Wood ID? Super Wood Dectives Only Need Apply!

[Chems]

Old headboard made by my granddad recently made its way into my workshop. Word on the street is its mahogany, I don't think so, who makes headboards out of Mahogany then puts horrible varnish/paint on them? I've removed a small section off one of the uprights I've no idea what it is, looks fairly nice I think it is a hardwood.

 

[Oryxdesign]

Hard to tell from the shot but it looks like Iroko to me.
Simon

 

[JonnyD]

I would say Iroko as well.

jon

 

[TheTiddles]

Iroko vote from me too

 

[OPJ]

Iroko.

 

[Chems]

Interesting, whats the best use for it, doesn't really look furniture grade to me?

 

[joiner_sim]

:arrow: Iroko :wink:

We use this at work, making windows and doors.

 

[Chems]

Well I have a fair bit of it to use. I suppose I will rip it down an plane it up tomorrow. Its not one of those kill you with dust ones is it?

 

[greybeard]

Yes it is/does - 'orrible stuff

Which might sound a bit facetious but it's laid low quite a number of forum folk, seriously low in some cases.

 

[Oryxdesign]

Yes it is hazardous and some people are very allergic. To work with it's really stringy and hard, but it is great for external projects.

 

[Chems]

Well in that case its free to a good home!

 

[Oryxdesign]

Don't be too put off, it's expensive to buy when you want some and it does have its uses, just be careful.

 

[joiner_sim]

I would collect it, but have enough of the stuff at work! And yes, it is horrible to work with. Mask on at all times when thats in the shop.

 

[Chems]

Ive got a 3M 6000 with dust filters that I'm using at the moment. I'm just not sure about it, needs some new filters but I'm constantly inhaling wood dust at the moment. Got some MDF to work with tomorrow as well!

 

[Oryxdesign]

That mask is fine, just make sure you replace your filters (they're cheap really) and keep it well fitting. Do you have a beard?

 

[woodbloke]

I've said this a couple of times before...the only real way of identifying a species of timber is by an expert analysis of the end grain (the growth rings) and in addition the botanical nature of the tree, if known (leaf and twig pattern)
So from looking at the International Book of Wood and also the blurred pic of long grain timber it could be:
Acacia melanoxylon
Anisoptera spp
Aucoumea klaineana
Balfourodendron riedelianum
...all of which look similar to the pic. The trouble is that there are another 30-40,000 :shock: different species of timber on the planet so trying to identify one timber from one blurred pic is a bit of a ](*,) exercise and appologies if some of the latin names are spelt incorrectly...long day :wink: - Rob

 

[Chems]

No I don't have a beard. I'm well versed on respirators we use them at work. Is it really that nasty? Good for a garden bench or such then?

 

[Oryxdesign]

It's good for a bench. It can be nasty but some people never have any ill effects, some people use it for years without ill effects and then one day have a reaction and then can't go near it. I haven't suffered yet. Somewhere on this forum is a list of woods and their hazards, I'm sure someone will be along later to post a link.
By the way what Woodbloke says is dead right.

 

[joiner_sim]

I wouldn't say it is that bad you shouldn't use it. I have used Iroko many times in the last 5 years and I don't have any problems......... (yet)

 

[Chems]

Me an you are to young to die sim! Just read your WIP of the coffee table, really nice work!