100 plus Yrs Goncalo Alves !

Russell Cues

Russell Cues

Maverick Cue Builder
Silver Member
WOW did I luck out ! I went to visit dad a couple of days ago. His neighbor had just gotten some wood from a friend that is in his late 80's and said he would not be using it. He had had it for 60 yrs in his barn, he got it from a barn sale of a man who had passed. So safely this wood has been seasoned 100 yrs ? I had a local hardwood/ exotic wood dealer look at it and he said he wouldnt even attempt to count the rings.

This wood is beyond dry and stable. At first I thought it was rosewood, being the boards are so oxidized, but he sanded an end and said no its Goncalo ! I helped my dads neighbor move the wood from his van, the slabs are Heavy, 10ft+ , 18 inches wide and 4 inchs thick ! 200 pounds, I know I was carrying them to his garage ! lol.

the pics donot do the wood justice, alls I can say is I'm happy i went to visit dad 2 days ago !
 

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I have two boards that my friend gave me for helping him move those heavy a$$ slabs of this stuff ! I will cut one board into squares and Yes I will sell some of them lol . At first i thought i was rosewood as the boards and slabs are SOoooooo oxidized, but when you cut and plane it, it becomes clear its not rosewood.
 
Great find!!! I wouldn't sell a piece of it, unless you're just hard up for cash. You'll never get anything like it again, and neither will any other builder. When I find things like that, I get as much as I can possibly get, and I stash it away. If I part with it, it's because I give a piece or two to my cue making friends. But I never sell it. Even if I never have any plans of using it all up, I keep it. Wood is becoming very expensive and great wood is rare. It appreciates in value regardless of the economy. Look around for some old goncalo. Can you find any? Look how much cocobolo cost 10 years ago. I could buy it for like $6. Now it's $15. How about shaft wood? Know of any suppliers of great wood? And what's it cost compared to ten years ago? You found a treasure. Cherish it & hold on to it. If something happens to you, it'll be like money in the bank for your wife & kids.
 
Just because it has been stored for 100 years does not mean that it will not warp once it has been cut. I had a 4 x 4 x 30 piece of rosewood that was stored in someones barn for 25 years. When I cut into 1.5 in. squares and then to round they all turned. I was amazed as I figured it would be stable.
 
Brickcues said:
Just because it has been stored for 100 years does not mean that it will not warp once it has been cut. I had a 4 x 4 x 30 piece of rosewood that was stored in someones barn for 25 years. When I cut into 1.5 in. squares and then to round they all turned. I was amazed as I figured it would be stable.
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Ohh I never said it couldnt warp, just that it is as stable at its going to be. NO one could tell if a wood will warp due to internal stress or grain lines running off etc. But the odds are good its is less likely to warp after about 100 yrs of sitting and drying. Plus this is OLD growth wood for certain, if it doesnt warp during turning, chances are its going to remain straight. Atleast the chances are much greater. :)
 
OK if you are a cue builder, let me repeat that, if you are a cue builder, I will pm you where this wood was taken. It has been sold/traded to a local hardwood/exotic wood supplier. And as of yesterday it was still there.

PM me if you want the info, this wood id dense, heavy and you wont find old growth wood like this anywhere !
 
qbilder said:
Great find!!! I wouldn't sell a piece of it, unless you're just hard up for cash. You'll never get anything like it again, and neither will any other builder. When I find things like that, I get as much as I can possibly get, and I stash it away. If I part with it, it's because I give a piece or two to my cue making friends. But I never sell it. Even if I never have any plans of using it all up, I keep it. Wood is becoming very expensive and great wood is rare. It appreciates in value regardless of the economy. Look around for some old goncalo. Can you find any? Look how much cocobolo cost 10 years ago. I could buy it for like $6. Now it's $15. How about shaft wood? Know of any suppliers of great wood? And what's it cost compared to ten years ago? You found a treasure. Cherish it & hold on to it. If something happens to you, it'll be like money in the bank for your wife & kids.
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great advice there
 
Good score. It always makes me smile when I read things like this as every wood worker and cue collector dreams of the day.

I'm still waiting for my batch of Titlist cues and a Balabushka hidden in the pile.

Its like winning a mini lottery.
 
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