Could be rosewood. I made a bandsaw box using brazilian rosewood a few years ago. Definitely very heavy and was dark in color.   Definitely the hardest wood I've worked with. I swore that I'd never use this again to make another BS box, though it did come out quite nice. I can take a photo of the box if you think it might help.

What were these timbers used for John?

John I was going by the slab of redwood I have had in one of my shops for 50 years. Its almost 5" thick and very heavy and for the same amount of years it has been in the way. The edges haven't been sanded and is about the same color as your block... Also just curious why would anyone bring an ugly block of Rosewood all that way from where is was a tree. At least if someone was to buy Rosewood to build furniture I would think slabs for close inspection would be the smartest way of choosing expensive wood like that.. just more thinking of why any one would think its that hard to find exotic stuff....

I think my slab is heavier that 80 lbs.

42 minutes ago, Smallpatch said:

John I was going by the slab of redwood I have had in one of my shops for 50 years. Its almost 5" thick and very heavy and for the same amount of years it has been in the way. The edges haven't been sanded and is about the same color as your block... Also just curious why would anyone bring an ugly block of Rosewood all that way from where is was a tree. At least if someone was to buy Rosewood to build furniture I would think slabs for close inspection would be the smartest way of choosing expensive wood like that.. just more thinking of why any one would think its that hard to find exotic stuff....

I don't think anyone is saying it's hard to purchase exotic woods, there is a great possibility the owner purchased the timbers locally from Frost Hardwoods of San Diego back in the day. I got the timbers from the shop of an old woodworker who passed away earlier this year, I came upon these timbers by helping to clear out the gents shop, his widow bestowed upon me quite an inventory of items for me to keep and use including these timbers.

 

The wood was sitting in a corner of his 70 yr old shop, she recalled the timbers being there for at least the last 50 years. He was a very talented woodworker, one of those rare finds of a woodworker, he also was a metal worker, leather worker, carver, hunter, traveler, he also made musical instruments so that would explain his need for rosewood quite possibly.

This man was so dynamic Jess, he even made his own woodworking machinery, he was quite incredible.

 

So now I have these timbers, and I want to place a value on them to sell. First I must accurately identify the wood.

Thanks for the educated guess on the wood species Jess, all are welcome!

11 hours ago, It Was Al B said:

Could be rosewood. I made a bandsaw box using brazilian rosewood a few years ago. Definitely very heavy and was dark in color.   Definitely the hardest wood I've worked with. I swore that I'd never use this again to make another BS box, though it did come out quite nice. I can take a photo of the box if you think it might help.

Sure it would help Al! Thanks so much!

4 hours ago, Cal said:

What were these timbers used for John?

Cal, see my reply to Jess, these may have been used for musical instruments, the man who owned them before made acoustic instruments, and rosewood is used through out, especially the fret boards. Just an assumption though, I do not know for sure, but these are truly very interesting pieces of lumber indeed!

John, here is a photo of the BS box. hope this helps

 The box was made using rosewood and cherry. What you see on the front is the rosewood. The handles are spalted maple

 

Edited August 25, 20187 yr by It Was Al B

John maybe I suggested purchasing Rosewood is hard to do, didn't mean it that way. You see I don't ever use wood that's very expensive. Don't need to for I can buy stain and colorant that will disguise wood to suit me and me is the first person that's important to me. And its kinda like the wood you are trying to identify for 99 % of the people I refinished furniture for when I had a shop way back when there was only light wood, dark wood, kinda reddish wood and kinda brownish wood and lots of colors in between and no one knew what wood I started with even though it was their furniture I was fixin to start working on...So to be true and honest I would suggest most all the wood workers you asked their opinion on what the wood was you are trying to sell and tell them they thought it is Rosewood....  

 

So buying Rosewood would be very hard for me to do......impossible might be a better word...

@Smallpatch, you and this gentleman who owned the Rosewood, would of gotten along great. Both very creative minds, and inventive. He was a rebel when it came to his woodwork.

@Smallpatchmost people who use rosewood , turners and plane & tool handles , leave the wood natural and some only apply wax. 

@John Morris you coul take it to a wood store to make a match. 

Thanks @Gerald, I could. I don't know why I had not thought of that. 

What I'd really like to know is with out a doubt, Indian or Brazilian. There is a difference in value, especially if the Brazilian is pre ban or not. From what I could gleen from other resources is the Rose that came from the Brazilian forests during the pre ban years is highly sought after. So after the ID process, I need to age it. 

John if you don't have the means to resaw it then take it to a shop that can. Then save it for after you retire. You could sticker it up in your attic or under the bed. What ever it is, keep it and don't let it warp.. New resawn wood does that real easy so be prepared...Only the resawn wood that is newly exposed to one side only is  bad... both sides need to be new exposed then not so bad about warping.

  What ever it is you already got it.

On 8/25/2018 at 11:43 AM, Smallpatch said:

John if you don't have the means to resaw it then take it to a shop that can.

Thanks Jess, you know, even if I had the means to re-saw these timbers, I'd still take it into a pro, those experienced sawyers, know just what to do and what parts to make quartered, flat, etc etc.

It's been air drying for 5 decades or more, with virtually zero cracks at the ends, they were painted too on one end. I think there is some spectacular lumber in there.

I'd hang on to it Jess, but really I don't have much interest in Rosewood, but as you know, when I retire, I am going to want to make something from Rosewood, and I am going to remember this discussion when ol Jess said, "Then save it for after you retire. You could sticker it up in your attic or under the bed." and I'll kick myself. 

ah ha, so it was a quiz with no answer.

 

very sneaky.

 

i'm not much for having a lot of stock laying around.  when i get ready to do a project, i go buy what i need, build it, and if there are any leftovers, they might get saved, or i'll do a small project to use them up.

 

so having a chunk of lumber for 50 years.....not something i can imagine happening.

 

i'd find a talented carver and let them have at it, or turn something on the lathe (how about a 90mm cannon shell?!).

 

finding stable, large pieces like that is hard, i'd think 3 times before i slabbed it out.  

 

 

@DAB, no this was not a quiz, if it was I would have told you all. 

I came here for opinions and conversation regarding our lumber. No quiz my friends. 

Thanks for your feedback Dab.

well, then, it is most definitely NOT migratory coconut.

 

so i'm equally stumped.

 

if it was in my shop, i'd look for something to make that used most of that up and make that.

 

but, if you can't say for certain what it is, then it's hard to sell it and demand a premium price for it.

 

"rosewood?  no way, that's migratory coconut, and i'm not paying rosewood prices for coconut.  $40, take it or leave it!"

 

 

Well if it's coconut, you got a great point! A trip to the local hardwood store will should yield results. 

All indicators lead to Rosewood. 

John, don't listen to that boy for he suggest someone should carve that much 
Rosewood. He done lost his mind! 

John, perhaps you can get in contact with someone from the International Wood Collectors Society to help in identifying the wood. Danl