What wood is this?

[Chris Railey]

I received this in a gift exchange and it was marked Ironwood. It is hard and dense. Has a bad smell when you grind it. The best way I found to work it is slow speed fairly sharp belts. Finishes like glass the photos have no finish just sanded to 800. I just thought Ironwood was way darker than this. In either case it is my new favorite non burled wood. Please let me know what you think.

 

[J. Doyle]

It's desert ironwood for sure. No doubt about it. It is light colored like that often.

 

[tkroenlein]

Yup, I love it.

 

[Chris Railey]

Yeah, I will be buying a tree of this stuff soon.

 

[MTBob]

Beautiful!

 

[Owl]

That is a beautiful handle of ironwood for sure.
Be aware that sunlight and oxidation can darken it over time.

 

[MTBob]

Be aware that sunlight and oxidation can darken it over time.

Does that happen with most/all woods?

 

[Kevin Zito]

It's desert ironwood for sure. No doubt about it. It is light colored like that often.

How can you tell the difference between the DIW and the rosewood (wood on cowboy Bowie)? To me they look almost the same. Either way, I love both, but would like to be able to spot the difference. @Chris Railey, beautiful wood for sure.

 

[Bruce McLeish]

It tastes different.

 

[Chris Railey]

I am sure it smells different this stuff smelled like a$$ when I was working it.

 

[tkroenlein]

First time I used it I kept checking my shoe because I thought I must have stepped in dog crap on the way to the shop.

 

[J. Doyle]

How can you tell the difference between the DIW and the rosewood (wood on cowboy Bowie)? To me they look almost the same. Either way, I love both, but would like to be able to spot the difference. @Chris Railey, beautiful wood for sure.

Many might not know the difference in a pic....or even in person. If the maker said either one was ironwood it would be believable. Both are rosewood.

Desert ironwood has very unique and distinguished grain characteristics both in chatoyance and in pattern. It has distinct but subtle fingerprint type pattern in the grain. If you come here, I can show examples of both.

 

[Chris Railey]

Finished knife. 30 layer Damascus and Ironwood. Turtles love Damascus.

 

[MTBob]

distinguished grain characteristics both in chatoyance

Chatoyance - a nifty word. Thanks, I learned something.

 

[Smallshop]

Finished knife. 30 layer Damascus and Ironwood. Turtles love Damascus.

very nice Chris!

 

[Kevin Zito]

Many might not know the difference in a pic....or even in person. If the maker said either one was ironwood it would be believable. Both are rosewood.

Desert ironwood has very unique and distinguished grain characteristics both in chatoyance and in pattern. It has distinct but subtle fingerprint type pattern in the grain. If you come here, I can show examples of both.

Gotcha. I’m coming... I have a buddy that just jumped in whole hog... fancy kmg and all. I think he is VERY interested in a beginner class.

sorry to hijack a thread here

 

[Kevin Zito]

I am sure it smells different this stuff smelled like a$$ when I was working it.

Definitely DIW lol!!!

 

[tmr]

smells like dog poo.......if you are cutting up a large chunk it kills the bandsaw blade and it plugs and ruins all the fine grits of grinding belts but worth it at the end of the day.....

 

[Doug Lester]

I don't know if all wood oxidizes to some degree but the one that I've found that will oxidize the most is North American Osage Orange.

Doug

 

[Smallshop]

I don't know if all wood oxidizes to some degree but the one that I've found that will oxidize the most is North American Osage Orange.

Doug

does it look better or worse after...?