Wood Identification. What is this?!!

[TheBeeBoyKid]

So, found this stuff in a reclamation yard. It’s very heavy, very dense, feels oily and when cut almost looks green for a couple of days. Anyone got any clue what it is?

I’ll try and put photos of all of the different coloured bits in, might help with identification.

 

[Adam W.]

Lignum Vitae.


Does it smell sweet when you cut it ?

 

[marcros]

if I were guessing I would suggest greenheart. But, that is a guess rather than any form of knowledge.

 

[Bojam]

Think Adam's on the money!

 

[TheBeeBoyKid]

Lignum Vitae.


Does it smell sweet when you cut it ?

Not sure how to describe the smell when you cut it.....but yes I think you could call it sweet. It’s quite pungent.

 

[Adam W.]

You don't want to go breathing in the dust then as it's a really bad sensitiser .

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Does it sink in water?

 

[TheBeeBoyKid]

I’ll try tomorrow and get back to you...

 

[spanner48]

Could be an Australian Black Wattle/Black Gum. One of the Melanoxylons?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You don't want to go breathing in the dust then as it's a really bad sensitiser .

Might help cure your syphilis, though.

 

[Adam W.]

Might help cure your syphilis, though.

Well, what can I say?
You clearly know a lot more about syphilis than I do.

 

[spanner48]

Well, what can I say?
You clearly know a lot more about syphilis than I do.

Clap, Clap !!!

 

[TheBeeBoyKid]

Does it sink in water?

Sinks like a stone.

 

[TheBeeBoyKid]

I’ve also just put a coat of danish oil on it (after wiping down numerous times with white spirit to clear a little bit of the oil out). Looks like this:

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I would think in the size you have it greenheart is more likely that lignum. Its sinking narrows the field, though.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I saw a catalogue at school fifty + years ago from a timber importer (in Liverpool iirc) listing greenheart in baulks 80' x 2.6" x 2.6" - 24m x 760mm x 760mm approx for you mere youths.

 

[spanner48]

Australian Blackwood [Acacia melanoxylon];

Does this look about right?

 

[TheBeeBoyKid]

Australian Blackwood [Acacia melanoxylon];

Does this look about right?

It’s quite a bit darker than that, even though the colour varies quite significantly....

 

[TheBeeBoyKid]

Australian Blackwood [Acacia melanoxylon];

Does this look about right?
[/QUOTE

I saw a catalogue at school fifty + years ago from a timber importer (in Liverpool iirc) listing greenheart in baulks 80' x 2.6" x 2.6" - 24m x 760mm x 760mm approx for you mere youths.

So, looked up greenheart. It does look quite a bit like that, only thing that threw a bit of doubt was the wood database entry that said “no characteristic odour”. This stuff definitely has an odour. Smells quite strange, especially when cut.

 

[Adam W.]

It's the same wood as the sole of my ECE plane.