"Foreign" Woods For Sale Ok, ok, so these mostly aren't "foreign" woods... at least no more so than the other wood that we sell. But these turning blocks, or the trees from which we harvested them, are not native to Texas. This list includes trees such as Chinese Elm, Crepe Myrtle, Arizona Ash and the like that are commonly imported to this area for landscape use. These also include some wood that has been harvested from Louisiana following the Hurricanes of 2005. Such trees are only occasionally available to us so this listing may be short. In addition, I do have a limited amount of truly "foreign" woods such as African Mahogany which is available in turning blocks. Note : As elsewhere, the dimensions given below are Length x Width x Depth of the blank. Theoretically these numbers indicate the dimensions of the largest bowl, box/goblet or spindle that might be turned from that piece if no flaws are encountered. The approximate weight (in pounds) as well as obvious physical features (checks, etc) are also indicated. Note also that most of these are rough cut. I do not have the time or equipment to routinely surface the cut sides - although sometimes I think that the grain is interesting enough that I will take it to the jointer before I take the photo. You can see examples of various bowls and vessels turned from these "foreign" woods on my companion website, www.prairiesend.com. click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge Black Walnut bowl blanks 8" x 8" x 2" ~3lbs. I have a number of 2-inch thick Black Walnut blocks cut to 8-inch squares. These are primarily heartwood with Walnut's rich, dark chocolate brown color. In some pieces, such as the example pictured on the left, traces of light brown sapwood are present on one or more edges. These blanks are free of cracks or other structural flaws and will make very nice shallow bowls. 8 x 8 x 2-inch Black Walnut bowl blank $14.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Unidentified (so far) wood Lot U-1 11-1/2"x12"x5" 8 lbs. This is a large solid blank of presently unidentified wood recovered from a landfill. The bark looks a lot like Black Cherry and it was collected and brought back to the shop as such. But when sawn into blanks, the wood turned out to be very hard and light-colored - clearly not Cherry. I do not know what it is, and have not yet tried to turn it, but it hard and tight-grained and looks to be a good turning wood. The blank is sound with not visible flaws other than a black hole (knot ?) in one corner (which would likely be trimmed off before or during turning) and some very thin, minor cracks in one end (the older cut end - appear very shallow). Unidentified (so far) wood Lot U-1 $12.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Unidentified (so far) wood Lot U-2 11-1/2"x12"x5" 8 lbs. This is another large solid blank of unidentified wood recovered from a landfill. The bark looks a lot like Black Cherry but turned out to be very hard and light-colored - clearly not Cherry. I do not know what it is, and have not yet tried to turn it, but it hard and tight-grained and looks to be a good turning wood. The blank appears sound with no visible flaws other than a black hole (knot ?) in one corner (which would likely be trimmed off before or during turning) and some very thin, minor cracks in one end (the older cut end - appear very shallow). Unidentified (so far) wood Lot U-2 $12.00 click to enlarge Lot 750 Chinese Elm 9"x11"x3.5" 7 lbs. A very nice crotch piece of Chinese Elm. This is a trimmed half-log with sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The "flame" figure between the diverging branches is absolutely beautiful. The pith is in this section and it does have a radial pattern of pith cracks which will reguire stabilizing when turning. However, it looks as if the effort would be worth it for the beauty of the grain. Sold Chinese Elm Lot 750 $25.00 click to enlarge Lot 751 Chinese Elm 8"x10"x2.5" 5-1/2 lbs. Another nice crotch piece of Chinese Elm. This is a trimmed half-log with sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The "flame" figure between the diverging branches is absolutely beautiful. A portion of the pith is present and minor pith cracks will reguire glue for stability when turning. Those black lines are sawmarks from my dull bandsaw blade. Sold Chinese Elm Lot 751 $25.00 click to enlarge Lot 752 Chinese Elm 7"x10"x2-3/4" 6 lbs. Another nice crotch piece of Chinese Elm, the brother to Lot 751. Also a trimmed half-log, it has