Thread: Valuable Stolen Timber (~US $1,000 per kg)

Talking about expensive wood maybe take a look at this
World's most expensive wood?

That's quite a story Bob. I wish someone would start one of those those black markets places around here so I can offload all of my timber.

As for actual value, I have a number of rare and uncommon species, Cacao Theobroma cacao and Brown Bollywood Litsea Leafeana would be two straight up that I can think of. Unsurprisingly I think they have quite a high value because of that and the quality and character of the timber itself, so I am selling them at higher than average price. I wouldn't want to be hanging by any body parts waiting to see them sell.

Not in the same league as the above but still pretty exxy is [COLOR=var(--e-global-color-text)]Brosimum guianense[/COLOR] or central american snakewood.
It's heavily poached and often smuggled into the US where small half logs sells for about AUS$100/kg


Snakewood Lumber For Sale • Rare Woods USA

Originally Posted by BobL

Not in the same league as the above but still pretty exxy is [COLOR=var(--e-global-color-text)]Brosimum guianense[/COLOR] or central american snakewood.
It's heavily poached and often smuggled into the US where small half logs sells for about AUS$100/kg


Snakewood Lumber For Sale • Rare Woods USA

Well, i do have to say that I've snapped logs off into the dunny bowl with more figure and shatoyance than that.

I've a book about growing trees for profit.

Heartwood : Rowan Reid : 9781925556117

Home - Australian Agroforestry Foundation


Given the unbelievable expense of these trees, its interesting that some might not grow a small selection of them specifically for their value.



BTW, I think poachers should be put on the pyre of their stolen logs.

9781925556117.jpg

Agree that's not a very inspiring piece but snakewood can look good used in the right way and usually in smaller pieces8AE20BD2-D205-41FC-B742-47771ECBF90B_4_5005_c.jpeg

I use it in inlay banding on boxes. Chatoyance on the stuff I've used hasn't been anything special.

Regards,

Brian

A nice piece of Cocobolo will do me:

5B994864-4016-47C4-B0A2-C85207ED94D0_4_5005_c.jpeg


WP: "BTW, I think poachers should be put on the pyre of their stolen logs." That's a terrible thing to say.

What a waste of lovely timber......


Brian




'

What about Coachwood?

Originally Posted by Bob Whitworth

... It goes on to say that the 20 blocks weighing a total of 113kgs would be worth an unbelievable in excess of $100,000 (US). ...

Asssuming that Taiwanese timber has a density around 0.8 then that works out at ~A$1,000,000 per cubic metre, or $2,360 per superfoot. Most sawmillers would think that was a fair price for their output - the market might say differently.

But we must also question the reliability of the reporting. How numerate was the journalist?

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

But we must also question the reliability of the reporting. How numerate was the journalist?

I agree...
I certainly questioned the validity of the reporting
$1,000,000 m3 sounds a bit far fetched
Some years back here in Nth Qld (Atherton Tablelands)
A chap decided he would barrel on into a National park armed with a skidder and help himself to a large number of 'old growth' trees
Black Walnut,Qld Maple,Maple Silkwood and a few other primary species...he selected well
But he got caught!
How you may ask?
His truck had an oil leak and they (forestry) simply followed it back to where he had stashed the logs
Stupid is stupid!
He was subsequently gifted bed and breakfast courtesy of Her Majesty the Queen for a period of time
Log Dog

Bob (Whitworth), we should probably start a new thread on the subject of "best wood in the world" because it's likely to draw a lot of very different opinions! For starters, you would need to specify what the wood is "best" for. Toona australis is a very long way from best for tool handles, for instance, hard Acacia spp. such as ringed gidgee or A. rhodoxylon meet the mechanical requirements, look acceptable, & have great tactile qualities:
1 Nose fixed.jpg Done.jpg

Bull-oak and black penda meet specs too, imo:
2 last PP.jpg No 3.jpg

But any of these would be far from my idea of best woods for furniture, all pigs to work with hand tools & far too dense.

As a cabinet wood, I much prefer working with Qld maple over Toona, but I do like the look of nicely-polished Toona in an appropriate piece.

Bed2.jpg Done.jpg

If I had to pit-saw my lumber & tiger it into shape with nothing but hand tools, Toona might very quickly become the "best" furniture wood for me.

Horses for courses, I think.....

Cheers,

Originally Posted by homey

A nice piece of Cocobolo will do me:

5B994864-4016-47C4-B0A2-C85207ED94D0_4_5005_c.jpeg


WP: "BTW, I think poachers should be put on the pyre of their stolen logs." That's a terrible thing to say.

What a waste of lovely timber......


Brian




'

Cocobolo...yum!
Dalbergia retusa is one of my favourites too
The genus Dalbergia has some stunning timber species within it
Another one of my favourites is Chukrasia Tabularis (Indian Mahogany)...I have had the pleasure of milling some quality logs of this species...lovely timber indeed!
Log Dog

Originally Posted by IanW

... If I had to pit-saw my lumber & tiger it into shape with nothing but hand tools, Toona might very quickly become the "best" furniture wood for me.

Horses for courses, I think.....

Cheers,

If you look at the specifications for Toona then it summarises as soft and fragile. But ...

Engineering-wise, perhaps the most complex piece of furniture is a simple chair as it is used and abused. Stresses everywhere, especially where teenagers exist! But so many colonial era red cedar chairs have survived - some are in museums, far more are still in daily use. Their average age is ~150 years!

Their is something magical about Toona.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Their is something magical about Toona.

Indeed...it is magical
I milled a Red Cedar stump a couple of years ago
Rich red colour but for me...the aroma
I adore the smell of freshly cut Cedar...unmistakable
And it cuts like butter!
As a standing tree it is equally impressive
Log Dog