Another vote for Maple, and if you cannot put a dent into it with a fingernail then I'd guess Hard Maple
no really, I mean Hard Maple as in Sugar Maple or Rock Maple (Acer saccharum.)Dennis
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| The Mystery wood http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=22712 |
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| Author: | Patrick Kirkham [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | The Mystery wood |
I'm not sure this will work well. Someone gave me this wood 3 piece laminate about 6 feet long 3" x 3" used as an elevator guide. It's hard enough I can't dent or scratch it with my fingernail and the grain is attractive perhaps for necks. The orientation of the laminate is quartersawn. I just have no idea what it is. Anyone take a stab at this? I realize identifying from pictures is hard, but right or wrong I would like to call it something besides "that wood" |
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| Author: | SteveCourtright [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Maple, me thinks. |
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| Author: | Tom West [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Pat : My guess is maple or birch. |
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| Author: | Shane Neifer [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
I'm with Steve, maple. It would be good to see the edge as well as most woods are a little more distinctive when viewed on the face and the edge. Shane |
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| Author: | Dennis Leahy [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Another vote for Maple, and if you cannot put a dent into it with a fingernail then I'd guess Hard Maple no really, I mean Hard Maple as in Sugar Maple or Rock Maple (Acer saccharum.)Dennis |
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| Author: | MRS [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Walnut  My real answer is birch.
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| Author: | jackwilliams [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
birch |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Looks like maple to me. |
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| Author: | Randolph [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Another one for maple |
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| Author: | Shane Neifer [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
It does not look like ANY birch I have seen (and I have seen a fair bit). Shane |
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| Author: | Bill Hodge [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
I've got a load of stock lumber left over from my furniture building days. I have Maple, Birch, Black Walnut, Poplar, and American Black Cherry. On occasion, some of the Birch in color can be similar to the Cherry. However, the patterns on the wood make them easy to distinguish from each other and even more when sanded. I've never seen Maple in that color and I have a lot of Hard and Soft Maple. I say it looks like Cherry based upon the posted pic and the grain (annular ring pattern) at least on my 32" HDTV computer screen.  And if you desire, I can take pics of some of my stock and post it for comparison. Cherry was the primary wood I used to build most of my fine furniture. Maple was next. Birch was more for hidden framework along with Poplar. Soooooo..... Cherry! 
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| Author: | Shane Neifer [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Bill, The colour is definately on the "cherry" side of things but there is a lot of Big Leaf (western) Maple that tends to that shade (the lower pic). I too consdiered cherry but the grain structure is just not there for me on cherry. Google images of the various woods and you will see that birch has a much softer grain pattern (that is my experience as well) than in the pics, cherry is a bit more "course" typically (to my eyes anyway, but not much more) and this piece is bang on Western Maple. Did I vote Western Maple yet? ![[:Y:]](./images/smilies/smiley20.gif "Thumbs Up") Shane |
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| Author: | Bill Hodge [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Shane, I'm not totally convinced but it is possible you're right. I know Maple is easier to dent with your nail than Cherry is but that depends on how hard your nails are too.  My nails are as hard as... well, nails! I can't dent Cherry easily but I can Maple. I've added a pic from a piece of Cherry I have sitting around my shop, and a Cherry OM style that is a WIP both pics without flash. The board above I do admit resembles Maple but......
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| Author: | Dennis Leahy [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
I think the pinkish cast of the photo, oxidation, and surface grime are subtle red herrings to fool our eyes and make us think Cherry. Cherry was my first thought, but the grain looks a lot more like Maple to me. Alright Patrick, sand 'er down and let's see what fresh sanded wood looks like. Dennis |
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| Author: | SniderMike [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
My first thought was birch or maple. I don't think you can really trust the color from a snapshot on a computer. |
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| Author: | Bill Hodge [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Dennis Leahy wrote: I think the pinkish cast of the photo, oxidation, and surface grime are subtle red herrings to fool our eyes and make us think Cherry. Cherry was my first thought, but the grain looks a lot more like Maple to me. Alright Patrick, sand 'er down and let's see what fresh sanded wood looks like. Dennis SniderMike wrote: My first thought was birch or maple. I don't think you can really trust the color from a snapshot on a computer. I agree that these are both possible and quite likely probable. I think Dennis is right about sanding it for a better look. I actually meant to suggest that but forgot to add it to my previous post. If you have a drum sander Patrick, run it through on a light pass or two and post another pic. That ought to settle it. I've been wrong before and certainly could be again. At least, I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken. 
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| Author: | Rick Davis [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
If it's cherry, a little sanding ought to release the aroma ... I hope they weren't using cherry for elevator guides! And yes, "rock" or "sugar" maple can be as hard as cherry, maybe harder. |
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| Author: | Bill Hodge [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Rick Davis wrote: If it's cherry, a little sanding ought to release the aroma ... Ahhhh yes, the aroma. Kinda like old dirty socks.
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| Author: | MRS [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
I'm gonna stick with birch. 
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| Author: | Mike_P [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
its rather hard to tell...I'm guessing maple birch and maple are similar, but upon close examination (which is rather hard because of the resolution of those images) one will notice certain differences... the grain pattern on maple usually has a pinkish tint and is also smoother...the growth rings on birch tend to be rougher...one factor I've found to be very telling is when a tad of stain is applied...the pores on birch grab it more and give a salt and pepper appearance... |
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| Author: | Shane Neifer [ Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
So here are some more crappy pictures (the only kind I know how to take! Western Maple Attachment: WM1.jpg Eastern Maple Attachment: EM1.jpg Paper Birch (Quartersawn on the wide face) Attachment: PB1.jpg The Western Maple I have is hard, I can't dent it with my fingernails.....that is typical for the western maple I have used from British Columbia and I have used a LOT of it. Cherry I am weaker on, I have only really done a few things in cherry. Anyway, these are just more pictures and really don't help to answer the question but hey....it's wood! Who doesn't like looking at wood? Shane |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
You are right Shane, almost as good as looking at a beautiful woman (I said ALMOST!) (my appologies to any gals here, I just could not make myself say the converse) Shane, do I owe you some data on board sizes still? I have been a bit OBE lately, still want those planks. I think I owe you some large format paper drawings too... Mike |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
To the OP, what does it smell like? If anything? It does look like maple...that was my first impression... but the color... I dunno. Mike |
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| Author: | Patrick Kirkham [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
Sorry for the late reply, I work 2nd shift and slept in. I sanded lightly and cleared it off a bit. Here are some new shots with incandescent and flash |
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| Author: | Mike_P [ Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Mystery wood |
after seeing those flecks on the edges of those 2 quartersawn outside pieces I'm pretty confident that is maple.. |
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