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I cut down a 20ft Laburnum at the weekend, each of my neighbors reminded me it was poisonous so I thought I had better check it out on Wikipedia.

Whilst doing my research I discovered that it is popular with musical instrument makers (doesn't say what) and that it has the properties of Rosewood. The heartwood is much darker and very very hard.

Is it worth keeping and if so how long woudl it take to season ?

J

I made a uke fretboard from laburnum - very hard to work, clearly plenty tough enough, but I found it difficult to get a good finish on it. Mind you, it was uke no. 3, and I expect I'd be better at it now. Pale sapwood with a yellow tint, chocolate heartwood, sapwood pretty much as hard as the heartwood.

It would make nice bridges if the colours worked.

No idea how long to dry, but I'd guess the 1 year per inch thickness rule might apply.

John, I can't offer advise but I'd be very interested in any experiments you do.
Now, where's my chain saw...

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

I found a beautiful 10' long piece (w/a diameter of roughly 8-9" across... very old).. and have been curing it for years now.... have only worked it minimally yet, having made a rosette from it in conjunction with ebony... sampled sections reveal a beautiful... very very hard, tight grained wood with beautiful steaks of yellow/golds, rich amber to translucent coffee browns ..... Im imagining fretboards and binding, bridge, rosettes, headstock veneer material ;;; In the PNW checkout also ocean spray.. if large enough specimens can be found - uber hard also!
Good score enjoy
Cheers
Cw

I've heard of it's use Charlie
http://forums.bobdunsire.com/forums/sho ... hp?t=79395
http://nms.scran.ac.uk/database/record. ... -579-886-C

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some tunes on acoustic and guitar synth.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGeordieAdams
http://www.myspace.com/geordieadams

I'll be experimenting at the weekend, cutting it into lengths ready for seasoning, some of the smaller branches which are about 1.5' - 2.00" dia I am planning to just run it through the band-saw, cut it in half and sticker it.

John

John, after your post I looked into buying some laburnam for bridges. Thought you might be interested to know the quote I got from Lanarkshire Hardwoods:


I have the laburnum slab offcut I mentioned, @ £10, approx 300 long by 150 wide by 40mm thick (waney) Also found 2 other offcuts also £10 each, approx 25 to 30mm thick planed board , approx 300mm long x 150 to 300 wide (waney)

1 piece £24.50 inc p&p
2 pieces £34.50 inc p&p
3 pieces £44.50 inc p&p

All inc vat

Patrick

Patrick Baxter

LANARKSHIRE HARDWOODS
HOME TO BEAUTIFUL WOOD
Girdwoodend Farm, Auchengray, Carnwath, LANARK, ML11 8LL
01501 785460 07748 638214
http://www.lanarkshirehardwoods.co.uk

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

Very interesting, I am glad it didn't go into the skip. Hard to tell how much of it is useable until I start to cut it up. I'll post some more shots at the weekend.

J

I've used it for just one fretboard. Greenish when freshly planed but darkens considerably after it has oxidised.
I think it's hard enough for Nylon strings but not sure about steel.

I bought some to use in layups for marquetry.
What's the scoop on the toxicity thing??

Its all poisonous but the most potent are the seeds which look like pea-pods, you would need to digest quite a few for it to be fatal.

There is a level of toxicity in all woods, Laburnum just seems to have gathered more notoriety than other woods.

http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/laburnum_anagyroides.htm


J

I was wondering about its suitability for a fretboard, do you have any pictures ?

J

thanks for the link on poisonous species. much useful.

as to laburnum uses in guitars,the only i know isin Romanillo´s rosettes - not of much help i´m afraid.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

I've never worked Laburnum but in general most limb wood is stress wood. Don't be surprised if it goes wonky on you.