Mystery wood looks gorgeous!

[Ladyhawke]

A couple months ago, I submitted a thread concerning free south american hardwoods. Well, after cutting, planing, routing and fitting these boards as my decking and coating with Penofin, I'll have to admit that the results are fantastic. Whatever this "red stuff" is, it's gorgeous.....and the price was right!

[Mr. Know It All]

how about some pictures? The best scrap wood I've managed to acquire is some white oak from pallets and overseas crates from the place I work at. Glad to hear it worked out good for you.
Peace---> Kevin in Ohio

[Mr. Know It All]

Can you match it to something on this list?

http://www.woodmosaic.com/encyclopedia/samples.html

hope this helps.
Peace---> Kevin in Ohio

[jeff pierce]

Aint free lumber grand?

Can't wait to see the pictures. Maybe then someone will be able to identify the species. I'm real anxious to get a finish on my free mahogany that I used for my decks

[Ladyhawke]

This wood comes from Brazil....guaranteed. It is what I would call deep red...similar in color to Phillipine mahogany but nothing like it. It's extremely dense, heavy and does not float. Alot of it has the same grain patterns as is shown in the example of Makore in the list at the web address above. When coated with Penofin, it turns a reddish brown...almost like cherry. It's generally straight grained but alot of it has swirls. I have been using it for decking and trim in the cockpit. I can get all this stuff I want...I just have to get there before they burn it each week!

[jason stumpf]

ladyhawke, your wood-de-jour sounds a lot like brazillian cherry, aka jatoba. of course there are so many possibilities in the rain forest that speculation is probably foolish. but brazillian cherry is becoming more available here in nj (i've even seen some flooring distributers are pushing it for hardwood floors in houses). i've had some, and its beautiful. just made a door-sill for a new door-jamb in my father's house this week from an old scrap! that sill will no doubt outlast the building.....
jason

[Ladyhawke]

Brazilian cherry is the best guess I've heard yet. Here's where to find it: Find a "stocking dealer" lumberyard that handles Ironwood for decking. Ironwood comes in bundles that is "crated" on the outside with "junk" wood. There are anywhere from 12 to 20 pieces per bundle. Maybe 1/3 of this junk wood is what I've been using. The rest of it, about 4 or five kinds, although all dense hardwood, is an even bigger mystery. If all you want is free wood, take it all and sort it later. Last week, I found a highly figured piece of Honduran mahogany; only one I've ever found. There are nails every four feet. Pull them (small and easy) and either work around them or allow the holes to remain for "character." I'm hording the stuff like Scrooge. Hurry....these guys are going to wise up one of these days!

[Tom Lathrop]

My guess is that what you have is ipe, pronounced like yipaye. It's from South America, redish brown, hard, very heavy and used for decking a lot.

Wish I had an unlimited supply like you.

[ 08-18-2002, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: Tom Lathrop ]

[thechemist]

Originally posted by Tom Lathrop:
My guess is that what you have is ipe, pronounced like yipaye. It's from South America, redish brown, hard, very heavy and used for decking a lot.

Wish I had an unlimited supply like you.Ipe is also known commercially as Pau Lope, my woodworking associates tell me. Marvelously strong wood, but they report it loses its red color readily due to bleaching by sunlight. I have done some microscopic examination of it.....there is an unusual low-viscosity red oil in its many pores. That is likely to dissipate fairly quickly outdoors, and so I recommend some ultraviolet-blocking protection if you wish the color to last.

[bobkaschak]

Ladyhawk, does it look like this seat? If so, it might be Brazillian Cherry.
Bob K.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid29/p7c3ab592d8d330a5a1c12871216a8052/fd61eb9e.jpg

[Chadd Hamilton]

I get the same stuff, Ladyhawk from pallets used to ship Ipe decking here in my area. many are clear 3" x 3"s and look exactly like what you are describing. I took a piece to Ancor Hardwoods in Wilmington where Trevor identified it as Brazilian Cherry. In fact he had several of such crates as well. It's super hard and is just hell on my planer's blades, but it's very pretty and FREE!

[ 08-19-2002, 01:30 PM: Message edited by: BlueEarth ]

[Jim H]

Ladyhawke, try this site:

Cocobolo Inc. (http://www.cocoboloinc.com/)

You might find a match, they have good pics of their wood. Your description sounds like Bloodwood, but nobody in their right mind would make pallets out of that!

Jim

[Ladyhawke]

Bob Kaschak: It's IDENTICAL to your photo. Hell, it looks like MY deck, although I did not build with the spaces. I've done the entire cockpit area and it's so good, it looks like someone else did it! The boat is a 24' cabin runabout. I intend to do the interior with the highly figured stuff. (A boat photo is available at www.coolwoodies.com. (http://www.coolwoodies.com.) Blue Ridge Chapter. look under the name LADYHAWKE.)

[bobkaschak]

Ladyhawke, I wish I could get it for free. I buy mine from Curtis Lumber just north of Albany NY 800-724-WOOD. They have beautiful lengths, thicknesses, and decent prices. It seems stable so far, and I am curious how it will look after being in the sun a while? Darker? More red? Brown? etc etc. Love the boat by the way, God, that's nice!
Bob K.

[Dave Hadfield]

I used Jotoba for hardwood flooring in my house. Wonderful stuff. I needn't have bothered with a sub-floor!

It also doesn't rot very quick. I have had a 10 in piece sitting on the ground under my shop eaves for 4 years, untreated. No rot yet.

Heavy though.