Need help on wood identification

[Joebobber]

Hi guys. So I had this blank for a few years. I originally bought 2, they were a "mystery burl". I made 1 right away, and today I made the other. I keep wondering what it is. What I know:
1. It is DEFINITELY a rosewood
2. Smells similar to Cocobolo, but sweeter and a bit more spicier.
3. Looks black but when you take a picture it pops red.
4. It has alot of little sparklies in it, silica perhaps?
5. 1 guy told me he thought it was Brazilian rosewood burl
6. I bought it from an old woodturners estate sale

Here are pictures.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Joebobber]

The other pen I made with it had a bunch of circles in it like bubbles. I will try to find pictures of it if it will help. I should also clarify the wood looks dark red/black not all black, until you take a picture or look at it just right.

 

[mrburls]

Cocobolo Burl Maybe would be my guess.

 

[Mortalis]

I have some Honduran Rosewood and it is very very dark. I believe Brazilian Rosewood is similar.
Pardon the fingerprints
I did quick search on Google and the Cocobolo burl pics very similar to yours. I didnt link them as they are on a different forum.

 

[Joebobber]

I've turned Hond rosewood and this definitely isn't. I've never turned Brazilian and I thought that was redish with a sweet smell. Cocobolo burl makes sense for sure. Very nice pen by the way!

 

[GaryMGg]

Could be Amboyna Burl.

 

[Joebobber]

Could be Amboyna Burl.

It does have the red, but the smell of the wood is very similar to cocobolo. I say similar but it is also noticeably different. Could be because it is a burl I suppose.

 

[GaryMGg]

I find Amboyna Burl smells like red roses when turned.

 

[Joebobber]

Yeah some of it DEFINITELY does, the Burmese Padauk I think. I think lilac root and rosebush root smell like that type of amboyna burl as well.

 

[Dehn0045]

Possibly logwood. Logwood extract was a prized dye in the past. After I turned the piece that I had, when I washed the chips/dust off my hands/arms my skin turned black. I found that it was due to the reaction with the high pH of the soap (soda ash is typically used in the dye making process). Luckily I had a lemon in the fridge, the acid reversed the darkening effect. It was a very strange ordeal, something I never have experienced with any other wood.

 

[Joebobber]

That's very strange... i have a 2x2 that is kind of like that. It looks like african blackwood until you turn it, then it's a red, until you put a finish of any type on it.

 

[Joebobber]

I found a Brazilian rosewood burl and a cocobolo burl for comparison. It looks like the Brazilian in this picture.

 

[Dehn0045]

the problem with Brazilian rosewood is that everyone wants to call their stuff Brazilian rosewood because it is so rare. And since cocobolo burl is more rare than honduran rosewood people will try to call HRB coco. Then there are non rosewoods that people call rosewood because they look like rosewood but aren't actually rosewood (i.e. patagonia rosewood). An ambitious wood seller might try to rebrand his Patagonia Rosewood as Brazilian Rosewood -- I'm sure it has happened. Not saying that what you have is not brazilian rosewood, I'm just saying be highly skeptical of items that people are selling labeled as brazilian rosewood (and to a lesser extend coco burl), there is a lot of incentive to give it a certain name.

 

[Joebobber]

Oh yeah I agree. Even just any type of burl. You see guys selling something as a burl that is clearly not a burl. The piece in question I bought was bought as a mystery burl from an estate auction of an old turner. I bought 2 for $20. A friend of mine said he thought it was Brazilian. I just noticed the smell when cut. Honestly I don't care what "name" something has, as long as it looks nice. First time I turned amboyna burl I was so worried I would mess it up...

 

[howsitwork]

Looks good and hopefully was pleasant to turn.A nice scent always helps, I like Walnut am a bit puzzled by smell of "red roses" as opposed to white of yellow ones??

But it's a good description of the smell and could remind a man of the need to buy some " brownie points" by getting some for SWMBO which I may need to do shortly , just saying guys ( and girls to be PC )