Wood question(lignum vitae)

[ANGRYMOB]

I recently returned from a trip to Jamaica and got a piece of Lignum vitae in the natural(large branch with bark)state and was wondering, is it just the heartwood that is suitable for scales or is the sapwood which feels quite hard as well also usable, I saw several carvings using both heartwood and sapwood and the sapwood is quite dense and polishes up wonderfully as the heartwood and the carvings looked great with the two tone quality of heart and sapwood....any wood experts know much about this???

 

[STR]

Both are used. I think some prefer the heart wood because it can get chocolate brown to black and sometimes has some neat grain in it as well. My Whittlejack folder at the bottom of the page is Lignum. It is my favorite wood and really my favorite knife handle material unless I am gluing. Due to the oily nature of lignum it doesn't usually take well to epoxy or glues.

It has a long history of marine use. Toted usually as 'the wood of life' which is what I believe lignum vitae means. It is also toted as being naturally resistant to oils, water, chemicals, and also pretty good at not chipping, fraying or denting real easy.

It is the heavyiest densest wood on the planet at over 80 pounds per cubic foot. It is also said to be the strongest wood. How many other woods can stand up to being made into boat drive shafts for V8 engines?

Other features include a self lubrcating ability which makes it ideal for bushings, it is non toxic so it is safe for food prep knives and utensils and known and loved for being easily polished to a high almost rock like appearance and shine. I have found reference to it being used in the building of boats in primitive times and floors and furnishing for modern sail boats. I'm sure I could go on but that is all that comes to mind off the top of my head.

Hope that helps. You got a good piece most likely. The 1 board foot I bought in Memphis Tenn to use for knife handles cost me $65. Worth every penny though IMO.

 

[robertmegar]

In my native Puerto Rico a variety of lignum vitae is called "ausubo". It is so dense it will sink in water like a rock. It is also very workable because of its oilyness.

 

[misque]

Lignum Vitae also has a somewhat disconcerting habit of darkening fairly quickly in the sun.
I made a planer blade knife and handled it in Lignum, took it out for a couple of days worth of yard work and noticed the exposed part that was sticking out of the pouch sheath was noticeably darker than the sheathed part of the handle.
So I sanded it off till I got even color, polished it all up again and tried a couple of more days of outside work.
Same result after a couple of days outside.
It's a great wood otherwise. And it doesn't look bad after it darkens up somewhat.
Just surprised me a bit at first.

 

[STR]

Yeah I forgot to mention that. I sometimes sit mine out to turn them but still it slipped my mind.

 

[ANGRYMOB]

Both are used. I think some prefer the heart wood because it can get chocolate brown to black and sometimes has some neat grain in it as well. My Whittlejack folder at the bottom of the page is Lignum. It is my favorite wood and really my favorite knife handle material unless I am gluing. Due to the oily nature of lignum it doesn't usually take well to epoxy or glues.

It has a long history of marine use. Toted usually as 'the wood of life' which is what I believe lignum vitae means. It is also toted as being naturally resistant to oils, water, chemicals, and also pretty good at not chipping, fraying or denting real easy.

It is the heavyiest densest wood on the planet at over 80 pounds per cubic foot. It is also said to be the strongest wood. How many other woods can stand up to being made into boat drive shafts for V8 engines?

Other features include a self lubrcating ability which makes it ideal for bushings, it is non toxic so it is safe for food prep knives and utensils and known and loved for being easily polished to a high almost rock like appearance and shine. I have found reference to it being used in the building of boats in primitive times and floors and furnishing for modern sail boats. I'm sure I could go on but that is all that comes to mind off the top of my head.

Hope that helps. You got a good piece most likely. The 1 board foot I bought in Memphis Tenn to use for knife handles cost me $65. Worth every penny though IMO.

Yeah, I bought a piece about 8" in diameter give or take at the bottom and tapering to about 5" at the top with a couple of branches about three feet in length overall, sundried for a year or more for $40.00. Beautiful heartwood and the sapwood has a really neat grain structure that is hard to describe. I guess I should get around 20 or 30 sets of scales

 

[STR]

You did real good then for that much. I got one end cut of what was basically a 4x4 in appearance appx 6" long for $65. I was actually happy to pay it though as it was a good looking wood that has seasoned and dried very well. A lot of what I had been buying before that is still too wet to use and green and it is coming up on a year and half since I got it.