Any woodworkers here?

[jymbee]

Trying to find out what I have. It's a VERY heavy, black piece of wood that's been in the family for many years, the origin of which is not known. I pulled it out of storage the other day thinking that perhaps someone might know just what it is. I was told at one point that it was a piece of ebony. Given the weight I'll buy that but really have no idea. There's also some markings on the top which I are indecipherable to me. Here's some snapshots I took some time ago:

 

[mcfarmall]

Woodworker yes, but not an expert on exotic hardwoods. Can't help you on this one.

 

[/pine]

I'd like to see some of the inside without the dark patina...
Ebony is probably a good guess...if it is a little browner inside it could be Lignum vitae...
...a lot of experts would go by the smell of a fresh cut for a positive ID...

What does it weigh?

 

[bunyip]

Lignum Vitae was my guess, used to be used for lawn bowls and ships bearings, eg: supporting prop shaft, naturally an oily timber and very hard wearing, surprisingly easy to work despite its hardness.
Are the stamps on the end of any significance?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I'd like to see some of the inside without the dark patina...
Ebony is probably a good guess...if it is a little browner inside it could be Lignum vitae...
...a lot of experts would go by the smell of a fresh cut for a positive ID...

What does it weigh?

Lignum Vitae would be mine as well, incredibly dense wood.

 

[jymbee]

Lignum Vitae was my guess, used to be used for lawn bowls and ships bearings, eg: supporting prop shaft, naturally an oily timber and very hard wearing, surprisingly easy to work despite its hardness.
Are the stamps on the end of any significance?

I'm sure the stamps have some significance-- but whatever that wold be is unknown to me. I do know that one of the previous owners did do carvings. Decoy ducks e.g. So this Lignum Vitae does sound like a prime candidate.

 

[jymbee]

I'd like to see some of the inside without the dark patina...
Ebony is probably a good guess...if it is a little browner inside it could be Lignum vitae...
...a lot of experts would go by the smell of a fresh cut for a positive ID...

What does it weigh?

Having a somewhat sick sense of humor at times there were occasions in the past where I would casually hand this piece of wood to an unsuspecting person and ask them to "set it over there". Had to be careful and not carry it too far as this thing is very heavy. If I had to guess I'd say 25 pounds or so. (??) I do know it's much heavier per volume than any other wood we have around here including oak, sugar maple e.g..

 

[/pine]

FWIW...hard dense rounds of wood have long been used as pounding blocks...it's likely that at least some of the "stamping" is just a layoff from raised lettering etc. of whatever was being pounded on...

 

[BHD]

the stamp looks some what like a Rail road tie marking,

 

[bunyip]

I hope the decoy ducks are not the floating variety as Lignum Vitae has similar buoyancy characteristics as cast iron, for woodworkers it makes great guide blocks in the bandsaw, I have them in mine and they have been in for the past 20 years or so without any problems, if the blade flexes a bit it cuts the timber rather than take off the kerf on the blade.