Discovering Ironwood!

[Rue]

I have been decluttering, but look who arrived in the mail! (Auction purchase).

I got it because it was a tortoise. What can I say?

But! It's an incredibly heavy tortoise, like, wow! 

It's an ironwood carving, vintage, not signed, sloppy varnish. Am assuming a tourist piece. .. but still so cool!

Is there any history of using ironwood in violins or other musical instruments? Probably not?

[Chamberlain]

Nice find! Would it be offended if you made it into a frog? You could add a mortise, slide and button set and throw it on a bass bow.  It wouldn’t interfere with the weight and balance at all. 

[Rue]

Now there's a thought! 

[Violadamore]

3 hours ago, Rue said:

I have been decluttering, but look who arrived in the mail! (Auction purchase).

I got it because it was a tortoise. What can I say?

But! It's an incredibly heavy tortoise, like, wow! 

It's an ironwood carving, vintage, not signed, sloppy varnish. Am assuming a tourist piece. .. but still so cool!

Is there any history of using ironwood in violins or other musical instruments? Probably not?

Which Ironwood?  

[Chamberlain]

It clearly requires the feel it, rub it and smell it test. If it feels heavy and smells sweet when you rub it…then it’s desert ironwood.  

[Stephen Fine]

Baroque bows are often made of ironwood.  As VdA points out, that could mean any number of trees.

[Rue]

Well yes, but I gather these souvenir items were carved from deadwood, in Mexico, from Olneya tesota. 

But there could be other uses for it?

I'm still amazed at how heavy it is!

[Rue]

...a little more sleuthing; probably not used for musical instruments! It is a "cheap" tourist version.

AI tells me "should you ever want to "rescue" a piece like this, collectors sometimes carefully strip the varnish and hand-sand the wood with ultra-fine grit paper (up to 2000 grit) followed by a buffing with beeswax. This reveals the wood's true beauty, though it’s a lot of work for a $15 item!"

The better half just told me he spent $5!  

 

Hmm... not that I'm currently the mood to sand a tortoise, but it might be worth it to get rid of the ugly varnish? 

[Chamberlain]

8 hours ago, Rue said:

Well yes, but I gather these souvenir items were carved from deadwood, in Mexico, from Olneya tesota. 

But there could be other uses for it?

I'm still amazed at how heavy it is!

Yes, I think the common name is desert ironwood. It’s a beautiful wood. I do wonder how it would be to make a frog or fittings out of ironwood vs ebony and what the density weight comparison is.  

[Rue]

27 minutes ago, Chamberlain said:

Yes, I think the common name is desert ironwood. It’s a beautiful wood. I do wonder how it would be to make a frog or fittings out of ironwood vs ebony and what the density weight comparison is.  

I did see a chart, comparing specs, but it was a little Greek to me...

[Altgeiger]

8 hours ago, Rue said:

I'm currently the mood to sand a tortoise

Phrases that have never before been spoken.

[Rue]

...it should have read "not in the mood"...

[Stephen Fine]

Now I'm curious what type of Ironwood my Baroque bow is made out of.  I'll ask David Forbes next time I see him.

[Rue]

It's endlessly fascinating... just like wandlore in Harry Potter...

Yes... there's a definite parallel...