anyone know what azobe is? any tips on using it for handles?

B

Bart student

Joined
Nov 17, 1999
Messages
676
Hello Folks,

I have a large quantity of a very hard wood.
Problem is i don't know what it is in american terms.
Lemme describe it :
In the netherlands they use it for dams and walls of channels for water because it lasts indefinetley under moist conditions, it sinks like a brick in water, plain brown, rough grain and a VERY steady pattern. We call it azobé or bongossi, and it is the hardest stuff I ever used.
Now, what do you call this stuff in American knife terms?
I can E-mail you some bad scans if you wanna see the grain figure.

greetz and thanks in advance, bart.

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"If the world wouldn't SUCK, we'd all fall off !
You can E-mail me at bart.weijs@student.kuleuven.ac.be any
time....guaranteed reply !


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I think what you have might be lignum vitae. It's harder then a woodpeckers lips and won't float.
Tom
 
Not lignum, that stuff is buttery tan when cut them mellows to a green patina, he said it was brown. Also it is most likely a local wood, lignum would be very costly to import for that purpose.

Have not got the foggest clue what it might be.

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R.W.Clark

Proud Member : California Knifemakers Association
 
Thanks for the replies folks.

comments: 1. It is not a local wood but a specially imported wood for it's waterresistance.
2. it does not have a Greenish shine, just dark brown and very hard and waxy feel to it.

Greetz, bart.

------------------
"If the world wouldn't SUCK, we'd all fall off !
You can E-mail me at bart.weijs@student.kuleuven.ac.be any
time....guaranteed reply !


Member of the BKS

<A HREF="http://www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~m9710483/index.html" TARGET=_blank>My
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If you can find out the Latin (proper) name for it, I can look it up. Or do you know where it was imported from?

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R.W.Clark

Proud Member : California Knifemakers Association
 
I have some "Iron Bark" It came from Alaska and is used on the bottom of boats to slide over logs and iceburgs. It is as you described in color and texture. It isnt very figurative but is harder than the hubs of hell. I have never put any on a knife. Bruce B
 
O.K. It comes from westren africa and is a name for several woodsorts, usually the hardest of the region (like ironwood). It varies from it's region of origin, names i could find for it: Azobé, Bongossi and ekki.
It has a brownpurple shine to it, and it is as noted, friggin' hard
biggrin.gif

That and the fact that it's used in waterworks a lot says my knifeencyclopedia.. but no american name for it.

Oh.. it makes very long splinters which are extremely sharp and tough...just found out (ouch ! ). splinter that jumped off the side was 1/10 inch at thickest, 3 inch long and tapering both ways. It kinda reminds me of G-10 when working it.

I can send ya folks samples if you like (no 500 mails at once please). Or larger pieces, just lemme know.

Greetz, bart.

------------------
"If the world wouldn't SUCK, we'd all fall off !
You can E-mail me at bart.weijs@student.kuleuven.ac.be any
time....guaranteed reply !


Member of the BKS

<A HREF="http://www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~m9710483/index.html" TARGET=_blank>My
knife-page</A>

[This message has been edited by Bart student (edited 06-01-2001).]
 
Bart,
That should be enough to go on. Give me a couple days. I'll contact my local expert (national expert, but local to me), and pass everything on to him. Doubt he will even have to think hard. I will let you know what I find out.


------------------
R.W.Clark

Proud Member : California Knifemakers Association
 
Here is what I found. Given that it is somewhat unstable in use, I probably would not use it on a knife handle. It would probably swell and shrink over time and look bad or come off. Jeff

Species: Lophira alata

Common Names:
Aba
Akoga
Azobe
Bakundu
Bankile
Bongossi
Bonkole
Eba
Ekki
Endwi
Esore
Hendui
Kaku
Ozobe

Regions of Origin:
Africa

Countries of Origin:
Cameroon
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Congo
Gabon
Sierra Leone
Nigeria
Equatorial Guinea
Liberia
Zaire

Tree Data: The tree is reported to reach heights of 160 feet (49 m), with trunk diameters of 60 inches (150 cm) or more. Boles are unbuttressed but may have a swollen base, and they produce straight, clear boles that are sometimes 100 feet (30 m) long.

Sapwood Color: The wide sapwood is pale pink in color, and is well demarcated from the heartwood.

Heartwood Color: The heartwood is dark red or deep chocolate brown, sometimes with purple highlights.

Grain: The grain is usually interlocked, which yields a ribbon figure on radial surfaces. Conspicuous white deposits in pores, give tangential surfaces a speckled appearance.

Texture: Texture is usually coarse and uneven.

Odor: There is no characteristic odor or taste.

Natural Durability: The heartwood is reported to be very resistant to decay. It is moderately resistant to termite attack in West Africa, and resistant to teredo attack.

Weathering Characteristics: Ekki is reported to have very good weathering characteristics, and is also resistant to acids.

Resistance to Impregnation: The heartwood is reported to be extremely resistant to impregnation. The sapwood is resistant.

Blunting Effect: The wood is reported to exert severe blunting effect on cutters. Edges must be kept sharp. (Sharpness angle 40-45 degrees obtained by reducing the cutting angle, clearance angle, or both).

Boring: The wood tends to char during boring. Timber should be held firmly during boring operations to prevent chatter.

Carving: The timber is very difficult to work with hand tools and has severe blunting effect on cutting edges.

Cutting Resistance: Narrow bandsawing is rated as satisfactory. The woods saws comparatively well, considering its hardness and high density. Timber should be held firmly to prevent chatter.

Gluing: Gluing properties are reported to be variable but are generally rated as satisfactory.

Luster: Luster is described as low.

Movement in Service: The timber is reported to have very poor stability, and tends to change dimension considerably in response to changes in atmospheric conditions.

Nailing: Pre-boring is necessary before nailing.

Polishing: Polishing characteristics are reported to be good.

Response to Hand Tools: The timber is very difficult to work with hand tools and has severe blunting effect on cutters.

Sanding: The wood is reported to dress to a smooth finish.

Staining: The wood is reported to stain satisfactorily.

Drying Defects: The wood is extremely refractory. Severe splitting and possible distortion, surface checking, and end-splitting may occur during drying. It is suggested that the wood be piled very carefully.

Specific Gravity: 1.02
Weight: 65 lbs/ft3 1042 kg/cm3

[This message has been edited by jeffj (edited 06-01-2001).]
 
Thanks Jeff, no need to repeat the same stuff. Saved me the typing.

------------------
R.W.Clark

Proud Member : California Knifemakers Association
 
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