iLuthier

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Sapele – Pommelle (Entandrophragma cylindricum)

A large hardwood from the wetter regions of central and west Africa, growing as far east as Uganda. The heartwood is reddish-brown to purplish-brown and the sapwood is pale yellow, sometimes being up to 4 inches (100mm) wide. The texture is fine and even and the grain is usually interlocked, producing a narrow and uniformly distributed stripe on the radial surface. The wood also has a slight cedar-like odour when freshly cut, but the logs are likely to contain ring shakes.

Sapele is of medium weight and is around 650kg per cubic meter. It is slow to dry and needs careful handling to minimize twisting and warping. Quarter sawing is preferred for better performance. The shrinkage is around 2 per cent radial and 4 per cent tangential.

Because of the interlocked grain, extra care is needed when dressing the wood, otherwise it’s relatively easy to work – gluing well and nailing satisfactorily. The wood is considered as unsuitable for steam bending, though good results can still sometimes be had – especially in instrument making.

The wood takes polish well, but care is needed to fill the grain.

Sapele Figured wood veneer 16" x 37" with no backing US $75.00 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:39:05 PDT   | Watch this Item

Sapele Curly 2 pc Pistol Grip/Knife Scales 3/8" x 1 3/8" x 5" US $8.57 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:07:31 PDT   | Watch this Item

Sapele Curly 2 pc Pistol Grip/Knife Scales 3/8" x 1 3/8" x 5" US $8.57 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:07:33 PDT   | Watch this Item

Sapele Curly 2 pc Pistol Grip/Knife Scales 3/8" x 1 3/8" x 5" US $8.57 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:07:35 PDT   | Watch this Item

Sapele Curly 1 pc Bottle/Wine Stop 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" US $5.25 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:09:08 PDT   | Watch this Item

POMELLE SAPELE GUITAR ROSETTE / INLAY LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $17.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:08:58 PDT   | Watch this Item

POMELLE SAPELE HEAD PLATE BLANK LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $9.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:10:46 PDT   | Watch this Item

POMELLE SAPELE UKULELE ROSETTE / INLAY LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $15.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 17:22:28 PDT   | Watch this Item

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Rosewood – Brazilian (Dalbergia nigra)

Other common names: Rio rosewood, palisander. It should be noted that the name “palisander” is often given to species other than Dalbergia when the wood resembles real Brazilian rosewood in appearance. Brazilian rosewood should not be confused with Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia).

Brazilian rosewood is a hardwood of south-eastern Brazil. The color varies considerably from brown to dark purplish brown wood with black verigated streaks found in older trees. The sapwood is wide and creamy white and the grain is generally straight with the texture medium. The wood can be sometimes waxy to the touch and freshly cut wood has a scent of roses, thus giving the wood it’s name. The dust created through working the wood may irritate the skin of some people.

Brazilian rosewood is fairly heavy (ADD about 860kg per cubic meter) and the wood requires careful drying to avoid splits and checks. It is not easy to work and care is needed when gluing. It does however turn excellently and gives a very smooth finish.

The heartwood is durable but the sapwood can be susceptible to lyctid borer attack.

This wood is an excellent and beautiful timber for all stringed instruments.

CARIBBEAN ROSEWOOD CHECHEN 25-1/4" x 6-1/8" x 15/16" ~ EXOTIC WOOD LUMBER 1988 US $23.99 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 12:51:21 PDT   | Watch this Item

EXOTIC WOOD/LUMBER : 4/4 HONDURAN ROSEWOOD ITEM #12E05611 US $16.51 (14 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:30:06 PDT   | Watch this Item

BOLIVIAN ROSEWOOD FRETBOARD BLANK LUTHIER WOOD EXOTIC LUMBER TONEWOOD US $15.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 16:46:34 PDT   | Watch this Item

Str8 Cut Mexican Cocobolo Pen Turning Blank Rosewood Lumber Craft Lathe Wood 171 US $8.50 (7 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 18:30:31 PDT   | Watch this Item

Crosscut Mexican Cocobolo Pen Turning Blank Rosewood Lumber Craft Lathe Wood 172 US $3.85 (4 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 18:32:11 PDT   | Watch this Item

Crosscut Mexican Cocobolo Pen Turning Blank Rosewood Lumber Craft Lathe Wood 173 US $8.50 (9 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 18:34:30 PDT   | Watch this Item

Str8 Cut Mexican Cocobolo Pen Turning Blank Rosewood Lumber Craft Lathe Wood 174 US $4.25 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 18:36:04 PDT   | Watch this Item

Crosscut Mexican Cocobolo Pen Turning Blank Rosewood Lumber Craft Lathe Wood 175 US $8.50 (6 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 18:38:36 PDT   | Watch this Item

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Maple – Quilted (Acer macrophyllum, Acer saccharinum)

Other common names: Pacific maple, bigleaf maple.

