Basswood

[BeeAMaker]

I have a lot of basswood on my property up north, and was wondering everyone's thoughts on using it for pens. It looks ot have an interesting grain pattern that might really pop if dyed.

 

[D.Oliver]

Basswood is a fairly soft wood and should have fairly tight straight grain. It is prized by wood carvers, especially chip carvers. Without dye, it would probably be a fairly boring pen, but it should take dye well.

 

[BeeAMaker]

Hummm, Maybe this isn't basswood then? Ash perhaps??? I don't think it is a hard wood, but it's not really soft like pine either.

I plan to stabilize this piece and see how it turns out.

 

[RobS]

oh yeah, that's begging to be color stabilized.

 

[D.Oliver]

I should clarify a little more. What I meant was that it is a fairly soft wood for a hardwood. From the little I've worked with it (carving) it was harder than pine, but not by much. Something like poplar, I'd say. The color is right on your piece. It very well could be basswood.

 

[D.Oliver]

Actually I just went and looked and Basswood is actually softer than southern yellow pine.

Basswood 410
SYP (shortleaf) 690
SYP (longleaf) 879

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janka_hardness_test

and according to the Wood Database Poplar is 540.

 

[magpens]

That picture looks more like Ash to me. . The Basswood I have seen has straighter and finer grain.

 

[thewishman]

I agree, Mal. Looks like ash to me, too.

 

[chartle]

I vote for ash which is a very hard wood as hard woods go.

Isn't ash one of the hardest "non exotic" woods?

 

[BeeAMaker]

After looking at a few pics of different grain types, I'm inclined to agree - I think it is an Ash as well.

This is a good source here
The Wood Database

 

[Marko50]

I vote for ash as well