Thread: What do I have and why so much ?

So I noticed this wood getting tossed out. Hard and heavy. Hmmm nice brush maybe? Now I am in no hurry to start up another project but I grabbed a ton of it anyway. My second thought and why I grabbed so much was I also want a cool butcher block. A big one. Started thinking this wood may not be the best choice after all. I have taken it to Rocklers and the guys there were stumped and told me to come back when so and so was working. Of which I found out , no one knew when that would be. Then it dawned on me I have some pretty smart friends around here :<0)





What do you think ? Is it going to kill me to cut beef jerky or make a sandwich on it ? In trying to ID it on my own I come up with mahogany or walnut. Not sure if it came from South America or Washington. It is sticker material from a lift of Luan at HD store which makes me think mahogany. I cut off a piece and ran it across the belt grinder with 80 grit to see what's inside better. The crack/inclusion will take a paring knife all the way through. That was a small surprise.

Mahogany would be my guess.

Looks like mahogany to me also.

Cant help but it looks like a nice chunk of wood. I'd have grabbed it too.

Hey pups,

I'm no wood expert however have you tried sanding Lengthwise? I'm sure that you are aware that Mahogany is an 'open grain' wood and the 'pores' would still be very visible as they are quite noticeable.

Just a thought.

I am not convinced that it is mahogany, however mahogany is an interesting wood in that it comes in quite a few colours. I have a bunch in my crawl space and the grain is super tight on yours. There are so many different hardwoods that it could make your head spin. They publish large, multivolume books with just grain pictures and densities. If it is non pours enough to make a nice cutting block out of it then go for it. It will be an amazing butcher block, and you won't find hardwood for less.

It has open grain on the side but the end cut looks the best to me. I have a few light colored sticks and a couple with a reddish hew, maybe 20 in all 4' long.

The 2 sides and end you see on the small piece are sanded 80 grit on a platen .

I think it smells like mahogany too. Been 40 years since I worked it but the smell is familiar.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Hey pups,

I'm no wood expert however have you tried sanding Lengthwise? I'm sure that you are aware that Mahogany is an 'open grain' wood and the 'pores' would still be very visible as they are quite noticeable.

Just a thought.

Just like oak :<0)

Mahagony ...wood is relatively soft...f properly worked sanded and laquerwd it makes nice scales...brush handles...hell if you have enough of it you can even get a carpenter to bind it and make a cabinet for razor storage...the wood is a pleasure to work with and has realy perlescent grain in the light if laquered....if you make it into razor storage cabinet or box I sugest leaving the inside unlaquered...for moisture absorbance...beeing relatively soft and porous wit variable dwnsity...it takes up a bit more oil finish and laquer qould be more apropriate for it.

Nice catch! Make some scales from it they rrealy look nice...I did some in CA finish with black liners and brass spacer and washers... and I loved them

Teak......I could be wrong but I've seen Teak look very similar to this.