what timber is this ?

[Luke]

Hi folks,
Can some one give this timber a name. I found it at the local salvage yard it was once a cabinet frame of some sort. I have recycled some into a couple of ukulele necks and happy with out come.
The timber is very aromatic a powerful scent and have to cover up use a dust mask etc as it is a bit irritating.
very nice to work not that I have had much experience, and the shavings and saw dust seem to clump together.
Anyhow has a fantastic ring when you drop it on the floor I was told it is blackwood then told no its not.
Would like to tell the person that I sell the uke too what it is. The uke is a cigar box with a sardine can resonator model.

[woodrat]

Luke, does it have prominent rays on the narrow face where the rings come through at 90degrees? ie the quartersawn face?

Do the fresh chips smell slightly like vinegar?

John

[Luke]

Luke, does it have prominent rays on the narrow face where the rings come through at 90degrees? ie the quartersawn face?

Do the fresh chips smell slightly like vinegar?

John

Hi John, no vinegar smell at all can't really compare the smell to any thing. Its a pleasent smell in small doses. It lingers in the shed (small shed) way longer than say a rosewood.
The other question sorry but not sure what you mean bye prominent rays.

[woodrat]

I mean a ray fleck like silky oak. It looks like English oak in colour but if no rays then no English oak...

Next guess would be Tallowood but that is only by the colour of the bit in the picture.

John

[woodrat]

...but you said it was part of a cabinet so it could also be Alpine ash/ Tassie oak.

[Luke]

...but you said it was part of a cabinet so it could also be Alpine ash/ Tassie oak.

have used at bit of Ash/Tassie oak and it is not like those at all, a bit more heavier too.

[woodrat]

...then its back to tallowwood ...but not sure

[stopper]

I also think it looks like tallowood which has a sour smell that lingers (not as powerful as rosewood but still a distinct smell). The give away for tallowood is the greasy feel of the timber. Also it has a high tannin content so put those shaving in some water and see if they leach a lot of tannin. I wouldn't have thought it ideal for necks but at least they will last a long time.

cheers
Steve

[christian]

Gotta say it looks like some sort of oak to me, maybe american white oak, but you would definetely smell the tannins and your fingers would be discoloured if you have been handling it lots, and no medullarys on the quarter definetely rule it out.
so buggered if i know, I'll leave it to the locals.

Christian.

[Lillian]

I'd agree with the possibility of it being oak, but I'd disagree with white oak. Looks more like live oak or burr oak, but the picture doesn't give a lot of detail.

[woodrat]

Luke can you post some sort of link so we can smell it?

Sorry!...Just for comparison...and for our northern hemisphere friends who would not have seen Tallow wood here is a photo of a piece that I have planed to show the face and end grain. There are some similarities but I'm no botanist so I couldn't say for sure. I hope that was helpful Luke.

[Lillian]

Well dang, now I know what those boards are that I pulled from a crate. Thanks!

[Luke]

Thanks for the input folks.
Tallow seems a good possibility from the information posted and what I googled. Has a waxy feel about it to some extent clogs up sand paper very quick. Tallow not a name that grabs me being a vegetarian.
Soaked some shavings in a class jar of water no change in the water colour.
If its tallow I can say that its termite resistant neck. Thanks again.

[Alan Stassforth]

Teak.
Or sompthing like that.

[DarwinStrings]

Hard to tell from your pick Luke, could I see it from square on and wet on the quarter sawn face. From your description "very aromatic a powerful scent" and what I can see it could be black bean (castanospermum australe) but I hate the smell of it and you said it is pleasant in small doses (perhaps I O.D.ed on it) the smell does hang around and stink up my shed . It was and is I guess, still used for cabinetry (but I reckon only if the customer asks for it, cause who wants to put it through a saw ...pee ewww ) Waxy or greasy sounds about right. That is my guess for now.

Jim

Life is good when you are amongst the wood (except if it stinks like black bean)

[DarwinStrings]

Does it look a bit like this (pics off the net)

Pee eww wif..jpg (198.92 KiB) Viewed 16796 times

Jim

[Luke]

Hi Jim,
It looks very much like your pictures and the second one is on the money. is that the species you mentioned?

[Allen]

That's funny Jim. I've got Black Bean and I really can't smell anything from it. Looks exactly like your images. Might be something that each of us has a different sensitivity too. But I really like the smell of bone when I cut or sand it, and apparently most people start retching.

[DarwinStrings]

Yep, black bean Luke. The first is quarter sawn face and the second is the back sawn. The smell should go well with the sardine theme if you ask me. I am surprised Allen as it is well known in the trade for its smell, interesting how we have different pallets, as much as I love the look of black bean I really find it difficult to work with cause of the dust. I also find the smell of bone dust a bit odd, not pleasant but not irritating or nauseating though.

Jim

[Luke]

Yes Jim, I can now tell a potential buyer that you can buy this cigar box uke with a sardine tin resonator and a black bean neck a rare combination sounds like it should come with some dipping sauce
Shall post some pics when its ready.
Not found off bone dust smell for either.