OK...Time to play guess the wood

[davdee70]

I would love to know what it is anyone have a guess?? I should add the the wood is very dense and heavy. it is reddish brown in color with very thin white streaking. I ran it through the planer yesterday so the apperance of the color is as close to natural as i can get it. Not really sure what it is. Thanks everyone for your comments

 

[NewLondon88]

looks sorta like red palm, but I've only seen small pieces

 

[rjwolfe3]

Jatoba?

 

[jimwill48]

Canarywood

 

[bradh]

Jatoba?

I know I have seen this wood recently, very distinct mixed colours in the grain. I think Rob is right with Jatoba.

 

[Russianwolf]

Balsa!

 

[Rollerbob]

Palo Maria

 

[hewunch]

I think it is Paduk. (spelling may be off). Sand a little, if it makes the sandpaper look like you have been sanding cheetos, then you have a winner. BTW if left in the elements it can darken from it's usual orange hue.

 

[fafow]

how about jarrah? Check out the picture of jarrah at this link:

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/jarrah/jarrah 1 s50 q60 plh.htm

Here is a pic of jatoba at the same site that seems pretty similar as well:

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/jatoba/jatoba 42 s100 q60 web.htm

 

[wolftat]

Weathered Redwood.

 

[DCBluesman]

I'd lay odds it's partridgewood. It's from Brazil and has been used for decks. Check out the photos here.

 

[philb]

Lophira Alata?

 

[wdcav1952]

Balsa!

Ha, you are only partially right. It is spalted balsa!!

 

[bradh]

I am changing my mind, I think it is Partridgewood. There is a way to tell, Partridgewood is very, very hard, almost like African Blackwood; Balsa will be very soft and light.
Here is a finished pen with the wood, notice the lighter coloured specs that are also present in the picture above.

 

[bradh]

LOL ! I just looked up the Latin name from Hobbit house, on the US center for wood research site and it lists Wenge as another name for this wood:
http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/Chudnoff/African/htmlDocs_africa/Millettiaspp.html

 

[bradh]

Interesting! I read the hobbithouse page completely and he shows the difference between Partridgewood and Wenge!
The US gov site did list the wood under a generic species name so Wenge maybe a very similar species of wood.
I have learned a lot about this wood, which is great since my local wood mill usually has Partridgewood blanks available cheap.