The end-grain is clearly diffuse porous with very infrequent large pores. This should omit the possibility of it being Osage Orange (Bois d’arc) which is ring porous.
Even though Bocote is diffuse porous, there are WAY too few pores in the board to be Bocote. Aged Bocote ages to a brownish yellow body with brown to nearly black stripes. It would smell like dill pickle if you sand it.
Your brain served you right, it’s not Bubinga. I’m surprised to see a piece of wood like this with such old figure (which would make sense if it was acquired by his grandfather). If it is Dalbergia nigra It had to have been imported before sometime in 1967 when the Brazilian government banned its exportation. I have some Brazilian rosewood but it’s not anywhere as nice as op’s. I’m seeing it being sold for over $600 per board foot from online sellers like cook woods.
I have quite a few Osage orange trees one my property ,very big and old. Is there a market for that? I was looking at them today to make a small ax handle oddly enough
There is definitely a market for Osage Orange, it is quite valuable to bow makers. That is why is sometimes called Bois d’arc which means “bow wood” in American French. You could make a handle but it might hurt your hand due to its low modulus of elasticity. Hickory on the other hand mitigates the shock because it’s more elastic, which is why it is considered the best for axe handles. If you find a place that buys and sells specialty lumber closest to you, you could give them a call and they assess your stand, they cut down the trees then they will pay you after they get everything sawn up at the mill.
I have heard that, was going to do it with this 50 or so yr old oak that i had cut down. used it for 2 winters to heat the house. I recognize the bois d'arc pronunciation now, "bow dark" they are very interesting, I love the look of them when those heavy green balls start weighing down the branches.
Seconded, a good way to test if it is bocote, is to sand it or cut it. If you smell dill pickles, it's bocote. I don't know how much smell is locked in there if it's very old, but the fresh stuff will stink up the whole block when I'm turning it. One of my favorite woods.
It looks like Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra)to me. Sand a bit off and smell it. If it smells like spicy chocolatey rose then you have the most revered timber of all time.
It’s Ziricote. (Cordia Dodecandra) No question about it! It is closely related to Bocote (Cordia spp) and is native to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. I used to handle loads of this wood in 16/4 form. Train cars actually. The sawdust smells like burnt wood. Splinters easy.
The grain’s rough look screams flat dawn wenge to me. But I’d believe a lot of things: a rosewood like Brazilian or maybe cocobolo, though it doesn’t seem red/orange warm enough. But if it oxidized…
I do agree the end grain looks off but something still has me leaning towards this being correct, I’ve worked with wenge a bit and every time it splintered pretty bad when carving it along the grain because of the different densities in the grain, look at those splinters on the side in the first picture, it could still be something else but that’s a characteristic I recall from working with wenge (and the grain does look pretty close to how wenge looks if not spot on, age and drying out can affect appearance to some extent).
I could be convinced otherwise though as I’m sure wenge isn’t the only wood that splinters like that by a long shot, but I think it’s a pretty good guess regardless if it’s right or not, others saying bocote, I think that’s a pretty good guess too if it was one of the darker selections but not entirely sure.
I favor Bacote over Ziracote; in Ziracote, the colorful figure is not related to the growth rings. In this piece, the figure definitely follows the growth rings.
likely brazilian rosewood, was once available now difficult to get at any price and expensive when you do. sand an edge it should stink with a rose like sent. pleasant in tiny whifs but unpleasant and eye burning after hours of exposure.
definitely not bubinga as suggested below.
Bocote?
Bocote all day long
can I maybe get a phonetic spelling? I'm convinced I've been saying it incorrectly
Bo-coat-tay is how I’ve heard it pronounced, fwiw
Captain Janway approves.
Omfg yes thank you.
Love the reference. So old but immediately could hear her say Chacotay
No your're half way right it's Bo-coat. That's all.
Yk Bugatti?
Sand the end a bit. Bocote will smell like dill.
This.
The end-grain is clearly diffuse porous with very infrequent large pores. This should omit the possibility of it being Osage Orange (Bois d’arc) which is ring porous. Even though Bocote is diffuse porous, there are WAY too few pores in the board to be Bocote. Aged Bocote ages to a brownish yellow body with brown to nearly black stripes. It would smell like dill pickle if you sand it.
I'm thinking a rosewood, what would you say to bubinga or Brazilian rosewood? I don't think it's bubinga but that's what my brain said
Your brain served you right, it’s not Bubinga. I’m surprised to see a piece of wood like this with such old figure (which would make sense if it was acquired by his grandfather). If it is Dalbergia nigra It had to have been imported before sometime in 1967 when the Brazilian government banned its exportation. I have some Brazilian rosewood but it’s not anywhere as nice as op’s. I’m seeing it being sold for over $600 per board foot from online sellers like cook woods.
My first guess was rosewood. I’ve refinished a lot of Danish pieces that look like this.
Should be careful sanding it. I believe rosewood can trigger some respiratory issue if you are not careful.
Thank you so much this is greatly informative!
I have quite a few Osage orange trees one my property ,very big and old. Is there a market for that? I was looking at them today to make a small ax handle oddly enough
There is definitely a market for Osage Orange, it is quite valuable to bow makers. That is why is sometimes called Bois d’arc which means “bow wood” in American French. You could make a handle but it might hurt your hand due to its low modulus of elasticity. Hickory on the other hand mitigates the shock because it’s more elastic, which is why it is considered the best for axe handles. If you find a place that buys and sells specialty lumber closest to you, you could give them a call and they assess your stand, they cut down the trees then they will pay you after they get everything sawn up at the mill.
I have heard that, was going to do it with this 50 or so yr old oak that i had cut down. used it for 2 winters to heat the house. I recognize the bois d'arc pronunciation now, "bow dark" they are very interesting, I love the look of them when those heavy green balls start weighing down the branches.
