Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: youngbowyer33 on May 22, 2018, 05:46:56 pm

Title: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 22, 2018, 05:46:56 pm

I got this piece of wood for free a long time ago and wasn't sure what it was, and still am not sure. Its a perfect size for a longbow. I think it might be padauk or sapele, but I don't think its red enough to be bloodwood. It does look more dark red/orange in person though. If someone is pretty sure what it is, will it be okay for a elb, backed with hickory, or maybe bamboo if I can find some? Thanks for checking it out

(https://i.imgur.com/wqhr4Nw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/5VxFLE3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1dWc88j.jpg)

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Hrothgar on May 22, 2018, 07:10:37 pm

Being tropical can make it hard to see the rings. Does it seem comparatively heavy or dense?

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 22, 2018, 07:40:14 pm

 Yes it is definitely a heavy dense wood

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Hamish on May 22, 2018, 08:45:44 pm

Sapele is light/medium in weight, paduak is more a medium weight. Neither of them would be a good choice for a longbow

Hard to tell from the photo's what kind of wood it is.

Can you get an end grain photo?

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 22, 2018, 09:08:49 pm

hows this? I could maybe clean it up

(https://i.imgur.com/qTWi09N.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1PnddfU.jpg)

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 22, 2018, 09:52:04 pm

hmmm could it be a dark rosewood?

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Mounter on May 22, 2018, 10:05:03 pm

PRetty sure it’s not padauk... looks like some goncol alves I have... aka, tiger wood

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 22, 2018, 10:12:28 pm

huh that may be what I thought it was closer to when I got it. But I thought it was too red

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Mounter on May 22, 2018, 10:51:38 pm

I have serveral pieces. It can vary.. if I can figure out how to post picks again I’ll try tomorrow.


Dam photobucket.

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Msturm on May 22, 2018, 10:59:51 pm

That looks a lot like some of the sapele I have worked with. I used to make spearguns out of it frequently. It looks like a dense piece. I think it would make great riser material but I wouldn't chance making a bow from it.

Msturm

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: mullet on May 23, 2018, 06:20:33 am

I've seen Ipe that had a reddish look to it, especially if it has dried enough to lose some of the oils in it.

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: bushboy on May 23, 2018, 06:40:23 am

Mahogany?

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Bayou Ben on May 23, 2018, 10:00:10 am

I've seen ipe that looks just like that.  I've never seen rosewood or paduak that looks like that.  I don't know about the other species mentioned. 

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 23, 2018, 07:51:02 pm

Hmm, sounds and looks like maybe ipe or goncalo alves. Thanks, I'll see what I can do with it

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Hamish on May 23, 2018, 08:24:14 pm

Apart from not being purple, it looks like purpleheart, in terms of end grain, long grain figure.
If you can't easily dent it with a fingernail, it might be usable.  Goncalo Alves is one of those woods where there can be a great deal of difference depending on the actual tree it is cut from. Some is stripey, some isn't.
I would probably go with a flat cross section on the belly, as it will have less likelihood to chrysal.

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Bayou Ben on May 23, 2018, 09:13:21 pm

After looking at the end grain photo again and comparing it the ipe I have, I don’t think it’s ipe.  The pores are too big and spaced too far apart. 

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 23, 2018, 09:54:40 pm

It feels a bit like Ash in terms of hardness but seems fairly heavy, I'm gonna try it out for sure, maybe as just a side project. I also have a board of ipe and I need some more practice before I use it

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Ryan Jacob on May 24, 2018, 04:53:09 am

Huh, end grain looks black palm-ish. Don’t take my word for it though.

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: Marc St Louis on May 24, 2018, 06:55:50 am

It's not Rosewood and if it's very heavy then it's not Tigerwood either.  My guess is Ipe

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: youngbowyer33 on May 27, 2018, 09:24:19 pm

Ipe on the right, unknown on the left. The ipe sank, and the unknown floated then was suspended. It was more orange when it was fresh cut but I forgot to take a picture without it being wet. I'm going to try a light elb with it because its only about an inch wide, maybe hickory backed for a nice contrast but I hope it won't overpower it


(https://i.imgur.com/l4Ffkgt.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JcoyKCQ.jpg)

Title: Re: Orange/Red/Brown Tropical Wood I.D.
Post by: bushboy on May 28, 2018, 02:06:12 am

That pic does look like Panama rosewood abit.does it have a certain smell when worked?