help ID this wood

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May 27, 2021
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Tennessee
Hey guys! So, I was "scrap bin" diving at woodcraft again today & found this stuff & can't quite ID it. Here's the board and a cross section I cut off.
Maybe Mahogany?

here's the clues;
-Warm Reddish brown tone
- less heavy/dense than walnut, but not by too much. Sold, but not dense.
- Lighter/more open grain structure-
- Scent is mild and a touch exotic (like a rosewood & but less strong than bubbinga). Not a "mmmm! Fresh cut Wood!" Scent, but "hmm… exotic wood".

anyone want to throw out some guesses? Otherwise I was going to call it mahogany 🤷🏻‍♀️
I've placed a piece of walnut on the right for color comparison of browns.
8B849D9C-93C7-43E0-B7E2-0251C3A92841.jpeg
 
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I'm thinking either Mahogany or possible Hawaiian KOA. Koa is usually very very expensive though, about 3 times that of Mahogany.
This was a "pay by the Lb" scrap bin, so pricing doesn't apply (other than weight). I'll do some visual digging into Koa. I used to see it a lot where I worked, but that was almost 20 years ago, so I'm a bit fuzzy! But now that you mention it, it did have that same shade of red brown!
 
A close look at well sanded end grain should help with identication .

Central American mahoghany : Distinct growth rings , medium large pores visible without lens , rays barely visible without lens
African mahogany : Usually indistinct growth rings . medium to medium large pores and distinct rays , visible without lens
Koa : Growth rings not distinct . Pores , fairly small , not distinct without lens . Rays very fine , not visible without lens

From `Identifying Wood` , R Bruce Hoadley
 
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