Thread: Identify this timber

If I had to hazard a guess, I would say its Blackbean. Though I don't know if it grows over there.

Thank you so much. I've googled Blackbean and I'd say you're right on the money. Thanks again

Welcome to the forum Sandra.

Ross

blackbean for sure

Definately not blackbean, completely different grain structure "Walnut"

I think I'd go with Dazza on this one, doesn't look like BB to me, either.

Both BB & Black Walnut are aliens to WA, so provenance is no help.

Both have wide sapwood (yellow in BB when first cut, more greyish on BW). The grain looks more like BW to me, too, and those dead knots are typical of the couple of struggling backyard BWs I've come across (it's not fussed on Mediterranean climates, it likes warm, wet Summers!).

BW has a pleasant smell when sawn/planed, is easier to work than BB and a little less dense (~.65 vs ~.75). Hard to describe the smell of Black Bean, it's not a strong odour when dry, but if you become sensitized to it, as many do, it will trigger a nasty allergic rhinitis whenever you start making a bit of sawdust.

Black Bean is fine once finished, and a good furniture wood - it was used to excess over this side of the island in the 60's as a substitute for Teak in the "Scandanvian" style furniture that was all the rage at the time.

Black Walnut is one of the nicest woods to work with. Takes an excellent polish, but doesn't hold that dark colour, unfortunately, it mellows to a darkish brown on exposure to light.

The silly part about id'ing wood from a picture is that these two woods are very easy to separate in the hand if you have any familiarity with them, but I wouldn't go to court over a picture. You could have some completely different species that I'm not familiar with.....

Cheers,

Have seen this before years ago but for the love of me can't remember what it was if I ever knew. Not even sure where it came from but the grain and colour were almost 100% identical even down to the white speckled sapwood.

Had Stan Ceglinski staying with us for the last week and he says it's definitely not Blackbean and said he's pretty sure it wasn't walnut although it's a bit reminiscent of some black walnut I had a long time ago but doesn't appear to fit the walnut grain pattern that I've worked with.

If you have access to the person you got it from it would help if you could find out if it was a native or not. Could be anything especially if it was a house or street tree. Their not always natives, hence the "could be anything" statement.

Have a feeling it might have got it at our Swap Meet some 30 odd years ago from Rare Woods (Poole family Melbourne) unfortunately no longer trading.

Not much help I know but for what it's worth most of Rare Woods timbers were desert trees from Central Australia or street trees.

Cheers - Neil

I lean more towards a walnut (Juglans sp) also, especially black walnut (Juglans nigra). I do not think its a native Australian species, although there are some with dark heartwoods like this (most are dryland small trees eg Acacia sp., some shrubs and a few tropical trees as well like Black Bean). As others have said, any help knowing where it grew would help knowing if its a native species or an exotic eg like US black walnut.

I’d describe Black Walnut heartwood as being rich chocolate brown colour, or more often Ive found with darker purplish-brown. Sapwood is a creamy white colour. The wood has a distinctive pleasant odour and is a favourite cabinet wood for woodworkers. I attach a photo of a back walnut wood grown on tree farm in the Ottways (Bambra Agroforestry) for comparison. 3 pics show 2 sides of 2 quarter-sawn samples showing heartwood and sapwood, one with a lick of oil I suspect so its darker. Heartwood is not as dark nor developed as that in the unknown slab.

BW1.jpg BW2.jpg BW3.jpg

Black Bean heartwood IMO is decidedly browner as recent pics is 'wood for sale' have shown. Its dust also is prone to causing reactions and health problems sneezing rashes coughing etc .

A final comment I’d like to make. This shows the value having REFERENCE SAMPLES / SPECIMENS from reliable source like these. Of course they don't have to be the IWCS 6 x 3 x 1/2” in size but that makes trading and storage so much easier.

BUT, the unknown wood also looks a bit like Dalbergia nigra (African Black Rosewood) which was imported and sold in Australia in recent years in various sizes & forms. Dalbergias also have a disctinctive aroma.

Finally, I dont think its a Diospyros sp (an Ebony) either although any id from photos is difficult unless it has a wood species name like those above

Regards, Eugene