What is this wood species?

[David Wyke]

First time I have ever had to ask this question. I purchased several exotic blanks from someone several years ago. This is the only one left and was thinking of using it for the top on a lidded piece.
I am allergic to Morado which is a Bolivian Rosewood and this looks like it could be in the rosewood family. I turned just enough to get the wax off of it and expose the grain. It is dense, heavy for its size, and fairly hard. Size is 5-11/16” x 2-1/8” and weighs 2.2 pounds.
The oil in rosewood sends me to the doctor to get shots so I’m not turning anymore rosewood. This is the only wood I seem to have a reaction too and I’ve turned several exotic woods.
I’m a little hesitant to turn this so there’s a chance someone is going to get a free piece of wood

 

[David Wyke]

Couple more pics

 

[Bob Hall]

Could be Etimoe? Which is also known as African Rosewood. The blanks I have gotten have less black and more tans in them but it sure looks similar.

I am far from an expert.

These are a few bowls I have done using Etimoe Blanks.

Bob

 

[John Dillon]

Looks like Cocobolo to me.

It would have a pretty distinctive sweet smell (sweet to me anyway).

I’d be happy to pay shipping if you want to send it my way! Send me a PM if you want to get rid of it!

 

[David Wyke]

Looks like Cocobolo to me.

It would have a pretty distinctive sweet smell (sweet to me anyway).

I’d be happy to pay shipping if you want to send it my way! Send me a PM if you want to get rid of it!

Now it could be cocobolo, it did have the sweet smell. It’s been a couple years since I turned cocobolo but it didn’t have the streaks and was mostly black.
If it is coco I’ll have to rethink what I want to use it for!

 

[Joel Daniels]

Here’s a small cocobolo box:


Here’s a tray made from Morado:


Hard to tell - could be either.

 

[Tom Gall]

The oil in rosewood sends me to the doctor to get shots so I’m not turning anymore rosewood. This is the only wood I seem to have a reaction too and I’ve turned several exotic woods.

Cocobolo is in the rosewood family (Dalbergia). You may want to think twice if you react to rosewoods.

 

[Dean Center]

FWIW, African Blackwood is in the rosewood family, as well. Back in the day when regular people could afford to buy these woods, the word on rosewoods was, "It's not whether you'll become allergic to rosewoods, it's when." If you're allergic to one, you probably should assume you're allergic to all of the genus Dalbergia. Some of us can be OK if we use maximum respiratory protection, but not everyone. Really a pity, given how wonderful they family is to work and how attractive.

 

[David Wyke]

Cocobolo is in the rosewood family (Dalbergia). You may want to think twice if you react to rosewoods.

I just read that earlier. When I turned cocobolo I had no reaction but that was a year or so before turning Morado.
So this may go on the shelf with the Morado.

 

[John Dillon]

Interestingly Morado is not in the Rosewood family, although anyone can be sensitive to “just about any” wood species. There’s plenty of folks sensitized to Walnut among other species. Yes, the Rosewoods , and many other exotics, can be more problematic than the domestic varieties we use more regularly like Cherry, Maple, etc.

I do know an inordinate amount of folks who mention Cocobolo as a “super-sensitive”species in the Rosewood family. There’s people that can’t be in the same room where the dust is without sneezing and getting itchy.

 

[John K Jordan]

It looks much like Cocobolo to me too, at least looks much like some I have. HOWEVER, the end grain pores look large to me and too open. I usually turn it in spindle orientation (boxes, etc) so I don't have much experience with cutting across the end grain. Under the microscope many pores are often packed with a transparent resin that often looks orange. Maybe read the Identifiction section on this page:

Cocobolo | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

www.wood-database.com

But as with many species, there is much variation (and lots of look-alikes).

One thing very distinctive to me is the smell of Cocobolo when sanding a patch, bandsawing, or turning. Once smelled, it's hard to forget!
Maybe take it to a club meeting and ask others.

Another good website for seeing the color, grain, and figure of different species is Hobbithouseinc.

cocobolo

Note that a US citizen can send a sample of wood to a US laboratory for professional identification. I did this once to verify a species when learning to ID.

Some things I've turned from Cocobolo (I LOVE the way it turns).



One of these (from 2008) is Cocobolo - the one on the left.


Some people are highly allergic to Cocobolo (and other rosewoods). One guy refused to turn on any lathe that had ever had Cocobolo on it. A friend got so sensitive to it and some other species he gave up woodturning.

I've have a fairly large stash acquired almost by accident and have turned a bunch over almost two decades. (The seller had it labeled as Claro Walnut from California and I didn't know any better at the time. I bought it all since it looked nice, felt dense, and was inexpensive!) Although I have lots of respiratories sensitivities and can get asthma almost from looking at some things (hay, pollen, grasses, animal dander, etc) I've not yet been affected by Cocobolo.

One non-respiratory test for wood sensitivity: put a little dust on the skin (the inside of your forearm, for example) and cover with a bandaid. If sensitive, after a while it will start to itch or show a mild rash. I found out I was mildly affected by eastern red cedar by getting some fine dust under a wrist watch.

JKJ