Comments for The Wood Database

Comment on Australian Cypress by mikey

mikey — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:39:10 +0000

is this timber any good for guitar soundboards? or if by the time you go to the effort of making a guitar your better off with something else thx

Comment on Pau Rosa by Bobby McCaffery

Bobby McCaffery — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:52:31 +0000

A beautiful example of Pau Rosa knife scales. Gorgeous chatoyant wood species.

Comment on Mango by Lorinda

Lorinda — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 04:01:10 +0000

In reply to NB. I'm a bit late to the party, but I like Raintree (Albizia Saman) & Black Wattle with mango.

Comment on Rhodesian Teak by Jameson Parry

Jameson Parry — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 05:50:37 +0000

The pores on this wood are tiny! Must make for a really smooth surface.

Comment on Osage Orange by Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:53:31 +0000

In reply to Bret F. Thanks. The finish is Minwax wipe on poly.

Comment on Cumaru by frank

frank — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:20:39 +0000

In reply to Korey. well it's safe enough to do it once or twice it doesn't have any particular toxins that arent in many other woods. Coumarin is generally safe as an aroma, for eating it has a significantly higher limit than you'd get from smoke. Idk, if I really had the curiosity, I'd try it. I'm fairly certain it won't do any good for the flavor though.

Comment on Cumaru by frank

frank — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:17:29 +0000

In reply to Kirill. any slow epoxy should be fine. This is not particularly oily like teak. It's just very dense. Make sure wood stresses are accounted for, the drying is on point and you shouldn't have much issues. It's unusual for this thing to crack tbh.

Comment on Yellow poplar by Newbie

Newbie — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 05:32:14 +0000

Has anyone stained this species? I’m making a circular table and am thinking about staining before sealing clear.

Comment on World’s Strongest Woods by Nobody U. Know

Nobody U. Know — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:48:52 +0000

In reply to Ray.

You might try introducing either inserts or collars of a shock-absorbant material that is also able to maintain the friction to hold the axe head in place on the handle. I am a naive commenter, with no relevant experience or training. Just thinking out loud. The leverage against the wood at the base of the axe head seems like a force multiplier – anything to reduce or mitigate (such as by absorption) the amplified force at that location should help. What about adding a 1″ collar (say maybe 3/16″ thick, inset in a recessed turning band in the wood) of some kind of very dense rubber or polymer around the 1/2″ just inside and the 1/2″ just below the axe head?

Comment on Gidgee by Filip

Filip — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:24:30 +0000

Acacia cambagei. Figured, big piece.

Comment on Pink Gidgee by Filip

Filip — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:22:27 +0000

Acacia crombiei wood. Not too old.

Comment on Pink Ivory by Mike Trihorns

Mike Trihorns — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:39:17 +0000

Hello, not sure if the author is still around to answer questions but does anyone know how fast the color turns brown?

Comment on Osage Orange by Bret F

Bret F — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:08:58 +0000

In reply to ERJ. What finish did you use? This is beautiful.

Comment on Hardwood Anatomy by John Powell

John Powell — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:09:08 +0000

In reply to Girts Ozols.

Hi Girts.
If it is from the Chinchilla area then it might be worth comparing it to Eric’s description for Brigalow (Acacia Harpophylla) – https://www.wood-database.com/brigalow/

Comment on Kentucky Coffeetree by james

james — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 21:24:03 +0000

Coffeetree is an amazing “cross” between red oak (identical colour), and white ash (near-identical grain). It’s finer grain, might make it easier to work/finish than red oak. I have often found good, useable pieces (for small/craft projects) showing up in pallets/dunnage!

Comment on Mulberry by swellcat

swellcat — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 22:57:23 +0000

In reply to Liviu. Can it be worked like white wood, Liviu? Alternately, is mulberry more like Osage Orange, meaning a single growth ring needs to be "chased"?

Comment on Blue Mahoe by Evelyn

Evelyn — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 19:14:06 +0000

It smells like fruity pebbles when being turned!

Comment on Rubberwood by kat

kat — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:47:57 +0000

does rubberwood need to be conditioned before staining with gel stain and then topcoat

Comment on Silver Wattle by mikey

mikey — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:52:30 +0000

its not blackwattle i meant

Comment on Acacia (wattle) genus by Rob Milligan

Rob Milligan — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:55:23 +0000

Hi Eric! I am trying to find the species for this table I am refinishing for a new customer. They said their parents bought it in Japan 20 years ago, but they don’t know the species. Any help would be appreciated. I have some pics with the original finish and then a few after sanding.