Another Wood ID

[Peri]

Hi Folks,
I recently found some old school science desks that were going into the skip. Someone had already had the tops, but I managed to get the frames. I believe the desks were made maybe late 60's, early 70's.


Can anyone tell me what this wood is?




Thank you

 

[Trevanion]

It's difficult to tell exactly from the photos exactly what it is but it looks like Utile.

 

[Peri]

Thanks for taking a look.

The only other useful pics I have are





The small piece in the bottom photo has just been wiped with spirit to bring the grain out.

 

[Myfordman]

Another batch of science tables from derby posted about here many years ago turned out to be iroko with beech legs. The orange-brn colour in your last photo could be iroko.

 

[That would work]

Looks like meranti/red seraya to me.

 

[woodbloke66]

Another batch of science tables from derby posted about here many years ago turned out to be iroko with beech legs. The orange-brn colour in your last photo could be iroko.

I remember them well. If these particular frames are iroko it's worth the OP bearing in mind that's it's pretty nasty stuff to work with; the dust is particularly irritating when it's being machined - Rob

 

[Peri]

My guess was meranti - but thats only going off a google image search.

It planes beautifully - almost like a softwood, and it's quite light (not dense).

I wish I could give more info.

I did get 2 very damaged table tops a while back that I turned into bookshelves. This wood - again unknown - was much denser, much darker and was indeed horrible to work with power tools. Eyes, nose and throat very irritated - needed proper ppe for that.

 

[thetyreman]

looks like meranti to me as well, but I've never used utile, when I did work with meranti it was nice to work with handtools but a bit dusty if blades aren't razor sharp.

 

[Myfordman]

Another batch of science tables from derby posted about here many years ago turned out to be iroko with beech legs. The orange-brn colour in your last photo could be iroko.

I remember them well. If these particular frames are iroko it's worth the OP bearing in mind that's it's pretty nasty stuff to work with; the dust is particularly irritating when it's being machined - Rob

Sensitivity to Iroko seems very variable. I get hayfever, mild asthma and excema suggesting I might be sensitive to such stuff, but I can work with it all day and no PPE with out adverse reactions. Curious

 

[Keith 66]

another vote for Meranti often known as Philipine mahogany, its a very variable timber related to Luan which is extremely light & soft. Meranti will vary from pink to deep dark red almost purple colour, his will depend on where the tree grew. I have two large boards that I bought a few years ago, they had been stored in a barn for 40 years & the seller thought they were mahogany, but upon cleaning them i found a timber yard stencil stating Dark red Meranti, they were cheap enough so i wasnt too put out but it is unholy heavy & hard.

 

[Peri]

Light, fairly soft, pale pink to reddish orange and dusty unless tools are razor sharp - sums it up perfectly.

Nailed it - thanks all.