Reply by Rick M.

Wow, I didn’t realize there would be so many SA reddish hardwoods that are very hard.

teak ?

If you mean Brazilian Teak (cumaru), I’ve been leaning that way since the start.

I’ll sand the end grain and post a pic, sometimes end grain is more distinctive than face. It does have a distinctive odor when cut, not very strong and not unpleasant. I cut a small piece today for a template around which to hammer copper wire. Copper isn’t that hard but the copper flattened and didn’t even dent the wood when struck with a hammer. I’d love to build a guitar fretboard out of this stuff but without some heavier power tools I’d be the rest of my life working it.

-- -- Rick M.