Any ideas how to find Iron wood???

Lignum vitae there are at least two types. There is a local company that imports exotics from South Africa. I’ve gotten some iron wood from them. They are reasonable. Not sure about shipping – this is a dense heavy wood for the size.
If interested I can send you their link. Not making sales for them but I’ve been ecstatic about the wood I’ve gotten there. They are a very responsible company and people.
Actually being local is almost a problem – too easy to run out and see what they’ve gotten in lately and you HAVE to support a local wood supplier – right???
Your links took me to “page not found”.
What size piece(s) are you looking for?

-- CaptnA - "When someone hurts you, write it in the sand so the winds of forgiveness will scatter the memory... "

Hey CaptnA I JUST NOW FIGURED OUT HOW TO ADD PHOTOS. I am extreamly interested in the links, to find myself some more iron wood. I love the stuff too. Sizes not to sure , would like to see what they have. Wow this would be very cool. I’ve been looking for some, 2X6X32 or smaller some turning blanks would be cool too. Thanks for the reply. I’ll try to send you some mail now. patrick.

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> why's there a light in fridge and not the freezer? , aka, the wood hunter.aka tigermaple5

When I first looked at your post, I thought…aren’t there tons of woods called iron wood?

Here’s what wikipedia had on iron wood:

Any particular wood that has a reputation for hardness. Usage of the name may (or may not) include the tree that yields this wood. Species involved include:

• Acacia estrophiolata – Southern ironwood
• Androstachys johnsonii – Lebombo ironwood
• Carpinus caroliniana – American hornbeam
• Casuarina equisetifolia – Common ironwood from Australia
• Chionanthus foveolatus – Pock ironwood from South Africa
• Choricarpia subargentea
• Copaifera spp.
• Erythrophleum chlorostachys Cooktown ironwood from Australia.
• Eusideroxylon zwageri – Borneo ironwood
• Guaiacum officinale and G. sanctum – also known as Lignum vitae
• Holodiscus discolor – Creambrush
• Hopea odorata – White thingan, Ceylon or Malabar ironwood
• Krugiodendron ferreum – Black Ironwood
• Lyonothamnus lyonii or L. floribundus – Catalina ironwood
• Mesua ferrea – also known as Rose chestnut or Ceylon ironwood
• Nestegis apetala – Norfolk Island.
• Olea spp. – various olive trees
• Olneya tesota – Desert ironwood
• Ostrya virginiana – Hop hornbeam
• Parrotia persica – Persian ironwood
• Tabebuia serratifolia – Yellow poui

Then I read that Jamaica’s tree is the lignum vitae, so I see where you guys are coming from!

Here’s a site that specializes in lignum vitae

here’s a list of suppliers - by state that are listed to have lignum vitae.

Also, I think that rockler and woodcraft stock it as turning blanks…so you may have some luck there with smaller chunks…I have a turning blank of it that I’m sitting on to make a plane out of at some point…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Guaiacum officinale and G. sanctum – also known as Lignum vitae .......... Lignum Vitea , I just thought that would be the one everyone thought of. Cause I know they had made sculpture mallets out of it for many years, Very cool all the types. Thank you. I did find a type of “iron wood” in connecticut I was so excited when I tracked it down near a marsh.. and boom it sucked. Very different species indeed…..

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> why's there a light in fridge and not the freezer? , aka, the wood hunter.aka tigermaple5

Thanks. good luck with the plane… Again if you like harder wood that endure anything, and are fun to work with, you’ll Love it… Better than the butter like ebony.. take care and say hi to seattle

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> why's there a light in fridge and not the freezer? , aka, the wood hunter.aka tigermaple5

Theres a bunch of it in Sonora, Mexico. Along the border in Mexico theres novelty or suveneer shops and along the sidewalks there. I speak to the sellers of iron wood sculptures sometimes and they say there items are crafted in Sonora and brought to them for resale. Only once in a while though. Its not Texas Ebony but looks similar and is harder believe it or not kinda like slate.
Its also expensive, they obviously know what its worth. Lots of old timers or winter texans go there and buy it up soon as its available. I havnt had a chance at anything bigger than 8” in sculpture. Nothing in log form. Good luck!

