Florida Black Ironwood or Cape Olive?

[Big Ry]

@TimR and I did a deal on a board that he listed as very rare and very dense "quilted dry black ironwood". This was understood to be Florida Black ironwood (Krugiodendron ferreum) based on the price, rarity, and density. @Mr. Peet chimed in to say that it appears it might actually be Cape Olive (Olea capensis). So now it's unclear which species this board actually is. USPS took their sweet old time, but i finally got the board today. The first step is to properly ID it.

I cleaned up the end grain and took some photos, then i cut off a sliver and put it under the microscope. Interestingly, i cannot find anything that resembles pores under the microscope. So at a minimum, the pores are clogged. I tried for several minutes and couldn't find anything resembling an open pore or even parenchyma.

To me, the freshly sanded wood has a subtle spicy scent, not unlike juniper (just nowhere near as strong). It also has a slight hint of sweetness in the smell.

It doesn't appear to be reactive to UV light, though i didn't use a very powerful light. I can try a stronger light and try alcohol extractive later if there's still no consensus. The UV photo is the sliver of this board sitting on top of a piece of greenheart.

Tim provided a density of 0.04pci = 69pcf. Wood database puts Olea capensis at 62pcf and Krugiodendron ferreum at 84pcf.

What do you experts think?

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Looks like tylosis in the pores. Sorta like you get in white oak. Only much smaller pores! Nice clean up by the way.

 

[TimR]

@TimR and I did a deal on a board that he listed as very rare and very dense "quilted dry black ironwood". This was understood to be Florida Black ironwood (Krugiodendron ferreum) based on the price, rarity, and density. @Mr. Peet chimed in to say that it appears it might actually be Cape Olive (Olea capensis). So now it's unclear which species this board actually is. USPS took their sweet old time, but i finally got the board today. The first step is to properly ID it.

I cleaned up the end grain and took some photos, then i cut off a sliver and put it under the microscope. Interestingly, i cannot find anything that resembles pores under the microscope. So at a minimum, the pores are clogged. I tried for several minutes and couldn't find anything resembling an open pore or even parenchyma.

To me, the freshly sanded wood has a subtle spicy scent, not unlike juniper (just nowhere near as strong). It also has a slight hint of sweetness in the smell.

It doesn't appear to be reactive to UV light, though i didn't use a very powerful light. I can try a stronger light and try alcohol extractive later if there's still no consensus. The UV photo is the sliver of this board sitting on top of a piece of greenheart.

Tim provided a density of 0.04pci = 69pcf. Wood database puts Olea capensis at 62pcf and Krugiodendron ferreum at 84pcf.

What do you experts think?

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Just to be accurate, this was not listed as “very rare”, only that it was very dense which can be roughly determined by the dimensions and weight provided in the original listing. . The common name Black Ironwood is associated with more than just Krugiodendron ferreum , which is what Ryan apparently wanted but wasn’t made clear by Ryan until after the transaction was completed and label printed on Feb 6.

Ryan, at this point to avoid further posts that likely wont work out for you, just put the piece I back in the box, tape well, choose the cheapest shipping route and cover yourself with appropriate insurance .
When I receive it, I’ll send refund via PayPal.

 

[Mr. Peet]

Ry, I chimed in asking which Black ironwood it was, being there are several. The olea one, is one of the most common. If it was Olea, I would have thought you would have been able to smell it right away when cutting. The rays are usually stronger in the olea. The olea has stacked pores, often look like they are in a line. So think this one is a no.

As for Krugiodendron, most sources have it as a very slow growing plant. Finding diameters over a foot is not common. Based on your hand and measurements Tim gave, the board in question came from a tree 12-14" in diameter, possibly bigger. Your engrains are more similar with this species than the olea ones.

Did you re-work densities?

Nothing telling me our second choice yet either. Sorry.

 

[Big Ry]

Ry, I chimed in asking which Black ironwood it was, being there are several. The olea one, is one of the most common. If it was Olea, I would have thought you would have been able to smell it right away when cutting. The rays are usually stronger in the olea. The olea has stacked pores, often look like they are in a line. So think this one is a no.

As for Krugiodendron, most sources have it as a very slow growing plant. Finding diameters over a foot is not common. Based on your hand and measurements Tim gave, the board in question came from a tree 12-14" in diameter, possibly bigger. Your engrains are more similar with this species than the olea ones.

Did you re-work densities?

Nothing telling me our second choice yet either. Sorry.

I didn't rework density. I think my scale is off based on other densities I've computed recently that all seem to be coming in high, so i dont have confidence in the accuracy of the scale right now. I guess i need to get a higher quality scale.

 

[daniscool]

I have no idea but I am interested in seeing the outcome.

 

[Mr. Peet]

I didn't rework density. I think my scale is off based on other densities I've computed recently that all seem to be coming in high, so i dont have confidence in the accuracy of the scale right now. I guess i need to get a higher quality scale.

Buy a quality scale you can use in the kitchen as well. That way it is a house purchase everyone can use. Helps justify costs.

 

[daniscool]

Buy a quality scale you can use in the kitchen as well. That way it is a house purchase everyone can use. Helps justify costs.

It makes the family happy.

 

[Big Ry]

Buy a quality scale you can use in the kitchen as well. That way it is a house purchase everyone can use. Helps justify costs.

I'm using my kitchen scale

 

[Mr. Peet]

I'm using my kitchen scale

Had assumed such, thus the word "Quality".

 

[TimR]

I use Harbor Freight postal scales. I have 2 of the small ones and one of the large ones. I put a roughly 3.5 lb weight on each and got 3.496 lbs on one of the small ones and 3.492 lbs on the other. The large scale indicated 3.487 lbs, so a spread of about .009 lbs amongst them. I’ll do a check at local post office and ups drop over the coming week to see deviations from mine.
I did all my weighing of the board I sent Ry on the large scale, so it can be inferred that the actual weight may be more than thought. Also since this board does have a large void on one side,that would skew the density down further.

 

[Mr. Peet]

I used to check tare of my scale at the local delis. They were certified and inspected. The one at our post office lacked any certification posted.

 

[Friedrich9]

@Big Ry what size Flordia black Iron wood are you looking for. I just located a bought a small log and a possibly a thin board or two.

 

[Big Ry]

@Big Ry what size Flordia black Iron wood are you looking for. I just located a bought a small log and a possibly a thin board or two.

No particular size. I was just buying it to collect due to the rarity and hardness. So ideally enough to make a IWCS sample, if not a little more for later use in a project.

Have you confirmed the species of the log already?

 

[Friedrich9]

I’ll have to wait until it arrives. But in 98% sure. It’s a trustworthy source.

 

[Friedrich9]

@Big Ry im also doing some major clean up and sorting. I believe I’ll have another rare rosewood available for you soon. Dalbergia lanceolaria

 

[daniscool]

@Big Ry im also doing some major clean up and sorting. I believe I’ll have another rare rosewood available for you soon. Dalbergia lanceolaria

That’s a good one. Only seen one piece but it was very nice.