Lignum Vitae, a wonder wood

[Chris Hall]

This recent article was interesting:

http://www.hydroworld.com/articles/hr/p ... rehab.html

[Chris Pyle]

Great article. It's fascinating that Lignum Vitae was capable of withstanding the forces more than the synthetic bearings (or was it more related to the LV being custom cut for the application?). Seeing how you've used this wood for drawer slides and it's presumably among the most suitable for heavy wear pieces, what other woods would be on the shortlist?

I've looked up the densest woods a number of times:

http://www.wood-database.com/wood-artic ... est-woods/

Would any of those be as suitable as Lignum Vitae or are there more properties to take into account? For lack of a better word, does the oiliness greatly contribute? Porosity of the grain?

[Chris Hall]

It's the combination of natural oiliness and density. There are other dense woods out there, but none with the oily self-lubrication quality of lignum vitae. Believe me, people have searched and searched for alternative woods to substitute for lignum vitae, and none have been found. It's an incredible material!

[Brian]

Where do you source it? My local hasn't had it for a long time. Funny enough I bought a 4x4 of it when I was a kid, planned for knife handles.

[Chris Hall]

It's very difficult to source now that it is on the CITES list. There is one company in the US that brings it in under special permit for the purposes of turbine bearing replacements, but the price is insane. Otherwise, you might find the odd piece on a lumber dealer's dusty shelf out in the back if you're lucky. I have a small supply squirreled away..

[Chris Pyle]

After reading that article, I wanted to see what LV was going for on Ebay, it looks like you can still get enough for drawer slides but not much else.

[Brian]

I knew what it was when I was 15 and bought some for knife handles, but I didnt reeeally know what I had, so I should have kept it in tact. But, I might have some laying around....time to start hunting it down.

[Chris Hall]

If you want some, let me know. I think I can track some down.

[Brian]

Thanks Chris!