Any idea what this wood is?

L4NE4

L4NE4

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Aug 24, 2011
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I have six pieces, two a each, of wood that was given to me awhile ago and I have no idea what it is. Anyone know what they could be? Do I need to do anything to them before I start making handles with them?

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They are all about the same weight, not heavy and all seem hard. Ill go check again for a better details description.
 
Top one might be osage based on color and the worm holes. You can try to press your thumbnail into them to see if you can make an indent to get an idea of how hard or soft the wood is. I'm just throwing a guess out there though, I'm no expert on identifying wood by any stretch!
 
I dont think so. The pores are to closely centered around the latewood. Osange has pretty diffused pores
 
To be frank and honest, guessing wood types from average quality photos is nearly impossible. The purpleheart ( amaranth) is the only one likely to be identified accurately.

The colors look a bit off, maybe the camera and color balance.

If I was to guess:
1) Birch, perhaps Massur?
2) Could be many things - Old growth redwoodaybe persimmon, or maple?
3) Purpleheart
 
What is the best way to determine what they are? I am interested in using them for handle but want to make sure they are a good material to use before putting the work in.
 
L4NE4 said:
What is the best way to determine what they are? I am interested in using them for handle but want to make sure they are a good material to use before putting the work in.
Click to expand...

If you really need to know, the book "identifying wood" teaches you how to take a magnifying lens and look at cell structure to determine what it is.
Will it work for a knife handle? I would test the softness with my fingernail and if it dented easy I would pass
 
With the reddish one, if you sand the surface and the fresh wood is purpleish I would say purpleheart, if reddish I would guess padouk.
The one with the voids looks similar to some of the oregon black oak we get here. At least we get those colors, voids and grain patterns.
The third I have seen before but don't remember.

If the main concern is usability for handle material;
pressing hard with your thumbnail will tell you if the wood is prone to getting marked up over time.
Other than that, if you like it use it.
 
Is there one that would be worth more then the other? I dont want to mess up some good slabs on my first try.
 
That looks too smooth to be purpleheart. I have some of it at home, and after a couple of years of sitting, there are white lines/veins in the grain. Purpleheart is also very dense and hard, one would notice a significant weight difference between it and other softer woods of the same shape/size. If you can dent it w/a thumbnail, it certainly isn't purpleheart. Very nice looking wood regardless.
 
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