with “rosewood” .

[John K Jordan]

...I’ve found people don’t like the name ,and it certainly can not compete with “rosewood” .

Had visitors a few years ago and while making a custom "magic" wand for a young lad his mother was looking at pieces of wood. She picked up a piece of Bubinga and when I told her what it was she said that might be a good name for an animal. Yes! I loved it and immediately named my new 1-month-old llama Bubinga, The name kind of rolls off the tongue with a ring, imagine a sing-song Bub-BING-ga. I do sometimes call him BubBub (but NEVER Bubba!) I don't think calling him "Rosewood" would have the same ring. :)

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Bubinga is my best "PR" llama, gentle, intelligent, and well behaved. He's been to numerous events: schools, churches, nursing homes, Christmas parades, and charity fund raisers. He has been in several TV commercials both in the studio and outdoors:

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JKJ

[Ben Grefe]

I’ve got a guy out here in WA that sells that stuff. In certain parts of Asia they use it for pallets and he somehow got a massive supply of it many years ago. The stuff is hard as nails, the wavy grain is hell on knives and tears out like crazy. Pretty stuff once you figure out how to work on it.

[Mel Fulks]

Ben’s comment applies to many imported goods. In South Africa the natives have never found diamonds real useful. But I remember reading
that the natives were glad to be employed in finding them . They would walk shoulder to shoulder ,each employee wearing a rope around
neck holding a bucket. When one of them saw a diamond the line would halt for the stone to be picked and bucketed. A grade school memory
of mine.