Wood ID? Hawaiian Mystery Wood

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A guy who I get Hawaiian woods from sometimes sent me an unusual piece of wood today.
It was a chunk that had been split off of a log with the cut parts showing burn marks from the blade.
The piece was no bigger than 7" x 4" x 5" and felt like I was holding a rock.
The split surfaces were like a washboard so I knew there was something good inside.
In the end I was able to get one small and one normal sized block.
hw001_zpsfc2f8feb.jpg

The block on the scale is about 6&1/2" x 1&5/8" x 1&1/8"
hw003_zps77992b6b.jpg

I don't know what kind of wood this is.
Cutting the wood was tougher than cutting ironwood. It had a spicy smell when I was cutting. Kind of like Ringed Gidgee.

So.....does anyone know what it is?
I left a message on voice mail and am waiting to hear back so I can ask the guy who sent it to me.
 
It came from the big island. That is all I know so far.
Heavier than any narra or amboyna I have ever handled.
 
Phil Dwyer said:
The hardest wood I know in these parts is kiawe. It's rock hard, yet aromatic (used extensively for BQ). Not sure if that's what you've got there though.

http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/hardwoods/exotic_hardwoods/exotic_wood/kiawe_lumber/kiawe_wood.html
Click to expand...

I've never seen Kiawe (aka Mesquite) quilt like that... Come to think of it, I've never seen it curl either, but then again all of my Kiawe usually ends up in the the fire under some meat =D

tattooedfreak said:
Is it not Koa then? Thats what I thought when I first saw it.
Click to expand...
It's got the same color, but again the quilting pattern is unusual, Koa usually curls or "tiger stripes" as one person called it...
 
Just out of curiosity, are there any instances where, due to environmental conditions or other factors, a wood or other substance can, for example, become more dense than it normally is? This probably isn't relevant, but I'm curious.
 
Without too much knowledge of Hawaii's woods I would have said Koa. Color is similar and fancy grain is certainly possible.

Geek , certainly growth conditions are important variables . The more minerals the more color and darker.The faster it grows the lighter [less dense it is].I made furniture of white oak and everybody insists I stained it !!! .It has a beautiful mocha color ! For those who have dealt with gunstocks know that some of the walnut isn't even dense enough to be used while other wood is very dense.
 
Sure looks like koa, curly koa, to me.
There was a thread in the Customs forum that had some very similar looking stuff.
Couldn't find it but HERE'S a thread on the Exchange with one of Charles Vestal's NY Specials with some.

Doug
 
Could it possibly be one of the mahoganies. Color's about right, and mahogany
will stripe like that. The grain is open enough (in the reflection shot on the scale)
to qualify.

What are the units on the scale? The density can be calculated and found on a chart.

Bill
 
I was thinking the same as Bill, a mahogany variant. It looks just like the quarter sawn Ribbon Mahogany, but the density is way off. Does it float?
 
thegeek574 said:
Just out of curiosity, are there any instances where, due to environmental conditions or other factors, a wood or other substance can, for example, become more dense than it normally is? This probably isn't relevant, but I'm curious.
Click to expand...
Yes, with almost every wood there can be a large variance in color and density.

I have cut some Kiawe before but the color was more reddish than amber.
The grain is much coarser than Koa and a gazillion times heavier.

Just guessing from looking at the chunk before I cut it up, I am betting it was a stump section that was split up into chunks.
One surface had some softer rot and the cut ends showed burn marks from the chainsaw blade.

I am keeping these pieces for myself because I like them a lot but I will try to get more whatever this is.
 
Bill Hoffman said:
Could it possibly be one of the mahoganies. Color's about right, and mahogany
will stripe like that. The grain is open enough (in the reflection shot on the scale)
to qualify.What are the units on the scale? The density can be calculated and found on a chart.
Bill
Click to expand...

The units on the scale is ounces. The block is 9.2 oz
Looking at grain structure and figure it is very close to the stabilized block of mahogany Nick used on this fighter.
But the mahogany did not have the spicy smell and was not nearly as heavy as this block.
orig.jpg
 
Phil was correct.
I just got through on the phone to Hawaii. The wood is Kiawe.
I was told it is Hawaii's version of mesquite. Most gets cut up to use for smoking meat.
My guy in Hawaii told me he doesn't cut this type of wood but he got this piece from a friend who does.
When he saw the curl on the exterior he thought I would like it.
Now he is going to keep his eyes open and also have his friend look for the really curly stump pieces.
 
I see it's not a native ! As it has thorns I wonder if it's an Acacia family member ??
 
Burl Source said:
Phil was correct.
Click to expand...
Was that for the win? Do you need my address? ;)

Dang, now Mark's going to come up with some more unbelievable wood.

I went through a period of harvesting kiawe, but NEVER came up with anything that had any figure worth a dang. I was trying to find it in the crotches though. Burned through some chain and saw blades too. Tough as nails. I mean HARD!

That's cool stuff Mark!

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/prosopis/pallida.htm
 
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