The Ipe wood
Trade or Common Name: Ipe, lapacho, cortez
Local Name: Corteza, corteza amarilla
Botanical Name: Tabebuia spp.
Family: Bignoniaceae
It is found from Northern Mexico to Northern Argentina and the Caribbean Islands.
The Wood: Ipe heartwood is light to dark olive brown, often with attractive lighter or darker striping and striking contrasts with the lighter color sapwood. It has a fine texture, medium luster, and a somewhat oily appearance. Ipe is very hard (two to three times as hard as oak), very strong and very heavy. It weighs approximately 70 pounds per cubic foot and sinks in water. Ipe is rated as extremely durable.
Uses: The Ipe is a wonderful disease and insect resistant, and known for it's durability and weather resistance.
Ipe is prized for quality furniture and decorative veneers, and because of its strength and durability, is used in boardwalks, tool handles, turnery, industrial flooring, and textile mill items.
The Jacaranda
Common Name: Brazilian Rosewood, Bahia Rosewood, Jacaranda Scientific Name: Dalbergia nigra
Distribution: Brazil Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) Specific Gravity: .68 Hardness: 2,270 lbf (10,100 N)
The word is derived from the Portuguese word jacaranda, a tree of this genus. The species are shrubs to large trees ranging in size from 2 to 30m tall.
The word jacaranda was first used in 1753 to describe an American tree.In many parts of the world, such as Mexico, Los Angeles, Lisbon, Pretoria and Zimbabwe the blooming of this tree is welcomed as a sign of spring. In Israel, this tree is also quite abundant.
Brazilian Jacaranda is also used as the wood for the body of acoustic guitars.
The Olive tree
Common Name: Olive
Scientific Name: Olea spp. (Olea europaea, O. hochstetteri, etc.)
Distribution: Europe and eastern Africa
Tree Size: 25-50 ft (8-15 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1.0-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 62 lbs/ft3 (990 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .72
Hardness: 2,740 lbf (12,190 N)
The olive tree, is an evergreen tree or shrub native to the Mediterranean, Asia and Africa. It is short and squat, and rarely exceeds 8–15 meters (26–49 ft) in height.
In Israel, Olive tree has a special importance signifying peace and it appears on the State emblem.
All the olive tree kazoo's that appear on this site, are made from branches removed during cultivation of an old olive tree growing at my yard (Not the one in the picture).
The Mesquite
Common Name(s): Prosopis, Mesquite, Argentine Mesquite Tree
Scientific Name: Prosopis alba
Source: Central and South America
Tree Size: 50-65 ft (15-20 m) tall, 4 ft (1.2 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 53 lbs/ft3 (850 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .76 Hardness: 2,940 lbf (13,080 N)
Mesquite wood is very dense, specific gravity 0.7+, and has very balanced shrinkage on drying (Rodgers 1986). These properties make it excellent for woodworking. Mesquite is also used for fencing.
Other products: Mesquite has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, including lice control treatment of sore throat and treatment of skin sores and ulcers. Mesquite produces quality gums which may be economically valuable.
Some years ago, I was looking for a very hard wood to create some mallets because of my interest in flint knapping. That is why I came upon this magnificent wood. Luckily enough I kept all the leftovers (as I usually do) so now I have an ample supply of it.