On Fri, 15 May 2009 12:20:25 -0700, scritch wrote:

Kevin Cleary wrote:
I got some desert ironwood from friends who spend the winters in Arizona.We
don't see much of that here in Maine.
Any thing anyone can tell me about this wood would be helpful.
Kevin


As far as I know, "Desert Ironwood" from the Sonoran Desert
(Arizona/Mexico/New Mexico) is usually mesquite. Lots of carvings from
Mexico are made of it. It's very had, takes a great polish, and I bet
it's a bear to turn. Sharpen those tools!

Nope.. 2 very different woods..
Mesquite is a larger tree, pretty straight grain and reddish in color..
Used for ceiling beams in the "old" days in Mexico..
A local company here (N. Baja) specializes in custom mesquite furniture made
from old houses..
http://mojavedesert.net/trees/mesquite/

It also turns a lot easier than ironwood and with less mess..
http://www.pima.gov/cmo/sdcp/species/iw/illus.html



mac

Please remove splinters before emailing