What's it worth? Greenheart anvil stand

[SpineyWarPigs]

Hi everyone, I'm a new member from New Zealand and wondered if someone could shed some light on this for for me?

I have recently purchased two blocks of greenheart timber, off cuts from bridge beams, each measuring 970mm long, 410mm wide and 260mm deep for $500NZD for both blocks. What I would like to know is, is that a fair price or not. Also, is it really greenheart, and how do I tell? As I will be collecting them from the vendor next week.

I have no experience with greenheart, other than the information I've read online.

My plan is to use them to build a large anvil stand in the future.

Does anyone have any insight or information they could share?

Thanks

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Welcome SpineyWarPigs. Fill out your profile so folks will know where you live and a bit about you.

Photos would help a lot.

Greenheart's grain is very tight, and the wood is heavy. Sometimes it has an interlocked grain. The color is somewhat greenish to yellow with some dark stripes. The heartwood is more greenish. Old wood can be weathered/oxidized and not look green anymore. A fresh cut end grain photo as well as a long grain photo would help ID it. It was often used for strong and weather resistant outdoor timbers like bridges, pilings, marinas, and deck timbers. It is native to South America. It is also pressure treated for wet location use.

It certainly would make a good anvil stand.

Interestingly, there is a big international wood company with forest plantings in your country called Greenheart. It grows pine, though.

Fun Fact - Greenheart was used to rebuild the Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey, USA.