underrated wood
- Thread starter jeprox
- Start date
Hands down...BACOTE...JER
Underrated, bloodwood and pernambuco.
Overrated, all burls.
Overrated, all burls.
Ziricote is under rated. It hits much nicer than Ebony, but works and finishes pretty much like Ebony. Although it is not black like Ebony, it is a good dark colored alternative to the off color Ebonies. Bocote has already been mentioned. It is hard to beat the looks of wide grain Bocote and it plays really good. Wenge is another underated wood. It plays good and weighs in about right for many purposes and light colored inlays really pop in it. It is a little tough to finish, but is well worth the effort.
One of the most over rated is African Blackwood. I think it should be called African Brown wood. I see no advantages to it over Ziricote or Ebony in looks or hit.
One of the most over rated is African Blackwood. I think it should be called African Brown wood. I see no advantages to it over Ziricote or Ebony in looks or hit.
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thanks for the reply
gentlemen, thanks for the answers. learned something again today.
what about ironwood, its rare and usually commands a high price. anyone one had an experience wih this wood? how is it in terms of solid hit, workability and does it justify the price?
thanks again.
gentlemen, thanks for the answers. learned something again today.
what about ironwood, its rare and usually commands a high price. anyone one had an experience wih this wood? how is it in terms of solid hit, workability and does it justify the price?
thanks again.
Iron wood
Iron wood is a lot like snake wood or madrona It checks and cracks very easy.
which ironwood are you talking about
Ironwood is a common name for a large number of woods that have a reputation for hardness. Usage of the name may (or may not) include the tree that yields this wood. Some of the species involved are:
Acacia estrophiolata, Southern ironwood
Androstachys johnsonii, Lebombo ironwood
Carpinus caroliniana, American hornbeam
Casuarina equisetifolia, Common ironwood from Australia
Casuarinaceae (she-oaks) in general
Chionanthus foveolatus, Pock ironwood from South Africa
Choricarpia subargentea, Giant ironwood
Copaifera spp., Diesel Tree, Kerosene Tree, Kupa'y, Cabismo, or Copaúva
Diospyros blancoi, Mabolo, Velvet Apple, or Kamagong native to the Philippines
Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Cooktown ironwood from Australia.
Eusideroxylon zwageri, Borneo ironwood
Guaiacum officinale, Lignum vitae
Guaiacum sanctum, Holywood
Holodiscus discolor, Ocean Spray or Creambrush
Hopea odorata, White thingan, Ceylon or Malabar ironwood
Krugiodendron ferreum, Black Ironwood
Lophira alata, Red ironwood
Lyonothamnus floribundus, Lyon tree
Mesua ferrea, Rose chestnut or Ceylon ironwood or Nahar
Nestegis apetala, Coastal maire, Broad-leaved maire or Ironwood
Olea spp., Various olive trees
Olneya tesota, Desert ironwood
Ostrya knowltonii, Knowlton's hophornbeam
Ostrya virginiana, Hophornbeam
Parrotia persica, Persian ironwood
Pemphis acidula, Maldivian ironwood
Tabebuia serratifolia, Yellow poui
Vepris lanceolata, The White ironwood tree of South Africa
Xanthostemon verdugonianus, Philippine Ironwood or Mangkono, endemic to the Philippines
MMike
Iron wood is a lot like snake wood or madrona It checks and cracks very easy.
which ironwood are you talking about
Ironwood is a common name for a large number of woods that have a reputation for hardness. Usage of the name may (or may not) include the tree that yields this wood. Some of the species involved are:
Acacia estrophiolata, Southern ironwood
Androstachys johnsonii, Lebombo ironwood
Carpinus caroliniana, American hornbeam
Casuarina equisetifolia, Common ironwood from Australia
Casuarinaceae (she-oaks) in general
Chionanthus foveolatus, Pock ironwood from South Africa
Choricarpia subargentea, Giant ironwood
Copaifera spp., Diesel Tree, Kerosene Tree, Kupa'y, Cabismo, or Copaúva
Diospyros blancoi, Mabolo, Velvet Apple, or Kamagong native to the Philippines
Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Cooktown ironwood from Australia.
