BB

"Ben Bullock"

16/12/2006 11:44 PM

What wood is this?

I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:

http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/

I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.

Any hints?


This topic has 28 replies

TT

"Toller"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 9:15 PM


"Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>
> http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>
> I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.
> Any hints?

If it is very light, maybe butternut.

s

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 11:59 AM


Ben Bullock wrote:
> I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>
> http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>
> I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.
>
> Any hints?

Ben, are you in Tokyo too? :-)

That piece you have in the picture looks really nice, but I'm not sure
what it is. I've got a carpenter friend that knows the local woods
pretty well so I'll run it by him.

I recently found a lumber yard nearby that has a giveaway bin. Half of
my living room is now filled with wood scraps.

Ss

Steve

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 12:37 PM

Ben Bullock wrote:
> I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>
> http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>
> I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.
> Any hints?

Looks like ash to me as well.

--Steve

Ss

Steve

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 12:39 PM

Woodhead wrote:
> where is this lumberyard? My first guess is something like Phillipine
> Mahogany,
>
> Jim
> "Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>>
>> http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>>
>> I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.
>> Any hints?
>
>

Phillipine Mahogany looks very much like Honduran (Genuine) mahogany in
terms of grain structure and color, but with a coarser grain, lighter
weight, and softer. This stuff looks very much like American White Ash.

--Steve

cb

charlie b

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 9:40 AM

Woodhead wrote:
>
> where is this lumberyard? My first guess is something like Phillipine
> Mahogany,
>
> Jim

Look at the picture that shows the bark. Mahogany bark is a lot
smoother.

I'm going with ash.

charlie b

Pv

"P. van Rijckevorsel"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

26/12/2006 2:25 PM

"Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> schreef
> The lumberyard is in Tsukuba in Japan, which is near Tokyo. I looked on
> the lumberyard's web site, and they say that they specialize in a kind of
> wood called "keyaki", Japanese zelkova; zelkowa serrata. However I have no
> conviction that this wood is "keyaki" at all.

***
It is a ring-porous hardwood. It is not ash (no way). Elm (/Ulmus/) is an
option, but so is /Zelkova/.
PvR



Pv

"P. van Rijckevorsel"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

27/12/2006 8:42 AM

>> "Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> schreef
>>> The lumberyard is in Tsukuba in Japan, which is near Tokyo. I looked on
>>> the lumberyard's web site, and they say that they specialize in a kind
>>> of wood called "keyaki", Japanese zelkova; zelkowa serrata. However I
>>> have no conviction that this wood is "keyaki" at all.

>>> "P. van Rijckevorsel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> It is a ring-porous hardwood. It is not ash (no way). Elm (/Ulmus/) is an
>> option, but so is /Zelkova/.
>> PvR

"Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> schreef
> Thanks for the input. I think I might take the photos to the lumber yard
> and just ask them.

***
Yes, that is the practical thing to do.
PvR



Pv

"P. van Rijckevorsel"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

06/01/2007 4:19 PM

"Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> schreef
> I've got a tentative answer from a wood expert which is that as far as he
> can tell from the photos it is Zelkova wood, or keyaki.

***
Thank you for letting us know.
That certainly is an option, although in this case it is not really possible
to 100% certain identify this wood from a picture only. But if the local
experts think this is likely to be it then it is likely to be so.
PvR

Wj

"Woodhead"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 11:31 AM










where is this lumberyard? My first guess is something like Phillipine
Mahogany,

Jim
"Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>
> http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>
> I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.
> Any hints?

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 2:49 PM


"Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>
> http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>
> I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.
> Any hints?

Looks like Ash.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 10:40 PM


"B A R R Y" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:40:12 -0800, charlie b <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>
>> I'm going with ash.
>
> I use a lot of ash, and if that's ash, the white balance is waaaay off
> on the digicam.
>
> If the white balance is off, it could be ash. <G>

I have ash that varies in color from nearly white to light brown, in the
same board.

sD

[email protected] (Doug Miller)

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 1:41 AM

In article <[email protected]>, "Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Thank you for your very rapid response. A lot of other posters mentioned
>ash. There is a local variety of ash called "tamo" (Japanese ash; fraxinus
>mandshurica var. japonica). I took a photo with a home centre plank of ash
>here:
>
>http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/324372476/in/set-72157594422845790/
>
>Do people think it's the same thing?
>
Sure doesn't look like it to me. If the wood had come from the United States,
I'd say it was probably some species of elm, or possibly butternut. The grain
is right for (American species of) ash, but the color is not. I have no idea
what the lumber of native Japanese trees looks like, though, and it may be
something altogether different. Your best bet, IMO, is to ask a local Japanese
woodworker what it is.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 10:27 AM

"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>>
>> http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>>
>> I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it
>> is.
>> Any hints?
>
> Looks like Ash.

