Ideas on what kind of wood this may be?

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Alchemist

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A friend gave me a big block of this wood... he didn't know what it was. I have no clue!
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Testing out my new bandsaw... the wood smells sweet and peppery. It seems pretty dense too.

Any ideas?




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mark james

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Fred nailed it for the end grain - certainly a Palm (look with a magnification glass, are there eyeballs, aliens looking back???). However, I would suggest you consider Red Palm. I have used both extensively, and suspect it is Red Palm vs Black Palm. In the thread below, skip to the bottom right side picture of the 'Alien' endgrain.

 

mark james

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Palm is notorious for being a 'fussy' turn... Dense, but prone to chipping, in my opinion. I have used it for trim rings as well as full blanks. I liberally apply CA when turning, especially when close to the bushings and thin sections. Palm is a monocot; think of a bundle of straws vs annual growth rings. It will accept thin CA via the end grain very easily.

 

leehljp

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The top set of pictures does not look like palm to me. Palm, red or black have those dark "needed/spears" as in the red palm labeled blank. The top pictures that you have questions about do not have those needle/spear like striations. The top picture's end grain does not look like end grain on any of the palm that I have had. End grain on palm will have dark red or black circle like grains while the top picture has capillary holes in a dark grain background.
 

Alchemist

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The endgrain looks Merbau to me, this wood has many colour variations and is certainly very heavy/dense.

Cheers
George

I think that this is more likely the wood type. Specifically, because the afzelia has "no significant smell or odor" on the database.

When cutting this block, it definitely has a sweet, peppery/spice scent to it.


Thank you all for chiming in! It's great to get assistance in learning something new!


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Alchemist

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Well if sticking to that then how about this The problem is the color. Woods like cocabola and rosewoods smell like that but are darker in color.

https://www.wood-database.com/spanish-cedar/

I'm thinking the color is off from the cedar. The smell isn't of cedar either. I think we are heading on the right track with Afzelia and Merbau. I'm thinking closer to Afzelia (Doussie)?


Matches closer to color to me.


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1080Wayne

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howsitwork

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I'm wondering now whether this block I rescued from a pallet ( originally transporting indian marble tiles ) might be afzelia

thoughts please?E5EF2410-1584-4EBF-A532-8FEA7939FE76.jpegpaler wood is the sapwood.
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Splinters like anything and a challenge to plane smooth. not sure as yet whether it'll make pens but very hard and heavy.
 

Alchemist

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Sorry , assumed you would have read this https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/fluorescence-a-secret-weapon-in-wood-identification/
The complete article on afzelia suggests there are some differences between the related species , although local growing conditions will also have an effect .

I didn't see the article. My son and I have done the black light with rocks and minerals. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!



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