Is this Cocobolo?

Jesse Smith

Jesse Smith

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Dec 2, 2013
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163
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My brother gave me a bunch of misc wood he's got by trading stuff he cuts on the ranch. He didn't keep track of what a lot of it was. I'm guessing this is cocobolo, but thought I'd run it by y'all before making any claims about it.
 
I highly doubt it. The ray figure on the quarter sawn side and the landscape pattern endgrain both SCREAM ziricote to me.

It could be some minor rosewoods. Sand it down a little, what does it smell like?
 
It didn't smell strong enough to notice what it smelled like when I was cutting and sanding it.
 
I think the 2nd pic down looks very much like cocobolo. As for the endgrain pattern, I've got some cocobolo I cut down years ago that has whole areas with little repeating clouds like that. Most Zircote I've seen or had had a lot of gray in it. But yeah, I agree, sand it and see if you get that cinnamon smell.
 
Not Cocobolo then. While the pattern is a bit of a toss up, you would have gotten smacked with an unmistakable spicy scent if it was cocobolo. The lighter pores also tell me zircote. Cocobolo has far fewer light colored pores.
 
I would not think it was cocobolo.

The way to tell what it is, is to cut it lengthwise. Cut 1/4" off two adjoining sides and post a photo. That will be the best way to know what it looks like inside.
 
Looks like what I call "Bolivian rosewood" but as Ben informed me a while back it's actually called something else.
 
Sure doesn't look like cocobolo to me, I think that is black walnut with some sapwood poking out on the corner.

Measure the block to calculate the volume and weigh it to get the density, that will help narrow things down.
 
I didn't want to scrafice enough wood to cut a 1/4" from two adjoining sides, but here is the inside of two scales I cut from one side...

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These scales were cut from the side facing the bottom edge of the first picture in the original post. If that makes sense. They are sanded with 80 grit on the disc sander.

I tried sanding and smelled nothing at all, but it's like 30 °F in my shop and I have a lousy sense of smell most of the time. I tried sanding a little end grain on a couple of blocks that are actually labeled Cocobolo, and I could small something but didn't seem like a strong smell to me.

I forgot to take measurements and calculate the volume/density.
 
Yep. 100% ziricote. Its a nice wood. Some info from an piece i wrote before

Its a tad on the softer side of exotics, on par with something like east indian rosewood. The color gets MUCH darker when oil or other finish is applied, if you want to keep more of the pattern, use a little bit of carnuba or other wax instead of an oil finish. There is not a ton of toxicity associated with the cordia family "famile includes Bocote, ziricote and Freijo" but a mask would still be a good idea.

Over all, nice find! Will make some fine handles.
 
Thanks for the help everyone!

And Green Berg, thanks for the tip on the finish. I would have assumed it just got glossy and more beautiful with a regular finish. I'll do some test samples before I do the actual scales.

Thanks again for everyone's time!
 
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