full sapwood and bark on the sides and back. The "flame" figure between the diverging branches is beautiful. A portion of the pith is present and several small pith cracks will reguire glue for stability when turning. Those black lines are sawmarks from my dull bandsaw blade. Sold Chinese Elm Lot 752 $25.00 click to enlarge African Mahogany Lot 100 6"x6"x1-3/4" 1-1/2 lbs. A very nice block of Mahogany. This piece is kiln-dried and suitable for a shallow 6" bowl. African Mahogany Lot 100 $10.00 click to enlarge African Mahogany Lot 102 6-1/2"x7-1/2"x2" 2 lbs. Another nice block of Mahogany. This piece is kiln-dried and suitable for a shallow 6-1/2" bowl. African Mahogany Lot 102 $12.00 click to enlarge African Mahogany Lot 103 7-1/2"x8-1/2"x2" 2-1/2 lbs. Another nice block of Mahogany. This piece is kiln-dried and suitable for a shallow 7-1/2" bowl. Sold African Mahogany Lot 103 $14.00 click to enlarge Crepe Myrtle Lot 100 11"x5-1/2"x3" 4 lbs. This is a clear and sound blank of Crepe Myrtle. The wood is hard but fairly bland and very light colored. It would be suitable for high contrast element with a darker wood in a segmented turned piece. It would also be suitable for resawing into pen blanks. Sold Crepe Myrtle Lot 100 $12.00 click to enlarge Crepe Myrtle Lot 101 11"x5-1/2"x3" 3-1/2 lbs. This is another relatively long blank of Crepe Myrtle. However, it does have a long radial crack on the backside that would interfere with bowl turning. The wood is hard but fairly bland and very light colored. It would be suitable for high contrast element with a darker wood in a segmented turned piece. It would also be suitable for resawing into pen blanks. Crepe Myrtle Lot 101 $12.00 click to enlarge Crepe Myrtle Lot 102 7"x8"x3" 3 lbs. This is a small crotch piece. It may be suitable for a small Crepe Myrtle bowl, however, it also has a prominent radial crack on the backside. The wood is hard but fairly bland and very light colored. SOLD Crepe Myrtle Lot 102 $12.00 click to enlarge Crepe Myrtle Lot 103 7"x8"x3" 3 lbs. This is another small crotch piece. It appears to be suitable for a small Crepe Myrtle bow. It also has a small radial crack on the backside but it is confined to the outer portion of the smaller limb and should be removed when turning. Crepe Myrtle Lot 103 $15.00 click to enlarge Louisiana Osage Orange (?) Lot 101 9"x11"x4" 8 lbs. This is a large solid blank of what appears to be Osage Orange. It was a victim of Hurricane Katrina and was recovered from Louisiana after the storm The wood is bright yellow when fresh-cut but turns to a golden brown with time (see the fresh-cut yellow face versis the golden-brown area which is a shallow depression of "aged" wood). This wood is easy to turn when green but becomes very hard when dry - typical of Osage Orange. This piece does have two radial cracks at one end which will require attention when turning. SOLD Louisiana Osage Orange (?) Lot 101 $20.00 click to enlarge Louisiana Osage Orange (?) Lot 102 8"x10"x4" 7 lbs. This is another large solid blank of what appears to be Osage Orange. It was a victim of Hurricane Katrina and was recovered from Louisiana after the storm The wood is bright yellow when fresh-cut but turns to a golden brown with time (see the fresh-cut yellow face versis the golden-brown area which is a shallow depression of "aged" wood). This wood is easy to turn when green but becomes very hard when dry - typical of Osage Orange. This piece does have very thin radial cracks at one end which will require attention when turning. SOLD Louisiana Osage Orange (?) Lot 102 $22.00 click to enlarge Maple Lot 100 5-1/4"x6-1/2"x2" 1-1/2 lbs. A nice block of Maple. It is a soft Maple of uncertain species. This piece is kiln-dried and suitable for a shallow 5" bowl. Maple Lot 100 $10.00 click to enlarge Maple Lot 101 6-1/2"x9"x2-1/4" 2-1/2 lbs. Another nice block of Maple. It is a soft Maple of uncertain species. This piece is kiln-dried and suitable for a shallow 6-1/2" bowl. Maple Lot 101 $12.00 click to enlarge Maple Lot 102 8-1/2"x9-1/2"x2-1/4" 4 lbs. Another nice block of Maple. It is a soft Maple of uncertain species. This piece is kiln-dried and suitable for a shallow 8-1/2" bowl. Maple Lot 102 $14.00 Listing last updated 2 July 2008 Nothing here that suits your needs? Then send me an email at: l.stahl@maroon.com or a telephone call at: 281-392-5336 There is a good chance that I have more, either cut into blocks or in the rough log, so I may be able to meet your specific requirements. © 2008, Texas Woodcrafts