First Xmas presents from the dark side

[DavidF]

Some friends gave me some pieces of Iron wood they had cut down and abandoned in the woods. I had no idea it would look this good until I cut into it! I made them this pestle and morter as a xmas gift in exchange. Some of it was just a little "furry" to sand perfectly, but a coat of CA soon sorted that out.

Thanks for looking

 

[ptt49er]

That's beautiful work! I'm sure your friends will be excited.

 

[jerrye]

WOWIEWOWIEWOWIEWOWIE!!!!!!!!!!:icon_thum

 

[JackLeg]

Nice work, David. Is ironwood really a "hard" wood?

 

[skeeter]

David, really nice job on the turning and the Iron wood is awesome.

 

[Tar Heel]

David, those pieces are quite striking. Very beautiful form and wood. I recommend you enter that in the 2010 calendar contest. :eusa_clap:eusa_clap

 

[JohnW]

You're right, that does look good. Shape & form are spot on. I've never seen iron wood this figured before. Very nice.

Excellent photography by the way....

 

[Larry Rose]

Beautiful work as usual David.

 

[DavidF]

Thanks for the nice comments everybody, they mean a lot. The people who gave me the log said it was iron wood, but I am currently soaking a sliver to put under the microscope to confirm that so I'll let you know. It certainly is striking, in real life it is a beautiful creamy colour with the dark viens. If it is "iron wood" then the specific gravity is 0.7 which is a little harder than white Oak. It's also know as Hornbeam. This one is supposed to be Ostrya virginiana, but there is another one called Ostrya Carolinious (sp) DaveO might be able to confirm. These are "so called" iron woods, but not with SG over 1.0 -I shall try and confirm tonight with Mr. Hoadley

 

[NCTurner]

Very nice pieces! That may be spalting in the wood, how long were they laying "abandoned"?

 

[Mike Davis]

David,

Very pretty turning.

Do you have a picture of the wood with bark on?

I have a lot of Hornbeam on my place and it is usually very plain white wood. I think yours has spalted if it is the same wood.

 

[DavidF]

I do think it is spalting as there are some signs of slight softening of the wood in places. It was cut down about 3 or 4 months ago I believe. Mike, I'll take some pics of the logs tonight.

 

[erasmussen]

Whatever it is you sure made some nice turnings from it :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[jerrye]

David, those pieces are quite striking. Very beautiful form and wood. I recommend you enter that in the 2010 calendar contest. :eusa_clap:eusa_clap

Me too!!:eusa_danc:eusa_danc

 

[DavidF]

Me too!!:eusa_danc:eusa_danc

Don't know about that! too much pressure from the "real" Dark Siders":rotflm:

 

[woodArtz]

Very nice David! :icon_thum

 

[CaptnA]

that is some pretty wood, nice job with it~
whatever the species is you did well with it

 

[DavidF]

Thanks Guys. Carol has me up for a Xmas tree ornament next! that should be interesting - first go at a true hollow:dontknow:

 

[DaveO]

If it is "iron wood" then the specific gravity is 0.7 which is a little harder than white Oak. It's also know as Hornbeam. This one is supposed to be Ostrya virginiana, but there is another one called Ostrya Carolinious (sp) DaveO might be able to confirm.

David you are correct "Ironwood" is most correctly in the Hornbeam genus. But there are many other trees species called ironwood. That is the problem with common names. Latin is specific, common names are all over the board :roll::roll:
Without a picture of the leaves, buds or bark I couldn't identify the tree for you.
Really nice mortar and pestle (as we call it in this country, y'all Brits are so backwards :gar-La;:gar-La The spalting really adds to it's appeal :icon_thum


Dave


Dave

 

[clowman]

All I got to say is .. WOW... That's super Dave!