Question about Desert Ironwood

[Bubinga]

Has anyone used desert ironwood?
How hard is it to work with?
Does it gum up sandpaper?

Someone want's me to make something out of it, and I don't know how to price the work. I was wondering how it compares to other hardwoods like Bubinga, or Brazilian cherry.

Thanks for any insight.
Rick

[rrich]

I used it once to cover the hardware in a shop built cabinet door handles. What I used was 5mm wide, 5mm thick and about 50mm long. (For you Imperial blokes, 1/4" x 1/4" x 2". :p ) The stuff was VERY EXPENSIVE! If I had a purchased a super foot at the rate it would have been $75US.

I cut the Desert Ironwood with a band saw and sanded it by hand. My impression was that the Ironwood got its name from the brown rusty saw dust rather than from its hardness.

HOWEVER, when I'm sanding ebony, it seems soft also. So, what do I know? :rolleyes: