Timber identification

Talk about musical instrument construction, setup and repair.

Moderators: kiwigeo, Jeremy D

Post Reply
benldwyer
Sassafras
Posts: 43
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:57 pm

Timber identification

Post by benldwyer » Sat Dec 22, 2018 5:35 pm

Hi All,
Hope everyone is having a good festive season so far.
I aquired a large slab of wood when I lived in WA (it's not necessarily from WA originally) and I have no idea what species it is. I was going to build a couple of tables out of it but who needs a table when you've got guitars...
Does anyone know what it might be? The photos are of a small off cut.
Thanks in advance!
Ben
Attachments
Resized_20181221_184448_268428645135620.jpeg
Resized_20181221_184521_268386221285612.jpeg

User avatar
demonx
Blackwood
Posts: 1395
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:55 pm
Location: Ballarat Victoria
Contact:

Re: Timber identification

Post by demonx » Sat Dec 22, 2018 6:45 pm

Not the best pics, so I’ll throw out a guess of Qld Maple, but due to the pics I wouldn’t even bet a dollar on that guess!

blackalex1952
Blackwood
Posts: 776
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:36 pm
Location: North East Victoria

Re: Timber identification

Post by blackalex1952 » Sat Dec 22, 2018 8:52 pm

The Aussie timbers are ,sadly, under represented on the international timber database. But the starting point for I.D. of this timber might be to get a close up of the end grain using strong magnification having cut the end grain with a sharp blade eg a hand plane, low angle if you have one, then a shot of the quarter and backsawn surfaces, along with a sample that has been weighed and cut to a size which can be converted to a density per cubic metre. Then send the info to an appropriate Aussie university and the scientists there may know where to look for the info re id. Also if possible, a photo of one of the trees along with photos of the fruiting buds, the seeds and the leaves up close. The end grain shot, magnified, will show the structure of the wood fibres. Check the wood databases first.
Cheers! Ross
Attachments
P1030821.JPG
A sample of the kind of photo I'm talking about...
"Everything I say on the topic is based solely upon inexperience and assumption!"

User avatar
Joseph Jones
Myrtle
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:56 am
Location: Narrikup WA

Re: Timber identification

Post by Joseph Jones » Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:23 pm

Could still be Jarrah.
I have several different looking Jarrah boards in a tabletop I’m currently building,(all cut from the same forest) some of which looks very similar to your piece. This stuff is very light in weight and chips easily when routed or chiseled. Hope the picture works!

Joseph
E2A1B8EF-C0A0-4ADF-9930-5D0A6724906D.jpeg
Looks whitish in photo but is more orange.
The stone is hard and the drop is small but a hole is made by the constant fall.

User avatar
colburge
Blackwood
Posts: 344
Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2012 11:14 am
Location: Upper Caboolture

Re: Timber identification

Post by colburge » Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:42 am

I agree with Allen, it might be QLD Maple, it does have that look about it. QLD Maple does have a very distinct smell about it when cut.

Col

benldwyer
Sassafras
Posts: 43
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:57 pm

Re: Timber identification

Post by benldwyer » Sun Dec 23, 2018 5:25 pm

Thanks everyone, i will post a better close up photo shortly, and do the smell test, i have been cutting up some qld maple so will compare. I did think the grain looked like qld maple, but it's very orange..so thought maybe not. I definitely hope it is qld maple, i love it!

blackalex1952
Blackwood
Posts: 776
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:36 pm
Location: North East Victoria

Re: Timber identification

Post by blackalex1952 » Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:39 pm

I was going to build a couple of tables out of it but who needs a table when you've got guitars...
For many years, I couldn't afford a table, because I used to mainly eat off my guitars....It's called "doing gigs for money!!!!!" :mrgreen:
The other pathway to abject poverty, in this country it seems, is to develop a passion for making them! Doing both seems to be a recipe for disaster sometimes!!! Not for the faint hearted! :mrgreen:
Cheers! Ross
"Everything I say on the topic is based solely upon inexperience and assumption!"

Dave M
Blackwood
Posts: 595
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:44 am
Location: Somerset UK

Re: Timber identification

Post by Dave M » Sun Dec 23, 2018 10:16 pm

If it's not an Aus timber it looks an awful lot like Sapele. Dave
------------------
Dave

benldwyer
Sassafras
Posts: 43
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:57 pm

Re: Timber identification

Post by benldwyer » Wed Dec 26, 2018 2:02 pm

Maybe some help?
Attachments
20181226_130225.jpg
20181226_125847.jpg

User avatar
peter.coombe
Blackwood
Posts: 723
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:52 pm
Location: Bega, NSW
Contact:

Re: Timber identification

Post by peter.coombe » Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:14 am

Looks like Queensland Maple to me.
Peter Coombe - mandolin, mandola and guitar maker
http://www.petercoombe.com

User avatar
Joseph Jones
Myrtle
Posts: 77
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:56 am
Location: Narrikup WA

Re: Timber identification

Post by Joseph Jones » Thu Dec 27, 2018 10:11 am

Looks nothing like Jarrah.

Joseph
The stone is hard and the drop is small but a hole is made by the constant fall.

User avatar
demonx
Blackwood
Posts: 1395
Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:55 pm
Location: Ballarat Victoria
Contact:

Re: Timber identification

Post by demonx » Thu Dec 27, 2018 5:27 pm

I’m still sticking with my first comment!

However if you’ve got QLD Maple there to do a side by side comparison, you’ll probably be able to answer this yourself. Check the smell of it fresh cut side by side too

User avatar
Steve.Toscano
Blackwood
Posts: 489
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:43 pm
Location: Port Stephens NSW

Re: Timber identification

Post by Steve.Toscano » Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:25 pm

everything about it looks like typical QLD Maple to me.

blackalex1952
Blackwood
Posts: 776
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 6:36 pm
Location: North East Victoria

Re: Timber identification

Post by blackalex1952 » Sat Dec 29, 2018 11:33 pm

Agreed, from the close ups...Qld Maple....great material!
Cheers! Ross
"Everything I say on the topic is based solely upon inexperience and assumption!"

benldwyer
Sassafras
Posts: 43
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:57 pm

Re: Timber identification

Post by benldwyer » Fri Jan 04, 2019 6:54 pm

Thanks everyone! Pretty happy I can carve it up for some instruments and eat dinner on the couch...

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google and 113 guests