BSRB: I think you are referring to Desert Ironwood. It’s illegal to cut down any living ironwood tree in the desert Southwest of the USA You are only allowed to take dead trees.

So people girtle the tree and wait for them to die.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Hey guys thanks!!! Seems there are a lot of species with the name the kind from jamaica lignum vitae . very different from desert iron wood… But thanks . I think I found it… You guys are great!

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> why's there a light in fridge and not the freezer? , aka, the wood hunter.aka tigermaple5

I have around 500# of lignum vitae that’s only holding my floor down. One block is 300# and the other is around 200#, Slightly rectangular but more blocklike. the going rate is around 6$ a pound, but I’m looking to sell these for 3$ a pound. Anyone interested can email me at johnson2207@hotmail.com.

A few years ago, my Father-in-Law brought me some 4×4 pieces of wood that he called Ironwood. He was a Civil Service worker at Camp Stanly/Bullis for some 20 som years and said that he thought the wood was used to make cisterns in the calvary days. We later found out that the name of the wood was Boaisdark. I don’t know if the spelling is correct, but it is denser than water so it sinks, and is one of the hardest woods i have ever cut with a saw. I still have a piece 4×4x48” that i will do something with one of these days.

A few years ago i made some cutting boards out of it, only to find out that it dulls what ever knive you use to cut on it.

-- Jay, San Antonio, Texas - Making Sawdust Rocks!

Thanks a lot guys. Now I’m lusting after a Lignum Vitae mallet. I need intervention.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

Wow what an informative subject this is …I just found out about a wood supplier that also carries Plywoods …and he is near me ….Wow I say
Thanks to Patrick Miles for opening this subject and thanks to Dorje for the wonderful web sites he provided.
and thanks to all the other comments …

I think we need a new TAB at the top of LUMBERJOCKs Home Page …

That new tab would be ”WOOD”

and maybe we could take turns giving each other knowledge about a species….
Thanks all ..
Mike in Bonney Lake

-- Mike in Bonney Lake " If you are real real real good your whole life, You 'll be buried in a curly maple coffin when you die."

gator… you know.. that’s not a bad idea at all…

patrick- that mallet looks similar to walnut with white sapwood…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

I have heard IPE referred to as Iron Wood…

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1389"

IPE (pronounced e-pay) – Also called Brazilian Walnut is the hardest most durable wood in the world. It has a Janka scale rating of 3684. It is also has a Fire Rating of “A”, which is the same rating given to steel and concrete. Damned good looking wood. Virtually indestructible. Needs no preservative exposed to weather for 50+ years. Wood eating /boring insects don’t like it. Great stuff for outdoor furniture. It also makes a wonder interior floor.

The Navy did testing of Ipe in Panama. After being buried for 15 years, there was no rot, no insect damage.

I also saw some show on HGTV where an entire house was sided in it. Absolutely beautiful.

-- Made lots of sawdust and pounded some nails. Haven't finished anything, though.

I’m guessing an Iron Wood tree?

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I have a small bit of IPE and it is heavy. I am going to get more from my wife’s uncle, he used to sell it down in the Houston area but has since gotten out of that business and has some left over that he is going to give me. Like a couple of hundred board feet.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

dialtoneplus,
What your calling Boaisdark I think is really Bois d’ ark; which is another name for osage orange. :)

I’ve read that there’s over 50 species world-wide called Ironwood. Natives include a confusion between hornbeam and hophornbeam.

-- Wonderful new things are coming! - God

sIKE,

You’ll love working with it. Be wary of the dust, though. It’s very fine and very annoying. It looks beautiful when it’s finished as a table top and polished out.

-- Made lots of sawdust and pounded some nails. Haven't finished anything, though.