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rrosewood substitute

rrosewood substitute (post #169577)

Steven James on Sun, 01/08/2012 - 07:32

Wood and Materials

I've been asked to build a tea table with a rosewood top. I'm not experienced in using veneer and don't approve of using wood from an endangered species. Anyone have a suggestion as to what native species has the grain characteristics of rosewood? The customer is willing to accept a rosewood stained table. Thanks.

If You Can Find It (post #169577, reply #1 of 6)

by roc in reply to Steven James [original] on Sun, 01/08/2012 - 11:59

Cocobolo

I suppose that is endangered as well.

I use it to make small tools.

It is a rose wood. Hard, oily, smells like roses when you cut it. No kidding.

Sorry about the photos I just couldn't get the light right for beans.

There is no finish on these.

Cocobolo tends toward orange maybe some body can say what to do about that.

roc

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

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Wood (post #169577, reply #2 of 6)

by Westchester in reply to Steven James [original] on Sun, 01/08/2012 - 15:06

Not all rosewoods are endangered.

Rosewoods come in quite a (post #169577, reply #3 of 6)

by mrossk in reply to Steven James [original] on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 20:46

Rosewoods come in quite a variety of colors and grain patterns, and so you could substitute with any number of species (though maybe not so many domestics.) Why not just go to a veneer or lumber site and find something the client likes- I like B&B Rare Woods for veneer and Cook Woods for a wide variety of hardwood exotic lumber- though of course there any many others. I like Bubinga and Goncalo Alves (aka TigerWood), or Bocote or ...Have fun!

rosewood (post #169577, reply #4 of 6)

by swannyww in reply to Steven James [original] on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 10:57

After working in rosewood one day I went to take my shower and experienced needle like pain where I had sweated and rosewood dust had contact with. This lasted for a week and I talked to wood turners and they said they had similar experiences. Some even had rosewood dust on their hands and went to the bathroom. A whole new experience in pain. Rosewood, pretty but painful.

Rosewood solutions (post #169577, reply #5 of 6)

by jacko9 in reply to Steven James [original] on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 20:19

While I fully support your endangered native species issue, you can give the customer the look they desire with homemade veneer via James Krevov where he bandsawed thick veneer to glue up over plywood. The resulting construction is a 3/16" veneer which is less vunerable to thin plywood damage issues and gives the customer the desired look. I built a wall cabinet for a antique doll with Indonesion Rosewood lumber for the posts , rails and styles but, the back was veneered. Sorry for the poor quality photo.

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cocobolo (post #169577, reply #6 of 6)

by wdwerker in reply to Steven James [original] on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 19:25

Cocobolo will darken with age, the orange gets more reddish. Sand a lot of cocobolo and the dust can cause nose bleeds. Nice to look at but irritating to work.

I would use homemade thick veneer for a top regardless of what type of wood you choose. Bocote is nice if you can get it, from mexico I think originally.

Steve