Another WOOD ID Help Inquiry

RayseM

RayseM

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Feb 18, 2010
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After some time on the WOOD DATA Base website and studying my Bruce Hoadley books and my GUIDE to USEFUL WOODS OF THE WORLD, I cry UNCLE and ask you guys for help if you can.

I have 2 knowns and one unknown here in this group. Looking to fill in the ?? marks with a name. Thank you for your help.

These 3 samples are of the face grain all freshly milled.

View attachment 1616728

The mystery wood has all the density, hardness, weight characteristics of IPE but the yellow, red and even black streaking leave me wondering. From photos - Burma Paduak is too red, Afrormosia is to much looking like teak which this is certainly not.

Here is a close up that really shows up the color variations. The end grain pores are tiny and even.

View attachment 1616729

I believe this will make incredible knife handles though will take courage and sharp tools to mill. ;) I have not worked with it enough to detect any odor.

Any ideas? Please & thank you.
 
I was leaning that way too though it doesn't look like any other boards in my shop. However further research reveals this info and photo from the WOOD ASSITANT Database that pretty much makes IPE the conclusive ID.

"Ipe wood can vary in color between yellow, darker blackish and reddish brown hues , and in some cases, it can even it can showcase contrasting darker brown/black stripes or powdery yellow deposits within the wood structure."

And this photo which looks a bit more like my ?? photo than my IPE photo.


View attachment 1617017
 
I am almost sure they are all Ipe. I have worked with Brazillian ipe cutters before, and what i sold as Ipe in the US covers abour 25 different woods, some arent even in the same genus. The amazon rainforest is huge, and incredibly diverse, and a lot of trees look really, really similar. What is their exact genetic identification? The world may never know. But all 3 were almost certainly brought into the US under the label of Ipe.

I highly doubt the one piece you have labeled Greenheart is, as Greenheart warps and twists and cracks like no ones business and has a different grain pattern than that.
 
Thanks for the replies all . I think IPE now too. And Greenberg Woods Greenberg Woods , that is very old green heart that came from the boat yards years (30+) ago. They were using bigger sections for launching skids. I ended up with half dozen planks well seasoned now. Some did go all crazy but some sections were beautiful. You are only seeing a small section of it but I'm confident it is greenheart. "The world may need know." ;)
 
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