Hey folks, I have couple very heavy timbers. The one I planed a little bit to expose the color is about 24" long and 12"x12". It weighs about 80 lbs, very heavy. 

The timber on the floor is twice as long and twice as heavy. Very dense. The timbers are about 50 years old. 

I have been told what the original owner says it is, but without any influence, I wondered if you guys can tell me what species this is. Thanks for any help.

 

how about a pix of the end grain

Chestnut.

I'll see if I can cut a slice of end grain off Lew to expose fresh grain. 

@DAB thought it might be Chestnut. I think most chestnut was grown in the eastern US. It could have made its' way west.

 

End grain of chestnut-

I think it's too dense to be anything from North America. 

1 hour ago, lew said:

@DAB thought it might be Chestnut. I think most chestnut was grown in the eastern US. It could have made its' way west.

 

End grain of chestnut-

well, coconuts are migratory (per Monty Python), so perhaps Chestnuts are migratory too, albeit in a different pattern.

Here is another picture. The underside. I don't know why I didn't post this side. 

A knowledgeable gentleman on FB stated this is Indian Rosewood, the original owners of these timbers stated these are Brazilian Rosewood. What y'all think? But the fact that my FB friend stated Rosewood, is convincing, since the owners stated Rosewood as well. Two collaborative opinions that agree.

 

 

ah, a rose by any other name would still be a rose.....

 

i'm sticking with migratory coconut then.  

 

red wood

What do the shavings taste like? do they have a distinct Pepper" taste?

 

Herb

Edited August 24, 20188 yr by Dadio

Almost looks like Bubinga to me. 

4 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

red wood

The one timber, about 2 feet long by 12 inches and 12 inches, weighs about 80lbs, it's heavvvvvvy! I don't think it's Redwood Jess.

I can see rosewood . Have not worked Brazilian but have worked Indian and looks like it. But what is the difference between the two?

Just found this: Distinguishing Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian and Other Rosewoods

@John Morris

Edited August 25, 20188 yr by Gerald

1 minute ago, Gerald said:

I can see rosewood . Have not worked Brazilian but have worked Indian and looks like it. But what is the difference between the two?

I don't know what the difference is Gerald, I have googled images of the two side by side, and I see no difference.

So looking at the reference I gave above definitely Indian.

@Gerald, thanks for the links, I am going to perform the test they suggest:

Quote

For suspected samples of Brazilian Rosewood, take a small test tube or other small transparent container and fill it with some shavings, (a handplane works great for this), and then fill the remainder of the container with water and shake it up for a few seconds. Bring the container under the blacklight and observe the results: true Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) will not fluoresce or show any appreciable change of color under the blacklight, while most other rosewoods will glow a pale blue/green color.

 

@Gerald, is it because of the purplish hue in the original image above you are calling it Indian?

The grain pattern and the fact they say it has streaks and brazilian is mostly chocolate brown. The Indian I have worked is not a chocolate brown.

50 minutes ago, Gerald said:

The grain pattern and the fact they say it has streaks and brazilian is mostly chocolate brown. The Indian I have worked is not a chocolate brown.

Thanks Gerald, now to place a value on the timbers. Hmmm, been looking around and I could have a couple highly valuable timbers on my hands, specially as old as they are, seasoned for 50 years, they may be attractive to Luthiers.