Official Luthiers Forum!
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/

What kind of wood is this?
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=31649
Page 1 of 1

Author:  YJ John [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:57 am ]
Post subject:  What kind of wood is this?

Hi, I am plotting build #4. Likely a 00 shortscale I found a nice tight grain Sitka top. I went to the wood pile from my buy out. This is one I can't put a positive ID on.
What is it? How is it to work? Bend Temp/time? To date I have only bent/built with Mahogany and Sycamore. What would you say it's tonal Spice to be?
Image
Image
Image

Its only marking is OLF 18
I was digging for some very old Indian Rosewood I have and I came across this set. What do you think for a 00? Thanks guys!

Author:  Bailey [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

Looks like Bocote.
I have a couple sets but haven't used them yet....so no experience in bending.

Kent

Author:  Sondre [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

cocobolo?

Author:  Stuart Gort [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

The coloring and grain is just like Mexican Cocobolo but these pieces have a lot more anolomolies than I'm used to seeing.

viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=31131

That's a few shots of some Mexican Cocobolo I used for some fretboards. It was so beautiful I went out and bought enough for 32 more guitars :)

Author:  Corky Long [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

Hey John,

Looks like it might be Cocobolo, based on the oranges in the second picture.

If it is cocobolo, you'll want to be very careful sawing and sanding it. Some can be very allergic to it. Good dust collection, masks, change your clothes afterward and put em right in the laundry. I'm sure some will say they have no problem with it and that's overkill, but for me, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Nice looking set, by the way. When you tap it, does it ring like a bell? Cocobolo's very dense - very clear, "bell-like" taptone. If so, it can make a great fingerstyle guitar. I think it's a lot like the other dense rosewoods, like Brazilian, Amazon, etc.

Author:  Clay S. [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

It also looks like bocote to me, but it could be a number of different woods.You might want to do a scratch and sniff test and report back. The bocote I've used wasn't strongly fragrant, most of the rosewoods are.

Author:  WaddyThomson [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

Sand it a little. If the smell is like a rosewood(a little like cinnamon), and the dust is sort of yellow/orange and sticks to everything due to the oil in it, it's probably Cocobolo.

Author:  YJ John [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

I am going to guess Bocote then. Little or no smell. I yanked out a set of Cocobolo. The Cocobolo is about 1/2 a times heavier, denser and rings longer. Actually the first set is kinda thuddy. The first set has really cool black jagged lines. The Coco is swirly. Would this wood be a cutaway candidate?
My dust system so far is a rolling shop vac and a Delta Micron fan/collector (sounds like a small jet!). I don't think I am ready for Cocobolo. Although....... I am only a week or so from being able to open the window in the shop.
I was so lucky. My shop stayed at 38-42% all winter. Almost time to kick on the de-humidifier.
Bocote and Sitka? 00 shortscale?

Sitka or grab an Adi top? I love the lines on Adi!
Image

Author:  WilliamS [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

It looks like bocote to me as well.

Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

Yet another vote for Bocote. Sand it a bit, and if it smells like dill pickles, that's a good indicator it IS in fact Bocote. Same genus as Ziricote, so it should make a fine guitar.

Steve

Author:  Mike Baker [ Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

Whatever it is, it's so nice I'd build with it regardless.

Author:  Mike Baker [ Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

Whatever it is, it's so nice I'd build with it regardless.

Author:  klooker [ Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

Bocote.

And I think Bocote smells like pickles also.

Kevin Looker

Author:  SimonF [ Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What kind of wood is this?

No question about it -- definitely Bocote.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/