When Kevin had the portable sawmill business customers would call and ask us if we wanted their valuable logs that were just recently cut and laying in their yard. They knew it was valuable because it was "walnut". So anytime someone tells me the value of their log I am skeptical!!!
Well yesterday, a man wanted to bring his $5000 log over to be milled. To my surprise it was the real thing! It was a 6 ft ebony log. The gentleman didn't leave a scrap of it anywhere! But I suppose at that price I would have picked up every piece too.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11461/IMG_4563.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1562177816)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11461/IMG_4564.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1562177786)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11461/IMG_4565.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1562177804)
The pics don't do it justice as the wood was black as black could be. So rich and almost a satin look to it.
That's cool, and definitely something you won't be milling every day!
There must be more to the story !!! Was it super hard ?
How does one get an ebony log ? Can't exactly put it in your suitcase to bring back from another continent :D
Sprucebunny you are correct he did not bring it back in his suitcase. :D He actually bought it from a wood dealer in California.
Schuyler (I think he is member W) and Jane had no problems sawing it. Wasn't hard.
Personally, I would make me nervous to cut something like that for a customer, but no one seemed to treat it differently.
I only got to see it because they milled it in the Logrite parking lot where they were milling wood for pallets just before the customer showed up.
All in a days work I guess.
Wonder what he's gonna do with it? I wouldn't think boards would be the best shape, but I guess it depend on what he has in mind. You could do some interesting stuff turning it I bet.
I'd saw that for shares! :D
the sawdust would make great filler. add it to resin ect. :)
Where does it grow? South America?
Ebony - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebony)
Africa and India. I wasn't sure, either.
It says 'dense' and I've seen it as wear surfaces on old planes which is why I thought it might be hard.
Fretboards would be a good use for boards. Thought of that after seeing Resonator post.
I have a number of ebony carvings I bought in Cameroon on the west coast of Africa. It is extremely dense and very beautiful wood. @WDH (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=4370) Didn't I hear persimmon is an ebony wood.
I think redbud and ebony are closely related.
Yes, persimmon is in the ebony family. The instruments makers call it American ebony.
Quote from: btulloh on July 03, 2019, 09:45:57 PM
I think redbud and ebony are closely related.
Rosewood. Different exotic. Both ebony and rosewood are related to Les Paul.
Apparently, it was 1 of 3 ebony logs brought here in 1995. Ebony does not grow very big so this was an exceptional log.
yes it is dense. 2 guys could not lift it. they ended up using the tractor (I just want to state for the record all the guys were kind of old ;D)
The man is commissioned to build a table.
The only thing I can think of where Ebony is commonly used is "forearm tips" on gun stocks!
Dense and heavy like iron. I've only seen a wood sample in person in the forest products lab at university.
Cool opportunity though. 8)
Ebony used to be used for piano keys - the black ones of course. Ivory veneer was used for the white keys. Those days are long gone.
Tam-i-am, you witnessed a truly rare event. Thanks for sharing it.
Two exotic gavels.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/IMG_6176.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1562240914)
One Rose Wood and the other Ebony. These were turned in the early '60's.
Years ago, I could imagine a high end Crokinole set with ebony and maple.
A quick google just shows ebony used on the board surface, but maple disks. $275 UK pounds. Odd, I would request ebony and hard maple disks. :D
QuoteEbony used to be used for piano keys - the black ones of course. Ivory veneer was used for the white keys.
Ebony and ivory, live together in perfect harmony,
Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we?
(Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder 1982)
Ebony is still the fretboard material of choice in high end guitars, especially classical guitars. I'm sure that holds true for stringed instruments like violins as well. As it gets rarer, ebony migrates toward the more expensive instruments. Some cheap guitars have the fretboard dyed to look like ebony. They go well with the jewelry that makes your skin turn green😊
Years ago I've read in Fine Woodworking magazine that a guy went to get a quilted mahogany in Africa saying that the log worth $25,000 !! . So big that even the bulldozer was not strong enough to pull it, they had to dynamite in half. Floated on a river to the mill, got it saw and send to US . Went all in slicing veneer. Quite an expedition
Wow, that's what I love about the forum - I post something and you all teach me something!
So I went digging around in the sawdust and found a small sliver of a piece. I promise to bring it to the pig roast this year. Then I have to figure out something to make out of it!
Doc - Jane, the sawyer's partner, did scoop up as much sawdust as she could to use it as fill in something.
Good that you are bringing a piece to the Pig Roast. We can fool Cedarman with it.
They used to say a fool and his money are soon parted. Havent heard it in a while but i see it every day.
Quote from: Tam-i-am on July 08, 2019, 09:31:56 AMThen I have to figure out something to make out of it!
Ear rings.
GAB
Proverbs, Mike😉
You are going to have a hard time parting any money from Cedarman. He is tighter than Dick's Hat Band.