Katalox (Swartzia cubensis) burl---is this another super rare burl?

[BoonareeBurl]

I've seen a couple listings on EBay or Etsy for katalox burl pens or knife scales. I also know of a flute maker who has used this burl (but I did not get a reply when I inquired).

Is this another "holy grail" burl?

If someone has a verifiable, legit piece (7/8" or more square for a pen blank or perhaps a larger turning blank), I'd be interested.

Thanks,

G

 

[bhatleberg]

Beautiful stuff, highly variable and hard to find. What I have seen online is third rate compared to what I used to be able to buy, but I have not been able to buy any for a long time. Certainly holy grail status in my mind.

Here is a sample I kept:

 

[BoonareeBurl]

Beautiful stuff, highly variable and hard to find. What I have seen online is third rate compared to what I used to be able to buy, but I have not been able to buy any for a long time. Certainly holy grail status in my mind.

Here is a sample I kept:

View attachment 234962

Whoa. Now THAT is an awesome burl. I don't think I've ever seen a burl that looks like that one.

Thanks for sharing, Brian. You always have amazing stuff.

Happy holidays,

G

 

[Mike1950]

I will dig out a piece.

 

[BoonareeBurl]

I will dig out a piece.

Mike, is there anything you don't have? LOL.

Can't wait to see the katalox burl.

Thanks,

G

 

[Mike1950]

I do not have most....

 

[BoonareeBurl]

I do not have most....

Katalox burl and lignum vitae burl are pretty damn good though!

G

 

[Mike1950]

This piece is sap, spalted and bug holes. I have more, but.... I bought this as honduran. It was suspect because it was spikey eyed. The heart burl was incredible tight eyed and some of it hard as a rock....

 

[BoonareeBurl]

This piece is sap, spalted and bug holes. I have more, but.... I bought this as honduran. It was suspect because it was spikey eyed. The heart burl was incredible tight eyed and some of it hard as a rock....

View attachment 235030

Katalox burl?

How big is that piece? How thick? Would like to get a fat pen blank or two ...

Thanks,

G

 

[Mike1950]

I will take better picture. And size

 

[BoonareeBurl]

I will take better picture. And size

Mike, depending on the size (if it's thick enough for a really fat pen) and depending on the cost, I might ask you to cut me off a chunk, including the non-burl part. The reason being that I'm thinking it might be cool to make a pen with both the non-burl and burl wood, and also I think I could use the non-burl part to identify the wood more conclusively as katalox through its end grain.

Let me know what you find out.

Thanks!

G

 

[Mike1950]

Mike, depending on the size (if it's thick enough for a really fat pen) and depending on the cost, I might ask you to cut me off a chunk, including the non-burl part. The reason being that I'm thinking it might be cool to make a pen with both the non-burl and burl wood, and also I think I could use the non-burl part to identify the wood more conclusively as katalox through its end grain.

Let me know what you find out.

Thanks!

G

i will sell it as is cheap. It has not been officialy ID'd as katalox, but I have cut enough katalox to have a fair Idea what it is like. there was a hard spot in this that probably was one of the hardest pieces I have cut on bandsaw. i will keep looking for more of it.

 

[BoonareeBurl]

i will sell it as is cheap. It has not been officialy ID'd as katalox, but I have cut enough katalox to have a fair Idea what it is like. there was a hard spot in this that probably was one of the hardest pieces I have cut on bandsaw. i will keep looking for more of it.

If we can get the "official" katalox burl and this one (and lignum vitae burl, if you can find it) into a MFRB or something, for the right price, I'll take it all. Or a lot of it. Man, who knew wood could be so addictive.

Thanks,

G

 

[BoonareeBurl]

i will sell it as is cheap. It has not been officialy ID'd as katalox, but I have cut enough katalox to have a fair Idea what it is like. there was a hard spot in this that probably was one of the hardest pieces I have cut on bandsaw. i will keep looking for more of it.

Any luck finding the confirmed katalox burl and the lignum vitae burl yet, Mike?

Thanks,

G

 

[Mike1950]

Any luck finding the confirmed katalox burl and the lignum vitae burl yet, Mike?

Thanks,

G

Only found the piece of katlox. Have not forgot you but if you saw my shop you would see why I do not look for a piece of wood. It is scary. Have some cabinets to build so I am really hoping for a "miracle in my life"

 

[BoonareeBurl]

Only found the piece of katlox. Have not forgot you but if you saw my shop you would see why I do not look for a piece of wood. It is scary. Have some cabinets to build so I am really hoping for a "miracle in my life"

Haha. You've got some holy grails, so I can be patient ... plus, maybe I'll end up turning the katalox and lignum vitae burls myself, if I get good enough!

Thanks for not forgetting me. :-)

G

 

[Mike1950]

Yahoo, I am back. I bought this burl with a bunch of hrb. It stood out as an oddball. Basket ball sized and very pinned. Hrb is hard to cut. This had a spot in it that was as hard as anything I have cut. Katalox. Most went to Canada to call maker. Beautiful blanks. Here are a couple pieces. I have more, somewhere.

 

[BoonareeBurl]

Yahoo, I am back. I bought this burl with a bunch of hrb. It stood out as an oddball. Basket ball sized and very pinned. Hrb is hard to cut. This had a spot in it that was as hard as anything I have cut. Katalox. Most went to Canada to call maker. Beautiful blanks. Here are a couple pieces. I have more, somewhere.

View attachment 238780

View attachment 238781

Hmm. Definitely some awesome burl. But it was unidentified when you bought it? (I'm creating a master set, and I'd prefer to have some kind of provenance/documentation regarding the identification of the species.)
Let me know, Mike. Oh, and of course I'm looking forward to your finding the lignum vitae burl (that one is pretty distinct looking, so harder to confuse with other burl species, I think).

Thanks,

G

 

[Mike1950]

Only provenance I get provided usually is what someone in Laos called. My crate of mun had black &white and a couple others in.
My opinion only. Unless you get it it'd. Provenance on many woods is an illusion. 10,000 commercially viable woods and 40,000 obscure. He who can I'd all please chime in.

 

[Mike1950]

And ii will add. These were packed out of central American forest. HRB is what buyer wanted. You can bet as many species that could pass as hrb were it'd as such.