Ironwood?

[Oaktree11]

My Brother in Law is a jolly nice chap. He has recenly retired from the joinery trade and sold all his workshop equipment but has kept lots of interesting wood, some of which he gave to me this weekend. So now I have some maple, cherry and walnut to play with but also a Large plank of what Pete described as ironwood. It is very dense and VERY heavy! I put is through the planer thicknesser and the pics are what came out. It’s lovely. I was very ginger with the thicknessing and took only about 0.5mm at a time but the spiral head had no trouble with it. The snipe that’s visible is probably due to short outfeed table and my poor support as I rushed round to meet it!
so, I have never come across ironwood. I welcome any thoughts about how I might use this.
john.

 

[dickm]

Have heard of Hornbeam being called ironwood, and it is excellent for Jewellry mandrels and stakes, but not convinced that is what you have.

 

[Inspector]

Lots of people call a wood in their area Ironwood so it could be anything. The generally accepted true Ironwood is Lignum Vitae but in a board that size is almost impossible to find. More close up pictures including a shot of end grain, cut/plane a sliver off the end for clean wood, might help narrow it down.

Pete

 

[Oaktree11]

Thanks for the help guys. I will take some more photos tomorrow and see if that helps. Have no idea what I am going to do with it, it’s about 30mm thick.
john

 

[Phil Pascoe]

https://www.wood-database.com/desert-ironwood/
?

 

[Stigmorgan]

Have heard of Hornbeam being called ironwood, and it is excellent for Jewellry mandrels and stakes, but not convinced that is what you have.

That was my thought also, looks the right colour for hornbeam but definitely needs closer more detailed pics

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The hornbeam I have and the chisels with known hornbeam handles are creamy coloured and lighter than beech.

https://www.wood-database.com/european-hornbeam/

 

[Oaktree11]

https://www.wood-database.com/desert-ironwood/
?

Thanks Phil, it certainly looks like that wood. There is an awful lot of knife handles in this bit!
john

 

[--Tom--]

Looks more like Black ironwood (Olea Capensis) than desert ironwood to me.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It does, but that is quite a large board - that tree is small. That said, the one I pointed to is quite small also.

 

[--Tom--]

Greenheart is also called ironwood sometimes, and comes in fairly large sections

https://www.wood-database.com/greenheart/

 

[thetyreman]

unless it's from arizona it's not likely to be desert ironwood, more likely to be greenheart

 

[Oaktree11]

Ok, more pics of the wood in question. Some end grain and some closer from the side. My track saw had no problem cutting a chunk off the end to expose clean grain. No idea what the curved cavity is! Sorry about the photography, not my strong suit…like identifying wood!
john

 

[Inspector]

I'm sure it isn't Lignum Vitae lignum vitae

It isn't Desert Ironwood either. desert ironwood

I'm certain the use of "Ironwood" is just another descriptor for "really hard heavy wood".There could be many possibilities as to what it actually is. If you were American you could send a sample to Forest Products Laboratory and they would identify it for free. There are private labs here that charge $50 to $100 per sample. You'll have to check around to see if any of your universities or horticultural societies identify wood if you want to take it that far.

I would just use it for whatever I thought it was best suited for and not worry about what it is. Boxes, laminated turnings, tools, intruder fish bat, etc.

Pete

 

[Bojam]

Greenheart is also called ironwood sometimes, and comes in fairly large sections

https://www.wood-database.com/greenheart/

Is Greenheart the same as Ipe (Handroanthus spp. / syn. Tabebuia spp.)?

I ask because Ipe is apparently known as Groenhart (Greenheart?) in Suriname, where Dutch is spoken. And in Guyana (the former British colony) it is referred to as Ironwood. Here in French Guiana it is called Ébène verte.

The op’s pictures don’t look much like Ipe to me. Not always easy to tell from photos though.

Edit: Ipe info here: Ipe | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwood)
Also a datasheet on Ipe from the CIRAD Tropix series.

 

[Oaktree11]

I'm sure it isn't Lignum Vitae lignum vitae

It isn't Desert Ironwood either. desert ironwood

I'm certain the use of "Ironwood" is just another descriptor for "really hard heavy wood".There could be many possibilities as to what it actually is. If you were American you could send a sample to Forest Products Laboratory and they would identify it for free. There are private labs here that charge $50 to $100 per sample. You'll have to check around to see if any of your universities or horticultural societies identify wood if you want to take it that far.

I would just use it for whatever I thought it was best suited for and not worry about what it is. Boxes, laminated turnings, tools, intruder fish bat, etc.

Pete

I absolutely agree. I think it was called ironwood because it is dense and heavy and no one knew what the hell it was. I also agree on it’s destiny. I don’t really need all of this. I might use some for a box or two. Chopping boards maybe? John

 

[thetyreman]

Is Greenheart the same as Ipe (Handroanthus spp. / syn. Tabebuia spp.)?

no

 

[Bojam]

no

Nice succinct response

 

[profchris]

This site is good in my experience. Your timber looks rather similar to this greenheart.

https://www.wood-database.com/greenheart/

 

[Oaktree11]

Thank you all for your help. I think on balance that this is Greenheart.
now to find a use for it!
john