Creamy, white and straight grained. Usually less lustrous than hard rock maple and the growth rings are more indistinct, with the rays narrower and less conspicuous. Pith flecks are usually more frequent though.

The wood is a medium weight at about 550kg per cubic meter. It has medium bending and crushing strengths, with low stiffness. It dries well, but slowly, and has little degrade or problems. It is stable with only a small amount of movement in service. The wood has a moderate dulling effect on cutters and gluing results may be variable.

The figure on quilted maple is formed by the growth layers crowding and producing “elongated bulges” as the tree grows. The wood that is produced from these conditions has almost 3-dimensional effect to it due to the way that it reflects the light. This is one reason why it is so sought after by instrument makers – particularly guitar makers.

Quilted maple most often occurs in bigleaf maple which is native to the Pacific Northwest. The wood is not difficult to work but can often produce a “fuzzy” feel when machined. Moistening the wood and reducing the cutting angle can help, but the best way to produce a good finish is through progressive sanding with finer grades of grit until you achieve a satisfactory level. Once this is done then the wood can be stained and polished to an excellent finish.

Other species of wood that can produce a quilted effect include mahogany and sapele.

FLAMED MAPLE 47-1/4" x 9-1/2" x 7/8" ~ WOOD HARDWOOD LUMBER 1979 US $37.99 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 12:51:21 PDT   | Watch this Item

WALNUT CHERRY MAPLE LAMINATED BOWL BLANK LUMBER WOOD US $26.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:05:15 PDT   | Watch this Item

EXOTIC WOOD/LUMBER : 4/4 CURLY MAPLE ITEM #12E05614 US $5.55 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:30:09 PDT   | Watch this Item

Super Fiddleback Figured Curly Maple Furniture Craftwood Project Lumber Slab 750 US $49.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:44:01 PDT   | Watch this Item

Rustic Black Line Spalted Ambrosia Maple Figured Craftwood Lumber Slab 5357 US $54.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:58:36 PDT   | Watch this Item

A-1931 VERMONT MAID SYRUP PANCAKE LUMBER JACK MAPLE SUGAR US $21.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 15:01:04 PDT   | Watch this Item

Super Neat Spalted Ambrosia Maple Figured Project Artwood Lumber 5201 US $19.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 15:06:33 PDT   | Watch this Item

Beautiful Ambrosia Spalted Maple Live Edge Kiln Dried Craftwood Lumber 5202 US $16.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 15:07:47 PDT   | Watch this Item

I’m sometimes asked by people who are starting out “What wood should I use to make my guitar and just how much of it do I need?”. Well the short answer is that there are a lot of woods you can use – especially if you’re making a solid-body guitar – and that you don’t need very much of it at all. Here is a quick, hard-and-fast rundown on the basics:

1:- A body blank (e.g. maple, alder, mahogany, swamp ash, basswood or poplar) 45mm (1-3/4″) thick. The size depends on the desired length and width of the body (350mm x 500mm / 13-3/4″ x 20″ will be sufficient for the majority of guitars). Tthe blank can be glued up from two or more narrower pieces.

2:- A neck blank (e.g. maple or mahogany) 25mm (1″) thick; the length depends on the desired scale length and the width on the desired width of the headstock (690mm / 27″ long and 100mm / 4″ wide for a guitar; 860mm / 34″ long and 115mm / 4.5″ wide for a bass). If you glue “ears” to the headstock the width of the neck blank can be smaller. Try to get quartersawn wood wherever possible.

3:- A fingerboard (e.g. rosewood or ebony) 6mm (1/4″) thick; the neck blank must be 19mm (3/4″) thick in this case. If you’re having a one piece neck then you can disregard a separate fingerboard.

4:- A headstock veneer (any beautiful hardwood) 2mm – 3mm (3/32″ – 1/8″) thick.