Eusideroxylon zwageri, Borneo ironwood
Guaiacum officinale, Lignum vitae
Guaiacum sanctum, Holywood
Holodiscus discolor, Ocean Spray or Creambrush
Hopea odorata, White thingan, Ceylon or Malabar ironwood
Krugiodendron ferreum, Black Ironwood
Lophira alata, Red ironwood
Lyonothamnus floribundus, Lyon tree
Mesua ferrea, Rose chestnut or Ceylon ironwood or Nahar
Nestegis apetala, Coastal maire, Broad-leaved maire or Ironwood
Olea spp., Various olive trees
Olneya tesota, Desert ironwood
Ostrya knowltonii, Knowlton's hophornbeam
Ostrya virginiana, Hophornbeam
Parrotia persica, Persian ironwood
Pemphis acidula, Maldivian ironwood
Tabebuia serratifolia, Yellow poui
Vepris lanceolata, The White ironwood tree of South Africa
Xanthostemon verdugonianus, Philippine Ironwood or Mangkono, endemic to the Philippines
MMike
bocote
jerry
here is what happened with one of the pieces of bocote I got from you
Thank you
MMike
jerry
here is what happened with one of the pieces of bocote I got from you
Thank you
MMike
DrOnePocket
Banned
Bacote, Pau Ferro, and Purple Heart are 3 of the best playing woods in the world IMO
Pink ivory is one of my favorites. It machines and plays great. However, not many people want pink cues.
In addition to what has been mentioned, Madagascar Rosewood is a fabulous cue wood but it is not usually a high figure kind of hardwood. Here is a recent Ned Morris made with a nice example of a linear grained Madagascar Rosewood.
Martin
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tulipwood and pink ivory are underrated woods for me, overrated are the burls..
Madagascar Rosewood is also known as Bois de Rose. It was over-harvested and is no longer exported out of Madagascar. Beautiful wood.
Gary
Rosewoods are tricky- especially Madagascan Rosewood. I believe there are dozens of "Madagascan Rosewoods."
Bois de Rose is one of many types of Rosewood that grows in Madagascar. From my reading, there are many species and subspecies of rosewood an Madagascar, including Bois de Rose, Palisander/Voamboana, Manipika and Santos Rosewood (not a true "Dalbergia" rosewood). There are so many, that often they are just generically named "Madagascan Rosewood" when sold.
Dont' just take my word for it, though. "Dalbergia spp. of the family Fabaceae. There are numerous Dalbergia species that are given the common name of (among others) Madagascar rosewood. These include at least the following: D. baronii, D. greveana, D. madagascariensis, D. maritima, D. perrierim, and D. trichocarpa." ~From http://www.hobbithouseinc.com -
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Great clarification Beau. What is shown is not Bois de Rose although as you are indicating is does come from Madigascar. The piece in this cue was at least 10 years old when I bought it. The stuff is usually dense like ebony or African Blackwood. It tones like glass and is fairly closed grained. In reality, I don't where it came from but it was labelled Madigascar Rosewood by a respectable exotic wood dealer.
Another great cue wood not often used is Grenadillo. I love lots of woods from the Mexican Yuccatan peninsula.
Martin
I have a few pieces of the Madagascar rosewood that is Dalbergia baronii. It was no longer available from the vendor I bought it from after I went back for more. It is likely the species used in the cue you posted. The few pieces that I have are straight grained and have a nice long tap tone.
Bois de Rose is Dalbergia maritima.
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Chris....
This is one time I find myself disagreeing with you. I believe African Blackwood (AB) is underrated. Well over a decade ago I was stockpiling AB along with Pink Ivory aka Red Ivory (PI). Back then both were exceedingly rare and commanded premiums. I remember standing in front of PI logs well over 5 foot in diameter. My friend Mike brought them in but logs of this size are long gone. We bought huge quantities and are still selling from that stash. The quality is the best available anywhere. Today logs that are coming in are less than one foot in diameter (which is a crime or should be) and getting scarcer and nothing like the quality of years ago.
AB was and still is my favorite wood to use in making a cue and at one time more costlier than ebony. It just has so much more character than plain ebony. AB is a dark, dark brownish black but finishes black with magnificent silver streaking which I believe shimmers in the light. It's a beautiful wood and makes excellent hitting cues. I personally believe it's the best hitting wood out there and has great looks but that's my opinion and what the heck do I know.
Fast forward to today and AB is at this moment less costly than ebony and represents an excellent investment because just as PI and ebony have increased in price so too will AB when supplies are exhausted. That time is coming soon. The forests cannot sustain demands just as PI and ebony have increased so will AB; it's just a matter of time.
Ziricote is a fantastic wood and has great figure but the problem is that the beautiful figure is lost in a cue as it cannot be seen due to the small diameter of the cue. That being said, it does make for a great hitting cue and finishes beautifully even though you cannot see the figure.
In closing, I'd like to say God Bless and thank you to all our Veterans on this Veterans Day, 2012.