Thank you for your very rapid response. A lot of other posters mentioned
ash. There is a local variety of ash called "tamo" (Japanese ash; fraxinus
mandshurica var. japonica). I took a photo with a home centre plank of ash
here:

http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/324372476/in/set-72157594422845790/

Do people think it's the same thing?

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 10:28 AM


"Joe Bemier" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> At that lumber yard? The sign says -in part:
>
> Tokyo Wood Trade (or Trading) Market

Thank you for the translation. Although it says Tokyo I think that is just
part of the name, because it is actually in another place about 60km outside
Tokyo.

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 10:31 AM


"Woodhead" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> where is this lumberyard? My first guess is something like Phillipine
> Mahogany,

The lumberyard is in Tsukuba in Japan, which is near Tokyo. I looked on the
lumberyard's web site, and they say that they specialize in a kind of wood
called "keyaki", Japanese zelkova; zelkowa serrata. However I have no
conviction that this wood is "keyaki" at all.

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 10:33 AM


"B A R R Y" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:40:12 -0800, charlie b <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>> I'm going with ash.
>
> I use a lot of ash, and if that's ash, the white balance is waaaay off
> on the digicam.
>
> If the white balance is off, it could be ash. <G>

Sorry, the photo was taken under a flourescent light, so I think it's a
little hard to tell the colours. I have now put some more pictures taken
under natural light, e.g.:

http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/324372476/in/set-72157594422845790/

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 10:36 AM


"B A R R Y" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 22:40:43 GMT, "Leon"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>I have ash that varies in color from nearly white to light brown, in the
>>same board.
>>
>
> I haven't personally seen ash _that_ dark, for the entire board.
>
> However, just last week, I was at Barong Imports
> <http://www.barongimports.com/>, a large Asian antique store (he
> claims to be the largest in US) in Great Barrington, MA, and I saw
> some wood called "Tamo", or Japanese Ash.
>
> What I saw made of Tamo was of a color similar to unfinished US black
> walnut, but with a shellac or lacquer finish. When finished it had
> the strong figure of the Ash I buy here in CT, but kind of the dry
> cocoa color of lighter, unfinished black walnut.
>
> If the color is correct in the photos, that might be Tamo.

Thanks for the feedback. It might well be tamo since that's a common kind of
wood here.

> FWIW, he also has 10 foot+, solid stone, Budda, Ganesh, and Lakshmi
> statues, should you require one. <G>

Sounds heavy.

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 10:40 AM

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ben, are you in Tokyo too? :-)

I'm in Tsukuba which is near Tokyo.

> That piece you have in the picture looks really nice, but I'm not sure
> what it is. I've got a carpenter friend that knows the local woods
> pretty well so I'll run it by him.

I've put some better natural light photos there now.

> I recently found a lumber yard nearby that has a giveaway bin. Half of
> my living room is now filled with wood scraps.

That little shack in the photo set is the giveaway place for this lumber
yard. There was about a ton of bits of wood in front of it and I picked some
nicer looking pieces. I probably should have taken more.

mS

[email protected] (Stephen Jones)

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 3:21 AM

It looks like Pawlonia wood.

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 12:48 PM


"Stephen Jones" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It looks like Pawlonia wood.

I don't think it's paulownia wood. Paulownia wood is very light, it's like
balsa wood. This stuff is very heavy.

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

27/12/2006 1:08 PM

"P. van Rijckevorsel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> schreef
>> The lumberyard is in Tsukuba in Japan, which is near Tokyo. I looked on
>> the lumberyard's web site, and they say that they specialize in a kind of
>> wood called "keyaki", Japanese zelkova; zelkowa serrata. However I have
>> no
>> conviction that this wood is "keyaki" at all.
>
> ***
> It is a ring-porous hardwood. It is not ash (no way). Elm (/Ulmus/) is an
> option, but so is /Zelkova/.
> PvR


Thanks for the input. I think I might take the photos to the lumber yard and
just ask them.

