Cocobolo Color Change with UV light?

Stephenstill05

Stephenstill05

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi everyone I am not sure if this is the right area but...

I myself and a few friends were interested in how much and what each step of a piece of cocobolo looks like before its cut and after it is exposed to uv light. Does it really change in color? If so how much? Just curious because it seems to look good in some cues with that rich red color. But not in others with that yellowish brown color. I just wanted to know. Ty


And if you know why?
 
Cocobolo when freshly cut is grey in color, it turns fairly quickly to the orangey color you see in cues. The yellow brown color you describe sounds like bocote to me. It isn't photoreactive.
 
Sunlight and air will darken Cocobolo up after being cut. Purple Heart is the same way. The process is slower for Cocobolo than for Purple heart. You can actually watch Purple Heart turn purple when exposed to direct sunlight.
 
Cocobolo is a love, hate relationship because of it's wide range in color, I keep it in 5 different areas of the shop so I don't mix the boards.
 
Stephenstill05 said:
Hi everyone I am not sure if this is the right area but...

I myself and a few friends were interested in how much and what each step of a piece of cocobolo looks like before its cut and after it is exposed to uv light. Does it really change in color? If so how much? Just curious because it seems to look good in some cues with that rich red color. But not in others with that yellowish brown color. I just wanted to know. Ty


And if you know why?
Click to expand...

Cocobolo is every color from a bright yellow orange to blackish brown and every color in between. Different parts of the same board will look like different wods. Some turns reddish with age, some brown , all get darker.
The country or origin is a fair predictor of initial appearance. I don't know of any wood that that has as much variance in color and grain.

Over the years I have found that the only way to get the wood you like is buy a lot and get rid of the stuff you don't like. It is cheap enough.
 
Ok the reason i ask is because i am having a cue made and i am concerned about the color of the forearm. It is the third from the left in the first picture and it looks brown. I wanted it red like in the second picture. will it change that much? cues.jpg

red cue.jpg
 
Sorry for double posting. but it will be from an outstanding cuemaker and it will be alright if it doesnt get to that red. I am more concerned on the hit of the cue. But having that red color in my cocobolo would definitely be a plus. please let me know any opinions experiences or even before and after pictures of some cocobolo. thanks again
 
IMO, your piece will darken some, but will not get any "red-er" than it is now. I too think that country of origin is the best predictor of whether the material ends up brown, dark brown, orange, red, etc, but it certainly does vary quite a bit.

It looks like it was cored, yes?

Mr H
 
I think once it is orange it's not really going to turn red. heres an image of some of my leatherworking tools with cocobolo handles. had them for a while.

IMG_0760.jpg


orange'ish red looks really nice too, and there's not too much difference between them.

***edit*** on this image they look almost the same colour, in 'flesh' they are different though
 
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I don't think it will get more red . Cocobolo is variation of rosewood . The closer to the equator , more consistent climate , the darker and duller the grain . Farther from the equator, less stable climate, the brighter and wilder the grain gets , with more contrasting colors . South American and mexican regions produce some of the most beautiful pieces. I've had some rough blanks , that I wanted to throw in the trash , that turned out to be beautiful . Your piece of cocobolo is what it is ....:eek:
 
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