Thread: Ai-Besi - Moluccan ironwood ???

As far as I can make out, the differences in Merbau/Kwila/Moluccan Ironwood are region/climate related, with the more southern (less tropical) wood a little softer. The stuff I get is Indonesian and called Merbau, but I don't know yet how the dark stains will act over time on indoor furniture.

Does your wood have the golden flecks?

One thing that makes working with gummy/resinous/whatever woods more pleasant is to do any heavy sanding with the kind of sandpaper that is made for stripping paint. It's usually white, and is as much like cloth as paper.

Sounds like you scored on the Pterocarpus. There are regional differences, and subspecies etc. but I haven't seen the kind you describe in Europe or the USA, in person. The "legendary" kinds are like you describe, and the plum-black one from some region in India. My experiences with other kinds of "padauk"s, were kind of ho-hum, the one that was really very nice to work quickly turned dark muddy brown.

-Cameron Bobro

Hi Clinton1, Is your picture frame living indoors or out? Indoors I wouldn't think the tannins would be an issue. Outdoors you could try bees wax before rubbing in your homebrew Danish oil. It may block up the veins.

Cameron - thanks for that.. good tip on the cloth backed sandpaper. I have not bought any of it yet, waiting till I get the time to go into town. It will be interesting and I'll post some pics of both species.

Claw - The frame will be inside, although with the wet season there is a lot of condensation on the walls and things go a bit soggy generally inside the buildings.