Timber Question

This was posted to me. Contrary to popular belief I don't have a clue.Perhaps some one here can help.

Hi Robbo,

I have a wood identification question for you. I purchased some pen blanks
from two different suppliers and one of them has mislabeled their wood. I
ordered Amboyna burl and Goldfield burl. Since the Goldfield is from your
area I thought you would know. One lot of wood is caramel colored with
lots of eyes in it and is very soft and spongy. The other wood is very
hard and a fairly dark redish brown. The Amboyna I ordered from Craft
Supplies looks like the Goldfield I ordered from Penn State. I would
appreciate any help you could give me.

Thanks,

Shawn Swafford


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Ian (Robbo) Robertson
"We do good turns every day"

Hi Robbo

Not wanting to sound like a smart "b" but it would appear that these timbers were obviously puschased in the US and are more than likely US timbers and have nothing what so ever to do with any of the goldfields of Australia. I suggest that Shawn's answer would lie with Penn State http://www.pennstateind.com or Craft Supplies http://www.craftusa.com

I know of no natives in the Australian goldfelds that are soft and spongy, most are in the Bloody Hard to Really Bloody Hard catagory.

Cheers
Neil http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif