Friends –
Like the title says, I can’t figure out what this is. An acquaintance gave me 10-12 pieces, all about 24x4x2 inches. It was left outside and got rained on, so it looked pretty rough when I got it, kind of a muddy brown in the mahogany range. However, when I planed off the oxidation and dirt, what I saw was a very unfamiliar grain pattern, not like any mahogany I’ve ever seen. Also, although it really brightened up after planing, it still feels much rougher than maple, cherry, or mahogany would feel after a dozen passes. I’ll say up front that I’m not any kind of wood expert, but I’ve worked with mahogany and sapele quite a bit, and this doesn’t look like either to me. The attached photo looks very three dimensional, but there are no pits or voids, that’s just the way the wood photographs. Any ideas?
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Veritas Micro-Adjust Wheel Marking Gauge
The adjuster runs through the beam from a small knob at the back end right to the cutting wheel, which moves in and out as you turn the knob. This arrangement works well but makes adjustments a two-handed operation, requiring a little more effort.
Lee Valley Pocket Marking Gauge
With a two-fence, double-ended design, you're able to set two distances on the same gauge. However, the small fences make this tool difficult to hold comfortably and securely against the edge of the work while scribing lines, requiring more focus and effort.
Oliver 12-1/2" Thickness Planer with BYRD Shelix Cutterhead and Wixey DRO
Maximum Stock Width: 12-1/2" Maximum Depth of Cut: 5/64" & 3/64" Maximum Stock Thickness: 6" Minimum Stock Thickness: 5/32" Minimum Stock Length: 5" Dust Port Diameter: 2-1/2" or 4" Feed Speeds: 26 FPM Table Size: 12-1/2" x 10-5/16" Table Size w/Extension Wings: 12-1/2" x 33-3/16" Cutterhead Diameter: 1-7/8" Cutterhead Speed: 10,000
Osmo Polyx-Oil
"If I had to choose one of these hard-wax oils to keep on hand, it would be Osmo Polyx-Oil. It’s relatively affordable and very easy to apply." -Adam Godet
Bumblechutes Bee’Nooba Wax
Ease of Use = Very good Sheen = Very good Appearance = Very good Non-Yellowing = Very good Water/Stain Resistance = Excellent
Replies
It was very tasty, whatever it was. Lots of insect holes.
A wild guess. Cumaru? A tropical hardwood, used on building interiors and exteriors. Dense, tough and splintery.
I work with a lot of African mahogany and this grain looks very similar to that
It also might be Wenge.
Send a sample to the Forestry Service below. It's free, but don't expect Amazon service. Takes several months.
https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/research/centers/woodanatomy/wood_idfactsheet.php#:~:text=Scientific%20wood%20identification%20depends%20primarily%20on%20characteristics%20of,sharp%20knife%20and%20examined%20with%20a%20hand%20lens.
. . . and if you do, circle back and tell us.
Does just looking at it cause splinters to jump off the wood into your hands, then they get really festered? If so, it is probably wenge.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled