1st Pen/ Need Help Identifying Wood

Black Walnut?!

-- dumpster diver delux

I have never seen walnut look like that. Looks more like Cocobolo but I’m not sure either. Hope someone can help you.

Erwin Jacksonville, Fl

-- Erwin, Jacksonville, FL

I didnt know people can see your blog so I posted it in the forum too. I guessed zebrawood. Keep trying Thanks guys.

I don’t think it is walnut. Agree with Bearpie on that one. Wild guess is pecan. I used to work at a cabinet mill and that was one of their standard woods and seems like it might have looked like that. 30 years ago though, so could be wrong!

-- Kevin, Blue Springs, MO

Doesn’t look like cocobolo to me… Maybe zebrano – did it stink a lot (badly) when you worked with it?

-- When you crawl under people's houses, you hear things (Alf)

Looks very much like Bocote. Kevin has a good guess also as pecan looks very much like Bocote so does certain walnuts. Zebrawood seems more figured to me than what you pictured…but might be some lesser figured pieces… It is definitely not cocobolo…which has much redder grain and an oily sheen. Nice figure in that wood for sure.

Best bet is to ask the folks you got it from….see what they were running their production on that day.

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

I’m leaning towards zebrawood/zebrano (same thing I think). The pen is turning out wonderfully. Can’t wait to see the end result. How did it turn? Easy to work with?

-- Mark DeSchepper -- The things I make may be for gifts for others, but making them is a gift to myself.

Looks like a great find! My vote is Zebrawood.

-- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

I also vote zebrawood… I am about 95 percent sure… I have a few that look that way…very nice.

Grub

-- Science Teacher by Day, Wood Butcher by Night!!

MDeSchepper – turned real easy. way easier than my 1st attempt with the mahogany for practice. so I tried the pen doing some video watching. 1st lathe project too! never used one before and picked up a used lathe on Saturday.

100% positive it is (microberlinia brazzavillenis) otherwise known as zebrawood or zebrano.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

could be goncalo alves or marblewood, grain looks a little loose for zebrawood.

Twotoekenn,

It is zebrano. It is a little hard to tell when you look at the turned stock but the pictures of the boards below are WITHOUT A DOUBT, zebrawood. I can say this with a certain amount of convinction because A.) I have alot of experience personally working with zebrano and B.) my day job I work for a high end wood casegood manufacturer where one of my job duties is to train others on wood education.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

I belive it’s Bocote. It looks like the pen that I turned thats in my projects.

-- Tim, Missouri ....Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the heck happened

does it stink when your turning it?
I’ve heard people say that zebra wood smells like a wet dog when being machined

-- BRODY. NSW AUSTRALIA -arguments with turnings are rarely productive-