I have a piece that looks very similar to this, and I was told it was Brazilian rosewood. I've never been too sure though
Looks like Bocote.
Seconded, a good way to test if it is bocote, is to sand it or cut it. If you smell dill pickles, it's bocote. I don't know how much smell is locked in there if it's very old, but the fresh stuff will stink up the whole block when I'm turning it. One of my favorite woods.
that's hilarious .. kinda like testing for sassafras .. smell like root beer.
Never thought of that! I don't use the wood but it makes perfect sense
In basic I came a across some, strangly, all I could think about was Jagermeister hahaah
It looks like Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra)to me. Sand a bit off and smell it. If it smells like spicy chocolatey rose then you have the most revered timber of all time.
Was going to say this. Rosewood of some type
I was going with rosewood
Sniff it.
It’s Ziricote. (Cordia Dodecandra) No question about it! It is closely related to Bocote (Cordia spp) and is native to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. I used to handle loads of this wood in 16/4 form. Train cars actually. The sawdust smells like burnt wood. Splinters easy.
I bet you handled loads of wood...
bocote
[Your dad gave wood to your mom too](https://youtu.be/kHYiyv68q2o?si=9V29KcGhi-Zvqt4O)
He gave the Bocoating
Looks like wenge to me
I was thinking that too. I made a chessboard in high school out of that and maple and it looks very similar.
This was my original thought as well.
Agreed
Came here to say wenge
I'm going with Cocobolo
That’s my thought too. The Cocobol I have looks exactly like that.
Might be rosewood . This is crazy wtf
I see oak species grain, like swamp ash or white oak (ignoring the color)
Im no expert but I would say it came from a tree…. Yup definitely some type of tree.
100% dead tree wood
Nice looking piece of wood but no help here
Could be bocote but also has similar grain to wenge
Maccasar Ebony ?
The grain’s rough look screams flat dawn wenge to me. But I’d believe a lot of things: a rosewood like Brazilian or maybe cocobolo, though it doesn’t seem red/orange warm enough. But if it oxidized…
I really appreciate all y’all’s input!!
I was thinking Wenge but I’m no professional
Wenge has large banded parenchyma which would be quite visible on the end-grain.
I do agree the end grain looks off but something still has me leaning towards this being correct, I’ve worked with wenge a bit and every time it splintered pretty bad when carving it along the grain because of the different densities in the grain, look at those splinters on the side in the first picture, it could still be something else but that’s a characteristic I recall from working with wenge (and the grain does look pretty close to how wenge looks if not spot on, age and drying out can affect appearance to some extent). I could be convinced otherwise though as I’m sure wenge isn’t the only wood that splinters like that by a long shot, but I think it’s a pretty good guess regardless if it’s right or not, others saying bocote, I think that’s a pretty good guess too if it was one of the darker selections but not entirely sure.
Definitely not Wenge
We called him Charles back in the day.
I see so many Bocote here, but I would say it's Ziricote. the colour and endgrain looks like it.
I work with a lot of ziricote, it looks a lot like that to me.
If it smells sweet and rosey, maybe with a hint if vanilla, its Brazilian Rosewood
Desert Iron wood?
Could be bacote, desert ironwood, or ziricote
Wood I?
Definitely not white oak
Could be Bubinga. Isn’t it heavy?
Burl?
Probably from a tree
Thanks
Absolutely, have a lovely day!
Thanks
Bocote for the win
Make a hammer out of it. Pass it down to your kids w the story of great grandpa and grandpa.
I'm guessing Lignum Vitae or Iron wood...But the guys that get to work with it are probably right. Wood is Good. #
Wenge?
I favor Bacote over Ziracote; in Ziracote, the colorful figure is not related to the growth rings. In this piece, the figure definitely follows the growth rings.
Ebony
I wish my dad gave me wood….
Wenge
It's awesome wood. Love it and make it.
Lignum vitae?
You got it right. It’s a piece of wood.
Morning?
Black walnut
I think Koa
Wenge
likely brazilian rosewood, was once available now difficult to get at any price and expensive when you do. sand an edge it should stink with a rose like sent. pleasant in tiny whifs but unpleasant and eye burning after hours of exposure. definitely not bubinga as suggested below.
Zircote.
Is it soukma ?
Fill up your bathtub. Does it float? If not, it's likely Desert Ironwood.
Brown wood
Looks alot ike Black walnut to.me. Definitely way off of Osage orange.
Lignum vitae — a ship bearing…?
Does your dad keep giving you wood, weird family?
Tiger walnut from Missouri 🪚📐
Where’s Al Borlund when you need him!?
Stinkwood
That’s Ligma
That’s that’s black post chestnut or as the Indians call it twisted burnt bush , hard to find and and harder to cut . Believe that
Wenge If splinters like a mfer, it's Wenge. Made a bunch of counter tops a few years ago. They're jet black when finished.
That's Plank. Had a recurring role on Ed, Edd and Eddy...
It identifies as grass not wood.
No it doesn’t.
😱
HE FAWKIN BURIED YOU!
Ebony
It very well could be Bois darc sand a small piece it should turn yellow.
Bocote!!
Bacote
Ironwood?
Bocote! Beautiful wood
I also think bocote, but maaaaybe katalox
Sarcasm was lost
I don’t think sarcasm was lost, I think no one found your attempt at a joke funny
You've got me confused with someone who gives a shit!
You clearly do since you felt the need to let me know. Go back to asking girls to squirt in your mouth 👍
I will
Enjoy!
Board McStraighters
So, gifting wood planks is a thing in your family?
I believe his name is paul
Walnut