WOW #8 Goncalo Alves

R

RSB-Refugee

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This week's wood, Goncalo Alves is definitely, no plain jane. I really like the look of this one.

Goncalo Alves, scientifically known as Astronium graveolens is a member of the Anacardiaceae family.

Goncalo Alves is a large tree, 120 feet tall and 24-40 inches in diameter. It grows in South America, from Mexico Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil, Honduras and Equador. The lumber from Hondras and Venezuela, is heavier than that from Brazil and Columbia. The heavier variety has a specific gravity of .84 while the lighter is .75. That is a fairly big difference in weight.

When freshly cut, Goncalo Alves heartwood is russet brown, orange brown, or reddish brown to red with narrow to wide irregular stripes of medium to very dark brown. After exposure it becomes brown, red, or dark reddish brown with nearly black stripes. The dingy grayish or brownish-white sapwood, 2 to 4 in. wide, is sharply demarcated. The wood often has a striking figure caused by irregular dark longitudinal bands.

Goncalo Alves has a Janka Hardness of 2160. As a reminder, hard maple is rated at 1450 on this scale.

As always photgraghs of outstanding examples of this species are welcomed. Please feel free to add any information that you may have, or correct anything you feel I got wrong.

Tracy
 
There is not much to say about this specie except that it is not very pretty but so very stiff...

The cuemaker who used this wood the most was probably Jerry Franklin in his SW's.

TIP: When sawing the boards (is cheaper than squares), make sure you put some parrafine on the blade in order to avoid the wood to block and dammage the blade. After having sawed the board for about 8 to 10 inches, insert a V shaped piece of wood in the space caused by the blade. That will separate the wood a little wich makes the sawing part a lot easier.
 
Penrose Cues said:
There is not much to say about this specie except that it is not very pretty but so very stiff...

The cuemaker who used this wood the most was probably Jerry Franklin in his SW's.

TIP: When sawing the boards (is cheaper than squares), make sure you put some parrafine on the blade in order to avoid the wood to block and dammage the blade. After having sawed the board for about 8 to 10 inches, insert a V shaped piece of wood in the space caused by the blade. That will separate the wood a little wich makes the sawing part a lot easier.
Click to expand...

I use Goncalo Alves in some of my cues and I think it's very pretty wood, plus it hits excellent as well. I'll Post a pic of the cue in the gallery, check it out.
Jon
 
I have been reading the different posts about various wood species. Though I should chime in to say thanks. I am a wood freak too. Thanks alot and keep 'em coming.
 
What I ment with not so pretty, is the fact that this wood can only be combined with very dark wood (ebony, grenadillo, African blackwood) to obtain a nice cue....

If you combine it with light colored wood or ivory, in most cases, it looks ugly.

That's the reason.

Tom Penrose
 
alves

Penrose Cues said:
What I ment with not so pretty, is the fact that this wood can only be combined with very dark wood (ebony, grenadillo, African blackwood) to obtain a nice cue....

If you combine it with light colored wood or ivory, in most cases, it looks ugly.

That's the reason.

Tom Penrose
Click to expand...
Tom, I disagree with it being ugly. Much of it, [ pick out whats nice], is very nice, and can be mixed with any woods. About Franklin using more than others, I again disagree. In the early 80's about 60% of the cues I built were made with alves, for about three yrs. Back then I was building around 600 to 700 cues a year. Me, my son, my wife and one helper. We were really busy, for a small custom cue shop.

I was in South America in late 1979 and early 1980 and saw first hand many pallets stacked with alves. I had a friend bring me 3 pallets of it back on his shrimboat, from the Amazon region.
It plays very good, has a good solid feel, almost like bocote, but it hits a little harder than bocote.
blud
 
who knows

RSB-Refugee said:
This one will probably get at least three seperate responses. ;) How is it pronounced? One syllable or two?

Tracy
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Hi Tracy, I have not a clue, I quite school after two weeks in the 9th grade. Hell, I'm still showing them. ha ha
blud
2
 
blud said:
Hi Tracy, I have not a clue, I quite school after two weeks in the 9th grade. Hell, I'm still showing them. ha ha
blud
2
Click to expand...
You made it two weeks longer than my grandpa did. :) I'm glad that, it turned-out okay for you, Blud. If any kids are reading this, stay in school. ;)

Ohhhhh...
Back 2 School
Back 2 School
To Prove To Dad That I'm Not A Fool
I've Got My Lunch Packed Up,
My Boots Tied Tight,
I Hope I Don't Get In A Fight

Tracy
 
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