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| Texas Ebony, a little more working http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=35811 |
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| Author: | David Newton [ Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Texas Ebony, a little more working |
I bought a large "cant" of this and have cut exactly 2 fretboards. That is about all I can get out of it. Just so cracked, twisty & rotted. But what there is works and looks beautiful. For an alternative fretboard wood, this one is an "if only" story. Peanut shown for scale. 
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| Author: | Goodin [ Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
It looks great. Do you have any pics of the fretboards? Is this the natural color or did you stain it? |
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| Author: | klooker [ Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:31 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
Cool! What's it like to work with? Kevin Looker |
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| Author: | David Newton [ Sun Mar 18, 2012 2:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
That is the natural color, not stained, but it is coated with shellac to make it pop. The shellac pad picked up a black stain from the wood. As far as working, it machines very well, almost ideal. In the planer it seems not to care which direction the grain runs. It sands easily and polishes right up. Down side: the saw & sanding dust is nasty, irritating to the nose, must wear a mask. Upside: it is hard and smooth, an ideal fretboard wood. Down side: expensive, I bought a large trunk section & got 2 fretboards from it. Twisty, splitty & rotted. I'll put a picture up of the fretboard later. |
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| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Sun Mar 18, 2012 4:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
David, I feel your pain. Much promising wood... sometimes little results. But what does come out really is nice, so hope springs eternal, doesn't it? Good looking bridge! Steve |
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| Author: | David Newton [ Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
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| Author: | jackwilliams [ Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
nice looking bridge and fretboard David |
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| Author: | Shaw [ Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
Anyone know the hardness and strength comparison to traditional tropical ebony? I tried looking it up. What I did find out though is that this shrub is in the pea family and is used in turning and bonsai....Mike |
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| Author: | Ken Jones [ Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
Man, those are both beautiful! I'd love to try some. Ken |
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| Author: | Tim Mullin [ Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:53 am ] |
| Post subject: | Texas Ebony, a little more working |
I suspect this would be more commonly called "Texas persimmon" (Diospyros texans). While persimmons are true ebonies, the small tree known to landscapers as "Texas ebony" and well adapted to arid locations is a member of the family Fabaceae and not remotely related to true ebonies (family Ebenaceae) despite the common name. Texas persimmon has black heartwood and, like other true ebonies, would be quite appropriate for fingerboards and bridges -- the ones pictured here look wonderful! A stem large enough for backs and sides would be extremely rare. |
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| Author: | Tim Mullin [ Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | Texas Ebony, a little more working |
dang iPhone auto correction! Correct spelling of Latin name is "Diospyros texana". |
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| Author: | David Newton [ Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
Here's a photo of a trunk from the guy I got it from. It is Ebenopsis ebano. See: http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/ ... 0ebony.htm 
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| Author: | ernie [ Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
thanks for pics david ,looks like our persimmon here in KC, but the local stuff is vy black/white streaks, |
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| Author: | Tim Mullin [ Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Texas Ebony, a little more working |
Well, my suspicions were dead wrong! It's not close to a true ebony (or persimmon), but it sure is purrdy! |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
There has to be more than two fretboards in that chunk! Or maybe it's too painful to mess with? Mike |
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| Author: | David Newton [ Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
That isn't my chunk. He wants $2,500 for that one, and you have to go get it. Mine was about 3-1/2" thick x 8" wide x 36" long. Seriously, 2 boards, the rest was split & rot. There are a bunch of mandolin boards, but I'm not building mandolins. |
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| Author: | DennisK [ Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
David Newton wrote: There are a bunch of mandolin boards, but I'm not building mandolins. Hey, I'd love to take one or more of those off your hands  I've been on the hunt for a domestic fingerboard for my challenge build, and this would look quite nice against the dark redwood top I'm using. Dimensions I need are 12 x 1 3/4 x 3/16" (maybe a bit thicker if it's really rough).Sad to hear that it's not really viable for full size guitar fingerboards, but at least it makes nice bridges, and ought to be great for bridge plates, head plates, and inlays as well. |
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| Author: | David Newton [ Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
I'll look today and see if I can get out a mando board for you, Dennis. The problem, as I see it, are the few "gatherers" of Texas Ebony don't want to cut it for our use, they just want to chop it up hodge-podge. Or, in the case here, sell a log section for super money, and "come and get it". I paid $80 for what turned out to be 2 fret boards and misc. bridges. |
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| Author: | endgrained [ Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
This site has current listings for Texas Ebony currently available: http://www.woodbarter.com/ Seems to be have quite a stockpile. Good Luck |
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| Author: | David Newton [ Sat Mar 24, 2012 8:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Texas Ebony, a little more working |
That's the same guy. Funny, I looked through all his pictures, I didn't see a fretboard in the pile. It's a shame about this stuff. |
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