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

06/01/2007 12:35 PM


"Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>
> http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>
> I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.
> Any hints?

I've got a tentative answer from a wood expert which is that as far as he
can tell from the photos it is Zelkova wood, or keyaki.

Thanks very much to everyone who looked at the photos and suggested an
answer. It's been a learning experience for me.

BB

"Ben Bullock"

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

07/01/2007 11:17 AM


"P. van Rijckevorsel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Ben Bullock" <[email protected]> schreef
>> I've got a tentative answer from a wood expert which is that as far as he
>> can tell from the photos it is Zelkova wood, or keyaki.
>
> ***
> Thank you for letting us know.
> That certainly is an option, although in this case it is not really
> possible to 100% certain identify this wood from a picture only.

That's what he said too.

> But if the local experts think this is likely to be it then it is likely
> to be so.

I'm pretty sure this person knows what he's talking about.

JB

Joe Bemier

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 5:43 AM

On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 10:40:16 +0900, "Ben Bullock"
<[email protected]> wrote:

><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Ben, are you in Tokyo too? :-)
>
>I'm in Tsukuba which is near Tokyo.
>
>> That piece you have in the picture looks really nice, but I'm not sure
>> what it is. I've got a carpenter friend that knows the local woods
>> pretty well so I'll run it by him.
>
>I've put some better natural light photos there now.
>
>> I recently found a lumber yard nearby that has a giveaway bin. Half of
>> my living room is now filled with wood scraps.
>
>That little shack in the photo set is the giveaway place for this lumber
>yard. There was about a ton of bits of wood in front of it and I picked some
>nicer looking pieces. I probably should have taken more.


Well, you might well know these things but I believe Japanese would be
grateful for two things-
* That you took some
* That you left some.

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 2:44 PM

On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:40:12 -0800, charlie b <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Woodhead wrote:
>>
>> where is this lumberyard? My first guess is something like Phillipine
>> Mahogany,
>>
>> Jim
>
> Look at the picture that shows the bark. Mahogany bark is a lot
>smoother.
>
> I'm going with ash.
>
> charlie b

Having spent the last year working with a lot of ash, I would tend to
agree. It's always hard to tell just from pictures of course, and the
locale of the poster could also point to something else that looks like
Ash.


+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

BA

B A R R Y

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 4:48 PM

On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:40:12 -0800, charlie b <[email protected]>
wrote:


>
> I'm going with ash.

I use a lot of ash, and if that's ash, the white balance is waaaay off
on the digicam.

If the white balance is off, it could be ash. <G>

BA

B A R R Y

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

17/12/2006 12:24 AM

On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 22:40:43 GMT, "Leon"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>I have ash that varies in color from nearly white to light brown, in the
>same board.
>

I haven't personally seen ash _that_ dark, for the entire board.

However, just last week, I was at Barong Imports
<http://www.barongimports.com/>, a large Asian antique store (he
claims to be the largest in US) in Great Barrington, MA, and I saw
some wood called "Tamo", or Japanese Ash.

What I saw made of Tamo was of a color similar to unfinished US black
walnut, but with a shellac or lacquer finish. When finished it had
the strong figure of the Ash I buy here in CT, but kind of the dry
cocoa color of lighter, unfinished black walnut.

If the color is correct in the photos, that might be Tamo.

FWIW, he also has 10 foot+, solid stone, Budda, Ganesh, and Lakshmi
statues, should you require one. <G>

JB

Joe Bemier

in reply to "Ben Bullock" on 16/12/2006 11:44 PM

16/12/2006 10:17 AM

On Sat, 16 Dec 2006 23:44:41 +0900, "Ben Bullock"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I got this wood from a giveaway pile at a lumber yard:
>
>http://flickr.com/photos/bnz/sets/72157594422845790/
>
>I have three big pieces of it, but I have no idea what kind of wood it is.
>
>Any hints?


At that lumber yard? The sign says -in part:

Tokyo Wood Trade (or Trading) Market


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