Name Your Favorite Wood

[Matt Harildstad]

Pink ivory is useful when you want a more subdued look, less like wood. Of course it is ignorant to work with, easy to burn - even when hand sanding! Not one of my favorites, but it can look good. Here's an example:

 

[Peter Atwood]

Very nice Matt! Keep 'em coming guys.

I'm really regretting that I forgot to include Cocobolo and Snakewood since they are so popular. It is interesting, though not surprising, that Desert Ironwood is pulling such a distinct lead. I'm also surprised that there has been not one vote yet for Padouk Burl but this is probably due more to unfamiliarity with this incredibly beautiful tropical hardwood than anything else.....

I might post this poll again sometime soon but in a different part of the forums and see what a slightly different audience chooses. Thanks to all who have posted so far. As to the rest of you lurkers, don't be bashful, give us a vote!

 

[R.W.Clark]

Sorry that I did not reply sooner, been uder the weather the last couple days.

As posted earlier Pink Ivory can be a real bear. But not anywhere close to snakewood on the bad atitude meter. Just make sure and use fresh belts at very low speed. Here is a photo of one of mine with Curly Pink Ivory. Its beautiful but at close to $8 per cubic inch it is quite costly.

<img src=http://www.imagestation.com/picture/pc513b4c2423a1323214ad1d1555fccf1/fe59920f.jpg.orig.jpg>

Heres another with Curly Pink Ivory
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/pb3c84f23ef2b2f3a8fcf053834b0edb0/fe599384.jpg.orig.jpg

And one with Snakewood. Snakewood seems to burn the same as Pink Ivory but it splits and checks something awful.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/p9d7b473140c437917cc68c813fb55a9f/fe5a0734.jpg.orig.jpg

 

[HermanKnives]

in a lumber yard here in K.C. i have found a load of REdheart that is amazing. its reds and oranges are alot brighter and cleaner that pink ivory and a LOT cheaper. i rarely use wood on knives but it was so beautiful i bought about 10-12 feet in 4-6" wide boards for. i also have 10-15 boards of premium cocobolo i founds 20 years ago. here is a sample ot the redheart, which in my opinion puts pink ivory to shame

 

[Peter Atwood]

Wow Tim, I can't tell which is more beautiful, that wood or your Butt!

Seriously, that's nice wood and I just love that avatar. Maybe you'd consider selling me a piece.....

 

[HermanKnives]

if i knew her i'd buy it all myself sure on the redheart

 

[Robert Marotz]

I like a lot of woods...
of the ones listed in the poll, I like figured maple, amboyna burl, and thuya burl the most (picked maple). I also like ceylon ebony, carob (which was recently introduced to me), honoki, and bloodwood.

Shinryû.

 

[Danbo]

Umm, Tim. That lumber yard in KC wouldnt happen to be Paxons would it? A person can get into some real financial trouble in that store! A couple of weeks ago, I went in there for some super glue gel, and came out with a big chunk of Thuya burl, a piece of Amboyna burl and a couple of round Manzanita burls.

 

[HermanKnives]

nope danbo it was schuettes down on southwest blvd. i havent beent o paxtons for many years.

 

[Steve-O]

Gotta be ironwood!

 

[Dr.Lathe]

This knife is NOT for sale and I'm NOT converting any more of them

Actually, before I cut it up, the wood made a good background! Blackline, burl, crotch grain......all in the same piece !!!!!

MDP,
You will have mail, this afternoon !!

Neil

 

[Terrill]

I have to add another one to the list. "Ringed Gidgea" Steve Filicietti from Australia has been sending me knives with handles of this wood and it is stunning. It looks like a dark walnut with even darken veins running through it. When polished it has a 3-D effect that shows great depth. Add that it is heavy and dense and it turns out a great knife handle.

 

[PENGUIN]

Terrill,
Amen to the Ringed Gidgee - I have a Simonich Talonite Carnivore and a Talonite Pikuni both with Gidgee handles plus a couple Randalls with it and it is super gorgeous & durable - it is extremely dense - as or heavier than Lignum Vitae.

Bill

 

[Peter Atwood]

Just got back from Tom Anderson's Folder-In. Fantastic event!!!!! Really wish more people had shown up but for those of us who did it was an incredible learning experience.

ANyway, there was a large box waiting for me when I got home. Inside were three blocks of wood. Tasmanian Eucalyptus Burl is really neat. Lots of figure but I can't really tell too much until the wax is cleaned off.

The Amboyna Burl is absolutely gorgeous...eyes everywhere.

The prize of the lot is the Padouk Burl. This stuff is so beautiful that I can hardly take my eyes off it. The figure is quite complex from nearly every angle and on all sides. I can't wait to cut into this block!

 

[Bronco]

My favorite wood has to be Natalie.

 

[Terrill]

I have to agree with the last choice but that is a wood that won't float. Sorry but the devil made me say it.

 

[NickWheeler]

I know most of the big dogs don't use wood at all, but to me there are some that are just too cool not to use.

I agree on many of those mentioned so far, and here are a few more.

Spalted Sycamore
Black Ash Burl dyed black
Box Elder Burl in the double dyed colors (WSSI) are amazing
High figure Ziricote
I have a piece of African Blackwood Burl that's stunning
I also have a piece of cocobolo burl, pretty rare
Spalted Myrtlewood burl is awesome

I think I'm just adding some that haven't been mentioned yet, but are definetly beautiful.

Nick

 

[Peter Atwood]

So it looks like Desert Ironwood is the favorite. I guess that's not oo much of a surprise. I will run this poll again at a future time and will plan the selections a little better next time since I still don't think that we got a fair representation of what people really liek the best. I think DI might win again though even if Snakewood and others were on the list. Thanks to everyone who voted!