Larry Garver
Member
I was gifted the pictured blank. Any idea of what the wood is?
Wood identification
- Thread starter Larry Garver
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MRDucks2
Member
Looks like a lacewood to me.
sorcerertd
Member
My first thought was lacewood, too, based on the splotchy look, but that grain looks too wide for lacewood. At least the lacewood that I've seen/used, has had closer grain. I could certainly be wrong. The grain looks like cherry, but that can't be. I've never seen medullary rays like that in cherry. I'm probably over-thinking it, though.
Was it a bigger board that you can show a picture of?
Was it a bigger board that you can show a picture of?
jttheclockman
Member
Give us the end and also the other side. It could be oak too.
Drewby108
Member
I would cast my vote as quartersawn white oak. Looks similar to some cabinet pieces I've used.
Larry Garver
Member
I was only given the single pen blank. It was part of a pen turners estate inventory given to a local pen club. All four sides of the blank look the same. I do not believe it to be cherry or white oak. I have never seen this type of rays on cherry.
leehljp
Member Liaison
Another 2 picts would help:
1. end shot
2. side shot with the mm markings up. this would show the medullary rays from a different angle.
Tentatively I see it as red oak but some reason it that wood and even the medullary rays look a little weird to me. Usually they have sharp outlines even in rough cuts. Those medullary rays look like some "worm holes" that I have seen that have been filled up by the invading worm/bug. IF it is a worm hole filled, I would say it is some kind of fir or red word or cypress type.
1. end shot
2. side shot with the mm markings up. this would show the medullary rays from a different angle.
Tentatively I see it as red oak but some reason it that wood and even the medullary rays look a little weird to me. Usually they have sharp outlines even in rough cuts. Those medullary rays look like some "worm holes" that I have seen that have been filled up by the invading worm/bug. IF it is a worm hole filled, I would say it is some kind of fir or red word or cypress type.
Larry Garver
Member
These are pics of the cut-off from this blank. all four sides plus end grain.
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Curly
Member
Spalted Beech.
jttheclockman
Member
You could play this guessing game forever. It could be a piece of wood that had a disease. Maybe in the Sycamore familiy such as London Plane wood. You may wanted to send it out to have it tested and identified.
leehljp
Member Liaison
A close look at different viewpoints - looks like it does have a worm hole or two, and those spots are filled with worm digested and expelled sawdust. I have seen that a couple of times and don't remember which wood species.
Photo #4 grain reminds me of sycamore. Come to think it I have seen some wormy hickory in which the holes were filled like that. I don't know which wood it is but I am sure it is worms that caused that.
Photo #4 grain reminds me of sycamore. Come to think it I have seen some wormy hickory in which the holes were filled like that. I don't know which wood it is but I am sure it is worms that caused that.
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egnald
Member
I have seen quarter sawn White Oak that has ray flecks like that. Of course Lacewood and Leopardwood show ray flecks, but they are typically darker woods. It could maybe be quarter sawn Beech or Birch too. JT is right though, it is just a guessing game unless you send it to someone that can really identify it. - Dave
Larry Garver
Member
The light color is NOT filed worm holes. The wood is a consistent texture and hardness regardless of color. The light color does not flake out like worm castings I have seen.
leehljp
Member Liaison
Thanks for the update. I have not seen wood like this in the last 20 years of, as a hobby , receiving woods in SE Asia from friends there or buying samples of woods there, AND in the USA from friends, or from a good bit of lumber left to me from my dad. I have seen some with excessive worms packed tightly look something like that.
Alan Morrison
Member
I agree with Curly, as I have had a fair bit of beech looks exactly like that.
Curly
Member
As you were given just that one blank you can't send it off to be identified. If it was from a larger board and you wanted to know then you could send a sample to the Forest Products Laboratory to be identified for free. They will do three samples per private citizen per year. The sample isn't returned. I wish we had this available to us on this side of the border.
PatrickR
Member
Other than the markings it looks like a soft maple. The wide growth rings show a very fast growing tree.
the markings are a total mystery.
the markings are a total mystery.
leehljp
Member Liaison
OK, Look at this link:
4th row down has wormy ash with the worm holes filled. I know you said that your blank was hard at those spots. Worm hole fillings can be very hard. And look at the wormy persimmon - numerous long holes filled.
Row 8: wormy madrone, not as filled as yours but several are.
This link below, top board (cherry) - it has a filling similar to the blank posted, and it has been planned but the worm excrement is still there. Again some worm excrements harden to a hardness similar to the wood as though the fine sawdust excrement contained glue.
If you put several drops of CA over the wood and on the streaks - if it is normal wood "medullary rays" it will change colors similar to the wood around it; if it darkens considerably more than the wood around it, then it is sawdust (from worm excrement.)
I will admit that I have never seen that much worm hole filling without seeing some actual worm holes itself.
Row 8: wormy madrone, not as filled as yours but several are.
This link below, top board (cherry) - it has a filling similar to the blank posted, and it has been planned but the worm excrement is still there. Again some worm excrements harden to a hardness similar to the wood as though the fine sawdust excrement contained glue.
If you put several drops of CA over the wood and on the streaks - if it is normal wood "medullary rays" it will change colors similar to the wood around it; if it darkens considerably more than the wood around it, then it is sawdust (from worm excrement.)
I will admit that I have never seen that much worm hole filling without seeing some actual worm holes itself.
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Jarod888
Member
**edit** ignore below. Apparently, my eyes aren't working tonight.
I think a picture of the end grain, rather than the face grain would greatly assist the identification.
I think a picture of the end grain, rather than the face grain would greatly assist the identification.
Larry Garver
Member
I have just checked "Leopardwood" in the Wood Database. I think that is what my blank is. Thankyou for your help.
jttheclockman
Member
It could be Silky Oak also. The end grain is what is deceiving