Color in Lignum vitae

I had a couple peices of lignum vitae, on the outside they appeared to be about the same.

However when I turned them one appears to be quite a bit lighter, more of a tan color whereas the other is a deep green.

they were both coated with wax, but on one I had cut a piece off of the end, and it has set out in the open air for a while when I noticed the end where I had cut it had turned a deep green and some of the sap/oil had seeped out and was also a deep green.

Do you think it was reacting to the air or to light? It wasn't particularly light where it was at or I'd think light.

The point of all this is I'd like to darken up the pen barrels I just turned, and if it's air that it's reacting to, I don't want to CA them and seal them off, on the other hand if it's light I don't suppose it would matter if it had CA over it. I'd just leave them like they are for a bit but humidity is high and the weather is hot so I'm kind of tempted to CA over it anyway to seal them off in case they try to pull any funny stuff. :;

Anyone noticed how Lignum vitae responds to sunlight?

To give you an idea of the difference...

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...IMG_5754-1.jpg

I don't know how it responds to light but it does come in various shades and colours.

It was used in the marine industry for the seals on the stern tubes on the main propeller shaft

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Originally Posted by Simomatra

I don't know how it responds to light but it does come in various shades and colours.

It was used in the marine industry for the seals on the stern tubes on the main propeller shaft

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It does have an interesting history doesn't it?

Anyhow, yes, it comes in differing shades, but what was odd was before I started turning they both appeared to be the same shade, and the only difference between them was the one had sat for some time with a side open from where I had cut it, though the rest of it was still waxed so I don't know if that would have been enough to change it any or not. I'm hoping it will darken just a bit more, I know I can't expect to much, but the way it is it is a bit on the plain side. :no:

If you have any left you need to set up an experiment to see what happens.

I missed out when a company i worked for re-opened a drydock. The old chippies shed has slabs of Lignum I just wasn't quick enough would you believe one fellow made a coffee table from his stash I would hate to say how much that table is worth.

You are heaps closer to the sources of this timber than any of us. If you Google around as I do on occasion you will locate various suppliers of Lignum a timber that is very anciently quoted. Suggest asking the suppliers for very old and very new and colour shifts. The only pens I have made were bearing shells from a ships main driv4e shaft over a hundred years old given to me as two small scraps.

Pic of my small piece of Lignum Vitae cut across the grain another way to bring out the colour and grain.

Regards Peter:2tsup:

Forgive the picture quality long time ago.

Whatever the results, they look good, Amos:)

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Originally Posted by Matt88s

It does have an interesting history doesn't it?

Anyhow, yes, it comes in differing shades, but what was odd was before I started turning they both appeared to be the same shade, and the only difference between them was the one had sat for some time with a side open from where I had cut it, though the rest of it was still waxed so I don't know if that would have been enough to change it any or not. I'm hoping it will darken just a bit more, I know I can't expect to much, but the way it is it is a bit on the plain side. :no:

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I think most woods are subject to some color change when exposed to air and UV.
Light woods can get darker (cherry, pine) dark woods can lighten (teak, walnut)
I have also seen it in lignum. You might try putting it under a 'black light' and see if
this evens out the color for you. Or you could always take it with you into a
tanning bed. :p