Question about Ironwood

[gerryr]

Many years ago I knew a wood carver in the Phoenix area, Larry Favorite, who did all his work in Ironwood. He said the only thing he could use to carve it was carbide because it dulled anything else. Are there different kinds is Ironwood? I've made a few pens from it and, while it is hard, it certainly doesn't dull my tools as he indicated it should.

 

[Dario]

Ironwood is a category used to call any wood that is more dense than water (sinks in water) so yes there are other ironwoods. Lignum Vitae is probably the most famous of all.

Re: use of carbide, maybe he is referring to high carbon steel? They are tougher/harder and it does make a big difference when you are carving vs turning.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I've often wondered what kind of tools are used for those Mexican souvenirs. The stuff they use is heavy as iron and really hard.

 

[gerryr]

My question is what do they use to make those souvenirs? Could you pens from it?

 

[Dario]

Those are made of same ironwood we use for pens. I have thought of buying some and make pens out of them...but cannot bring myself to cut them up. [B)] [V]