World's most expensive wood?

[BobL]

This was a gift for SWMBO I was given recently in the middle east.
512321
https://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107291&stc=1&d=1244349825
Included in the box (see red arrow) was a smaller box containing some small pieces of incense or Agar wood.
This is the wood from trees of certain trees from the Aquilaria genus that has been infested with a specfic parasitic mould.
In response the tree produces a certain type of resin which impregnates the wood.

It looks like this.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107293&stc=1&d=1244349888
512319
And closer up like this.
512320
https://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=107292&stc=1&d=1244349854
Using a small pair of side cutters one nibbles a few small chips off the side of one of these pieces and puts it on a small burning charcoal block and it gives off the most amazing perfume.

A couple of days later I happened to be walking past a perfume shop so I popped in for a look and to check out the prices with the view to being some to take home s presents.
It turns out the Agar wood ranges widely in price from a few $/kg of basic stuff at the source in south east asia, to the topmost grade in a pricey middle east store, such as the wood in that little box, which cost $211 for 10g, so it costs $21/gram or $21000 kg or $21,000,000 a ton!

[Pat]

But is any good as a handle???? :q

:worthless:

[BobL]

But is any good as a handle???? :q

:worthless:

Not really. Apparently the wood from an unaffected tree has no value as a construction or object making wood. The trees are all on endangered species lists. The only way to get to any remaining Aquilaria trees is a minimum 7 day walk on foot in mountainous, malaria affected country.

[DJ’s Timber]

Bob I'm getting this message for all 3 images that you've pasted in :shrug:

Which means you've either deleted the originals or they didn't upload correctly and the ones you can see if you're seeing any are a cached image.

Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator (http://www.woodworkforums.com/sendmessage.php)

[Claw Hama]

:missing:Bobs tired from the 14 days walk to pick up his pressent. Where are your pictures Bob we can't see them:U
Or is it the Malaria??

[BobL]

Pics now available.

[Claw Hama]

Wow!!

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

At first reading I thought that was very generous of whoever, but now that the pix are up... what's with the big, red arrow graffiti?

:innocent:

[BobL]

At first reading I thought that was very generous of whoever, but now that the pix are up... what's with the big, red arrow graffiti?

:innocent:

I put that red arrow on the photo to to point to how little the box is containing the outrageous $$$$ wood.

[tea lady]

:oo: Me thinks its a place that REALLY likes outrageously expensive things.

[BobL]

:oo: Me thinks its a place that REALLY likes outrageously expensive things.

Yep - except their petrol is about 25c/litre!