I was thinking a buckthorn or something crataegeous. Leaves, bark, and grain do not look like quercus, acer, or robinia. Magnified end grain would help.
Regardless, how’d the project go?

That looks sort of like buckthorn to me.

That is beautiful both ways!!

I’m currently making a coffee table from a red oak slab. I needed some oak for the legs. In my own collection of wood, I found some pieces that I had marked as “oak”. Once I started cutting and planing it, I was very surprised at how green/yellow it was. It also feels denser and heavier than oak. I started to consider whether it was black locust. I got this wood from a homeowner who was cutting down a few trees: an oak, a maple, and a black locust. I also got some small pieces of black locust from him, so there could have been some confusion while collecting and labeling these pieces. I still haven’t done the black light test yet – but I will.

I have just checked several samples of recently cut red oak. None glow.

Clear finish will not change the glow. But keep in mind that slow surface oxidation will cause it to diminish over time. Maybe six months to a year. The finish will slow it some.

Yes, facegrain basically confirms my initial guess. I maintain that it’s most likely bloodwood (not cocobolo) and jatoba.

Not sure if the photo was uploaded so here it is again.

ooh interesting. I took the unknown piece to the House of Hardwood (los angeles) and they thought it might be padauk, but it doesn’t match another piece of padauk I have laying around. We can solve that later. Here is a new photo for ya. It’s the supposed piece of cocobolo, bottom half has cutting board oil on it. The little trays I just made both have sides made from the maybe cocobolo and coated with watco wipe-on poly clear satin. The board on the right is another shot of the maybe jatoba? btw I know you do this allll the time, but this is fun for me and I appreciate the effort it takes on your part to continue to spread joy to others. That’s good sh*t.

I’m actually much more suspicious of your known cocobolo sample than anything. It looks like bloodwood to me. The pores look too small, too numerous, and the winged parenchyma definitely would not be normal for cocobolo. I’d be interested in seeing a picture of the face grain.

The other mystery wood looks closest to jatoba to me.

It has a lot of tyloses, too. But what does that tell you?

Honey locust. Get the plant ID app “Picture This” an awesome resource for anyone curious about plants and trees.

Firstly may I say that I absolutely love your book Wood! It was bought for me as a gift several years ago and i always flick through it in awe of all the different species in the world.

I have just come across your section on fluorescent wood and little did I realise that a piece I am currently turning (Black Locust) gives off a beautiful glow.

Could you recommend a blacklight torch I should buy? I only ask as I don’t have a clue, all I know from your article above is that it should not produce UVB or UVC. Since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis recently I get confused when there are so many to choose from online and would really apreciate any advice/help on the subject.

Thank you for your time and any help you could offer. Kind regards, Peter.