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Thread: Natutal BLUE WOOD?
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28th March 2019, 06:56 PM #1GOLD MEMBER
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Natural BLUE WOOD?
Has anyone come across BLUE WOOD, not stained but with a natural blue wood colour?
If so, can you tell us about it and if possible show us some pics?
We have talked about many colours (pink, red, purple, yellow/gold, green, grey black etc) but seems BLUE is rare.
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28th March 2019, 07:26 PM #2Taking a break
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I'm going to go out on a limb here (pun somewhat intended) and say that blue wood does not exist.
Basically, organic blue pigments don't exist (the Nessaea obrinus butterfly being the only known exception); when you see blue in nature it's generally being created by the surface scattering or reflecting light so it appears blue.
Further reading/watching here (and plenty more on google):
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-col...-plant-kingdom
https://bestlifeonline.com/blue-in-nature/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g246c6Bv58
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28th March 2019, 08:42 PM #3
I have a couple of pen blanks of Blue Mahoe, it’s a bit of a stretch of the imagination to call them blue, but they have oxidised to a sort of bluish grey.
I also have some bits of Dogwood/Creek Wilga . All my pieces have some varying amounts of blue/green colours through them. Very nice stuff.Brad.
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28th March 2019, 08:50 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
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Great response.. thanks
But blue pigments occur in flowers so why aren’t similar pigments found in wood? The chemistry is in plants but usually higher oxidised compounds are found in woods ie the red end prevails. Being over-educated in Plant Chemistry I do understand the science of colour and electromagnetic energy theory BUT ...
What about Blue Mahoe (Cotton tree) Hibiscus elatus or H. tiliaceus or Taliparti elatum, similar trees which grow here too along tropical seashores. Blaue Mahoe is known for the characteristic colour of its wood just after milling. With blue, violet, light blue, steel blue, greenish even "rarely even a royal blue" colour … most of the wood has less than 20% blue.
https://www.exoticwood.biz/bluemahoe.htm
But the blue tone does not last, it changes with time to shades of brown, purple, grey, and a dirty bluey-green.
Euge
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28th March 2019, 08:53 PM #5GOLD MEMBER
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28th March 2019, 09:10 PM #6
Yes, but it will have to wait until the weekend.
I posted this pen here too, but the photos have disappeared, so unfortunately I have to link this one.
Australian Dogwood - International Association of Penturners
It is interesting reading that old thread again, I did end up selling that pen.Brad.
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28th March 2019, 09:22 PM #7GOLD MEMBER
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Yes thanks Ironwood ... thats a LOVELY pen!!
I have some of that Dogwood (Eremophila spp) but mine has more greenish streaks through gold. May see if I can find it.
How about this below .... it's is geting "bluish-grey" ... or a "bluish-violet" maybe ?
Anyone have anything better?
Blue?.jpg
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28th March 2019, 09:30 PM #8
Thanks Euge.
I thought I saw a piece in one of your “Prospects “ photos
Edit- I have looked and can’t find it now . Thought it was where you said you were making an extraordinary category.
2nd Edit- Sorry, it was in Gabriel’s thread (challenge thread) I think he said the blank came from you.Brad.
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28th March 2019, 10:29 PM #9GOLD MEMBER
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Yes, indeed the piece marked "ringed Dogwood" came from me (its an Eremophila like Creek Wilga) with some greenish streaks & lovely bright yellows.
Hope it turns out for Gab. Its not hard but has a "cranky grain" as some say. It was badly cracked when I got a small block from an aboriginal friend in northern NSW years ago. I have a boomerang made from it which I may photograph and post somewhere. I have just a bit more that I cut for knife handles or pens.
Euge
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30th March 2019, 05:02 PM #10GOLD MEMBER
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Here is another curiosity you may find as did I when searching for “BLUEWOOD"
Brasil, Brasilian bluewood, Bluewood Condalia, or Condallia
Condalia hookeri (formerly C. obovata) Rhamnaceae family
A prickly shrub growing in Southern Texas and Mexico, its wood is used for fine turning, for dye and used as fuel.
But where does the "bluewood" name come from when the wood is obviously not blue?
“ The common name refers to a blue dye obtained from the wood, which is also prized for fuel.”
It has a beautiful fine wood like our Australian Supplejack (also in the Rhamnaceae family). Pink Ivory & Brown ivory (Africa) are in same family.
Here below is a small log I just cut sent to me by a US friend in early 90s of the above species.
I was also gifted a "cribbage board" about 250mm long and 40 mm wide shown above the log.
Condalia.jpg
Edit: Interesting that the wood is brown when the dye from the wood is said to be blue (or at least dyes matter blue) .. wood does not seem photosensitive ie turning blue on light or oxygen exposure. Wood dust has been sucked into the dust extractor. Should have boiled some in water ... may later.
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30th March 2019, 07:13 PM #11
2 Blue Mahoe pen blanks, one end has been wiped with a wet rag. Sort of a bluish/violetish grey.
DSC_9408.jpgBrad.
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30th March 2019, 07:17 PM #12
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30th March 2019, 07:55 PM #13GOLD MEMBER
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Thanks Ironwood, Nice pics and a nice wood (Eremeophila bignonifolia I think) Also called Dogwood in some areas. I have some thin panels of the same somewhere. Must get a scraper so I can present a fresh / clean surface for photography. Will do so later unless I can find some old images .....Meanwhile, back in the pile
Here are the two bluest woods I have seen, at least in my collection
Grey Mangrove.jpeg
Above: Avicennia marina (Grey Mangrove) showingh bluish grey hues. Other samples I have are decidedly BROWN with patches that appear to be resins. Sapwood is coloured a creamy- white. This species has an occluded phloem (bark) giving it a coarse but interesting texture. Wood is of medium density and with a coarse open grain … but looks lovely in pens!! (Hint)
Below: The best Blue Mahoe but believe there is better. This is a bluish-lilac to my eyes. But beautiful nonetheless eh?
Blue Mahoe.jpg
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30th March 2019, 08:26 PM #14
You piece of Blue Mahoe is very striking.
I had never heard of the wood until I received those 2 blanks as extras in a box of Lignum Vitae blanks.Brad.
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30th March 2019, 11:04 PM #15GOLD MEMBER
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Been looking through some old photos of Creek Wilga / Dogwood & this board is one showing similar green-blue caste in some areas,
I may have better block
Dogwood 1.jpg Dogwood 2.jpg
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