Desert Ironwood Burl??

W

Will Leavitt

Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
3,953
I'm looking for a block or two of desert ironwood burl. Any suggestions on a supplier, everything I've seen is boring. Yes I know it's hard to get now.
 
I've had good luck with the Ironwood from Texas Knifemaker's Supply. If you're looking for burl, get their Exhibition Grade 2 blocks. I've had a couple of really nice looking pieces from there, but it's pricey (as most ironwood burl will be). Their grade one wood is also good looking, heavily figured, but not much burl. It is luck-of-the-draw, however.

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=587_827_602

Alpha Knife Supply also has some good wood stock with individual pictures.

http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/wood-natural.htm

--nathan
 
Yeah I already looked at AKS... didn't see what I liked :( I guess I could call Jantz and tell them what I want, they've been good in the past about that kind of stuff.... better go sell my truck :p
 
Not to bring up unpleasant details, but desert Ironwood is endangered and protected in the U.S.-any you get will be from Mexico where it is getting rarer as time goes on. If I am not mistaken it is supposed to be reserved to the use of the Seri Indians there for their carvings.

Ironwood grows very slowly, it takes hundreds of years to get to the size where the root burl produces exhibition grade wood.

I refuse to contribute to the inflation of price by continuing to buy it in normal circumstances.
 
Steve, I appreciate the sentiment. My understanding regarding the ban of harvest on Mexican ironwood applies only to federal land and people can continue to harvest the wood on private property. That being said, I obviously don't normally use ironwood, since I'm having to look for a source.

Yeah I looked at Chuck's, none of it really was what I'm looking for. :(
 
Check out
Arizona Ironwood. He usually has some pretty nice pieces
Stan
 
Will, did you talk to Larry from www.galleryhardwoods.com , he doesn't post all the wood he has on his website but he is a great guy to work with, if you e-mail him he is more than helpful to find a piece that you will like...
 
I find it difficult to purchase woods without seeing the actual piece first. I'm lucky, in that I live close enough to Texas KnifeMaker's Supply to go there and pick through their ironwood pieces. The ironwood varies so much in detail, color, etc that I don't know how one would get what they want just by describing their preferences to someone over the phone.

With that said, for me the second best source is e-bay because you can inspect the actual pieces first. The problem with e-bay is that the best pieces can sell for as much as $65 - $70.

Good luck,

Mike L.
 
Gilmer Wood http://www.gilmerwood.com/ sometimes gets some excellent ironwood in. You have to be willing to buy a lot of material, though. If you can handle it, buying a 200# slab is much cheaper than that many knife blocks. You can get a good deal on mill scraps sometimes (I paid about $2 per pound). You have to keep an eye open, the good stuff sells in less than a day.

Phillip
 
Hello Will,

Give Robert a call http://www.arizonaironwood.com/index.htm

He will cut whatever size you need and what ever grade you are looking for.

I have ordered alot from him and never had to send any back because it wasn't good enough.

The last I ordered, about a month ago, was $45 for a set of scales 3/8" x 1 1/2" x 5" of presentation grade burl.

Take care
Charles
 
James Poplin ,at Pop's Knife supply, usually carries some real nice Desert Ironwood,too.

If you can wait until the blade show, you will have your pick of supliers.

Stacy
 
Hey Will check with exotic wood group, I done alot of business with them years ago when I was making pool cues, They good people or where back then, good luck,Charlie
 
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