What can I do with this hardwood

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ybwuser

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I think it is iroko (I know I've got to be careful with the dust). I need to look more closely at it - a builder just threw it at me in a rush today (virtually anyway) - lovely dark colour - very heavy.

They are old bannister rails.

Any good to make a rubbing strake for a dinghy?

Can this stuff be steamed? Best way to cut? - circular or band saw - I reckon circular - not band saw down the grain.

Can you think of a better use? He was only going to scrap it for goodness sake.
 
If its old then I suspect that is not iroko, if its a dark brown and old its probably mahogany, then you can do virtually anything with it.
Take it to a chippy to get it identified. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
If it is late 19th century it might be very good quality mahogany, possibly Cuban, and much harder than most of the modern stuff sold as mahogany (which is often from a similar but different species of tree)
 
Avoid inhaling the dust from any tropical hardwood. No problem when using hand tools but a mask is advisable if using power saws and particularly sanders.

If it is so obviously heavy it could be teak rather than iroko or mahogany

Table of densities HERE

But for bannister rails mahogany I would have thought.
 
Thanks guys, I'll find out what it is first and then figure out what I can use it for; whether I can bend it etc.
 
Mahogany (especially old) does not bend or respond to steam well (not when I am using it anyway.)

Don't rule out a bandsaw for cutting it. There is less waste as the cut is thinner. I got some cut into thin strips for a rubbing strip by a guy with a bandsaw and laminated a gunwale on a dinghy. I should mention it was a proper professional machine and not a cheapo job like you might fins in the woodwork room at a school.
 
Without seeing a photo it's impossible to say whether it is iroko or mahogany, or even another type altogether, maybe teak or afromosia.
If it's 'mahogany' there are a myriad of species to choose from - if it is Cuban then you'd be best to eBay it as it's worth a small fortune and much too good to make rubbing strakes from. I would even think twice about using Brazilian these days, particularly on an old knockabout grp thing.

Most woods are fairly easy to steam though some mahogany species tend to go a bit brittle if they're oversteamed. Iroko is fairly good for steaming, about 1hr per inch of thickness, clamp it into the required curve and leave for 24 hrs before you start drilling fixing holes in it, otherwise it may fail. Bandsaw is best for converting, for the reasons stated by WightDawn.

It may help to have a look at John Boddy's site to help identify the species, but web photos are often a bit misleading. There is a wealth of information on the Boddy site - one of the countrys leading hardwood timber merchants.
 
[ QUOTE ]
hardwood dust is defined as a carcinogen

[/ QUOTE ] I never knew that! I have often worn a face mask, but for personal comfort depending upon what job I am engaged rather than a safety reason.

Though I have regularly cut hardwood outside or recently orbital sanded a small sheet of teak face outside on the patio without a mask. Any dust was blown away in the breeze. I will be more careful in future; though, not too be contentious or cause an argument, isn't every activity a suspected carcinogenic nowadays?
 
The area around High Wycombe had a high incidence of nasal cancer in/around the 1960's - traditionally this was a big area for furniture making, often using English hardwoods such as beech and elm, as well as imported hardwoods. This decreased as efficient dust extraction and better safety awareness became the norm.
 
May I request you do post that info you have as I would definitely be interested to know the dangers, especially regarding rotten wood? Thank you in advance.
 
Might be honduras mahog, which is a wonderful decorative timber, but great for anything on a boat above the waterline.
 
Thanks again guys.

I will have a close look at it when I get back to work.

Perhaps too good for me - never thought of ebay.

It is nice to do something worthwhile with good wood though isn't it? Not often I get my hands on good wood. I was given some marine ply off-cuts by a boat builder once - gorgeous stuff, no cavities, thick plys of equal thickness - still got them somewhere waiting for a decent job to come along.

Cheers
 
[ QUOTE ]
Most woods are fairly easy to steam

[/ QUOTE ]

My aft deck has a distinct curve. Needed to mount a strip of one and a quarter inch teak about five feet long to main sheet horse up a bit.

Steamed it for several hours. Had to take it off eventually as cracks were appearing in the deck where it was trying to straighten the deck out!
 
[ QUOTE ]
My aft deck has a distinct curve. Needed to mount a strip of one and a quarter inch teak about five feet long to main sheet horse up a bit.

Steamed it for several hours. Had to take it off eventually as cracks were appearing in the deck where it was trying to straighten the deck out!

[/ QUOTE ]

I had a similar problem when I was fitting some new hardwood gunwales to a 12ft GRP dinghy....The gun'l was staying straight and trying straighten the dinghy as well.

I just ran them through the circular saw and did it in 2 laminates... it was much better than twice as flexable..

Nick
 
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