So there you have it! Not much wood and as far as costs go you can spend anywhere from about a few dollars right up to a few hundred dollars or more! It just depends on what woods you want your guitar to be made from.

FLAMED MAPLE 47-1/4" x 9-1/2" x 7/8" ~ WOOD HARDWOOD LUMBER 1979 US $37.99 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 12:51:21 PDT   | Watch this Item

WALNUT CHERRY MAPLE LAMINATED BOWL BLANK LUMBER WOOD US $26.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:05:15 PDT   | Watch this Item

EXOTIC WOOD/LUMBER : 4/4 CURLY MAPLE ITEM #12E05614 US $5.55 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 13:30:09 PDT   | Watch this Item

Super Fiddleback Figured Curly Maple Furniture Craftwood Project Lumber Slab 750 US $49.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:44:01 PDT   | Watch this Item

Rustic Black Line Spalted Ambrosia Maple Figured Craftwood Lumber Slab 5357 US $54.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:58:36 PDT   | Watch this Item

A-1931 VERMONT MAID SYRUP PANCAKE LUMBER JACK MAPLE SUGAR US $21.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 15:01:04 PDT   | Watch this Item

Super Neat Spalted Ambrosia Maple Figured Project Artwood Lumber 5201 US $19.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 15:06:33 PDT   | Watch this Item

Beautiful Ambrosia Spalted Maple Live Edge Kiln Dried Craftwood Lumber 5202 US $16.95 Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 15:07:47 PDT   | Watch this Item

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Mahogany – American (Swietenia mahogani, Swietenia macrophylla)

Other common names: Brazilian mahogany, Cuban mahogany, Honduras mahogany, Spanish mahogany.

American or Brazilian mahogany is a large hardwood native to the West Indies, especially Cuba, and the adjacent mainland from Mexico to Brazil.

The wood is a yellow-brown to red-brown and darkens on exposure to light. The sapwood is distinctively paler. It should also be noted that the end of each growth ring is marked by paler wood, thus distinguishing it from other mahoganies. The texture is moderately fine but the grain can be variable and interlocking grain is is sought after for decorative veneer production.

The weight can vary greatly from about 400kg per cubic meter up to around 850kg per cubic meter. The average for the species though is 550kg per cubic meter but Cuban mahogany averages about 700kg per cubic meter. The wood dries quickly with moderate degrade and the shrinkage is around 1.5 per cent radial and 2.5 per cent tangential.

Mahogany has medium bending and crushing strengths but is very stable with only a small amount of movement in service. It is easy to work but sharp tools help to avoid the “woolliness” in highly figured material. The wood nails and glues well.

Mahogany is an excellent choice of wood for almost any stringed instrument.

STABILIZED WOOD 1911 Colt Gun/Pistol Grips-Custom Made-Mahogany Lumber US $39.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:01:38 PDT   | Watch this Item

STABILIZED WOOD 1911 Colt Gun/Pistol Grips-Custom Made-Mahogany Lumber US $19.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 14:17:10 PDT   | Watch this Item

THE HUNGER GAMES China Glaze MAHOGANY MAGIC ~ DISTRICT 7 LUMBER US $1.39 (5 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday May-19-2012 18:23:42 PDT   | Watch this Item

2442g3 Wide Live Edge Kiln Dried African Mahogany Table Top: Lumber US $456.00 Auction Ends: Sunday May-20-2012 8:40:15 PDT   | Watch this Item

2441g1 Wide Natural Edge African Mahogany Slab Great Family Dining Table: Lumber US $660.00 Auction Ends: Sunday May-20-2012 10:28:55 PDT   | Watch this Item

EXOTIC WOOD/LUMBER : 6/4 AFRICAN MAHOGANY ITEM #12E05670 US $3.82 (4 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday May-20-2012 12:00:15 PDT   | Watch this Item

EXOTIC WOOD/LUMBER : 8/4 GENUINE MAHOGANY ITEM #12E05643 US $4.75 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday May-20-2012 12:00:16 PDT   | Watch this Item

EXOTIC WOOD/LUMBER : 4/4 GENUINE MAHOGANY ITEM #12E05674 US $3.82 (2 Bids) Auction Ends: Sunday May-20-2012 12:00:42 PDT   | Watch this Item