Found what looks to be Mahogany...

I found what looks to be mohagany that still has wax on it. These blocks of mohagany are about 8 inches long and 1-3 inches thick. They were found in a lumber free box and plenty more so I have opportunity to get lots if needed. Im wondering who might help me figure out what I could do with these. They aren't large pieces to work with but I figured ask here first before it becomes a burn target. I know I will have to get rid of the wax before I do any work to them.

 

They look more like no longer seen Brazillian Rosewood,dalbergia nigra.Chocolate brown to dark purple with black streaks & spider web like veining.The color/pattern is from very old trees that had started to degrade a bit.Some of those old trees cut in eastern Brazil back in mid--late 19th century until the 1930s were gigantic, their heart centers were often hollowed out with age even though they were still alive when harvested.

Though that could be some denser Black Walnut pieces with curl,like it was cut from near the roots or stump also.It also can have blackish veins/streaks,especially if the tree was under stress at one time years ago.

I have about 40lbs of small random blocks of BR that has to be 50+ yrs old.Bought them cheap many years ago.Most likely cut offs from a luthier or other musical instrument maker.


Dalbergia nigra - Wikipedia


I sure wouldn't burn them,quite possibly local wood turners/other artists would pay you for them & be ecstatic to happen upon such a find.....

 

This is definitely making my curiosity curiouser and curiouser. I dont know what else to really do about wood turners but I'll put an ad out for sure. My junkwood" spelunking" days have just begun! Its a really prett wood and has a bit of a nutty like smell. I almost didnt take some because they looked treated but upon a closer look, it looked like it was dipped in parrafin wax or the like. Thanks for all these inputs, I'll do more research and maybe if necessary go take it to a professional sawyer and see what he or she has to say about it.

 

Could be any number of tropical species. There are literally hundreds of species of tropical trees per hectare of rainforest. You would need an expert to I.D. species. Generally, you should have a very thin section of the endgrain and longitudinal section, similar to this:

Viewed on magnification similar to this:

 

You know i have the same feeling Im doing the same thing when i cut my burls. Just the bigger thicker version of the same idea but I doubt this large scale lumber yard is really going heavy on exotics. Likely sticking to more "known" but I have some oiled mohagany and the grain looks right. Worst i can do is just ask a bunch of folks who know their woods in person.
Honestly when I saw your picture I kept thinking about Concussion and when the dr is taking many brain specimen to slides. These do look like some kind of end cuts though!

 

I had someone tell me that this might be Ipe wood. Im looking at my photo and a stock photo. I also picked up some more today and one slab is about 18 inches long. The rest are those similar sized blocks I was saying about. While this is not conclusive, Im seeing what looks like deckwood online and this looks very much like the wood I have, thickness and dimensions alike. If Its anything Im likely to use it for knife scales as it is super dense and really hardy as a wood. Maybe a penmaker would like this ? Its not much to work with but looks like if it gets some kind of oil treatment it might be good for a table replacement or topping of some kind?

 

Eric Im honestly not sure what I may do but it was still a neat find though. Should read up some more on this wood.

 

Good stuff, whatever it is.

 

I'm not sure, my first thoughts were mohagony and maybe teak. But I think Thistle could be right with Brazilan Rosewood. Very rare to find these days. If it is BR it will be much harder than the mohagony. Might be a good EBay sell.

Never heard of Ipe wood.

Here's the only thing I have of BR..