What wood is this?

[mailee]

I have an upcoming project to make a chest and set of wardrobes to match this:

There are two of these and have a history with them. They were a gift to a house keeper of one of the Vanderbilt family of the USA, they were made around the eighties from reclaimed wood from Ellis Island when it was refurbished. My question is what wood is it? Here is a close up of the inside of the drawers in it's natural wood:

I know the stain is a walnut shade but I would like to match it as closely as possible. They belonged to the sister of a friend of mine who was the said house keeper and these were a gift to her on her return to the UK for all her years of service.

 

[The_Stig]

Hi Mailee,

Do you have a closer/clear picture of the grain?

It looks like is interlocking although I can't see for sure, if it is its something tropical, I've got a good idea what it is but like the saying goes:

"Its better to appear a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt".

 

[mailee]

Hi Stig, I am afraid these are the best I can do for closeup shots of the article. The light wasn't too good as it is a cottage out in the sticks and he is still having work done on it so lighting is poor. Here are two shots the tight interlocking grain is the drawer sides and the other is the drawer front which the cabinet is made from.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

The last pic looks like oak to me.

 

[jasonB]

Looks like there are at least two woods, the frame is one wood, the panels another and the draw sides/backs possibly a third.

Closer pics of the outside would be better, the draw side looks possibly sapele or similar though its a bit light in colour

Jason

 

[Derek Willis.]

I'd go for Oak.
Derek.

 

[Ironballs]

The drawer side has the pale bands that idigbo is known for, hard to tell though

 

[christoph clark]

Could be my favorite wood at the moment Sapele
This is a Sapele sample

This is an oak sample

 

[Evergreen]

Another vote for sapele here.

But the drawer side might be obeche because it's a wood that was often used where it wouldn't be seen much and it's pale.

 

[chippy1970]

The sides of the draws definitely look like Sapele to me.

 

[MikeG.]

hmmmm.......not great photos, and the sapele looks possible.........but my first instinct for the lower photo was elm. The flecks in the grain just look a lot like elm to me.

Mike

 

[shim20]

not oak, id go for sapale for the nearest match,

 

[joesoap]

I'd go with Evergreen on the drawer side / liner being Obeche . Although being a mahogonay , it is very soft and foul smelling in the working and probably for that reason was used for hidden cabint work .

 

[The_Stig]

Its definetly not okay, I think Obeche is probably the best suggestion so far although it could be Sapele but it just looks a little light for that...

 

[TheTiddles]

it's ugly wood! Do them a favour and make something nice for them instead! Looks like it came from the good old days before style was invented, in the 80's... lights the blue touch paper and runs!

Aidan

 

[Inspector]

The last picture is not an Oak, nor do I think it is Sapele or any other tropical wood.

Being as it is a secondary wood from the eastern side of the States I think it is the Sycamore that grows in there. I occasionally see chunks of it in pallets that came from that area. The interlocking grain in the picture look more like ray flecks. Checkout the link below.

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/wood ... camore.htm

It's from this site.

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/

Someone from the New York area would be more knowledgeable, especially with respect to the Ellis Island and Vanderbilt references. Maybe a post on an American forum will give better insight on what the cinstuction could have been with.

 

[MikeG.]

I'd be pretty certain it isn't sycamore......

I still think it may be elm.......a boring, quick-grown elm.

Mike