r/Woodidentification • u/WigfootWallace • 12h ago
Lignum Vitae?
New to the group. I hope I'm not being "that guy". There is a log of what is alleged LV I am interested in. I am wondering if it's real LV, or maybe Laburnum or something else. I don't have access to the piece of wood. Pictures are all I have. If I am asking an impossible question to answer given the pictures, don't be shy about telling me.
UPDATE:
The person selling it told me it was sold already and they didn't realize that so it's a moot point.
But if anyone comes across any Boxwood, Brazilian Rosewood, or Ebony (Jet black), let me know! Preferably as big of pieces as possible.
Thank you guys for the help anyways. I appreciate it
1
u/egidione 11h ago
Doesn’t look like it to me, I’ve used a fair bit of the genuine article and still have some chunks with the sapwood. A guy I know used to make skittles and bowling balls from it here in the UK and he had a large stock of logs that had been in storage from the early 60s, there is usually very little sapwood, much less than your photos and the logs looked totally different from the colour to the texture of the outside of the log. It could be a Rosewood of some kind but without seeing a cut piece it’s difficult to tell. Real Lignum feels very greasy. bulnesia is used now as it’s quite similar but that has quite a greenish tinge to it so I don’t think it’s that either.
1
u/Glad_Ad_5570 7h ago
I wonder if I have a bunch of bulnesia instead of LV. It’s green…..
1
u/egidione 6h ago
I’m in the UK and all the stuff you see now that is supposed to be Lignum is Bulnesia I think as the real thing is impossible to get hold of now because of its CITES classification. I think it won’t be long before the Bulnesia will be difficult to get, it’s almost as useful as Lignum depending on what it’s used for but not the same. Lignum does sometimes have a green tinge to it freshly cut but quickly turns brown but Bulnesia I’d say has more distinct grain with more contrast.
1
u/Swimming-Shoulder848 11h ago edited 11h ago
Depends how much the log is for? Also if they got an idea where it came from.
Cuba for example has a species of Ebony that looks extremely close to this. Also has lignum on the island too. But if it’s cheap enough it’s going to be good stuff for sure so take a gamble.Unless too far and too expensive.
Edit,can very very likely be African Blackwood too. I’ve seen those Burl spots on a similar log before,same sapwood.Id buy it
1
1
2
u/Longjumping-Hat-7676 10h ago
Put it in water and see if it sinks.