Re: [Harp-L] Dating harmonica woods

["Splash" <celtiac@xxxxxxxxx>]

Lignum Vitae is usually called Iron Wood down here.

It used to be used for ships pully sheaves and propellor shaft bearings
because it has a fatty resin and is self-lubricating.  Also is impervious to
water.

There used to be a bunch of them down on Lignum Vitae Key... but I haven't
been down there in many years.  These days I just drive on thru to the lower
keys to go fishing.  There is a State Park on Islamorada. (Purple Isle)

I once heard a rumor from 7-Mile Joe that the Matecumbe Indians used to
stake their enemies to the ground underneath those trees and at night the
resins from the leaves would drop on their victims.  It was supposed to have
some kind of psychoactive agent and would drive the helpless victim crazy by
morning.  Just an Old Florida rumor... Heh!

PEACE
Splash
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Payne" <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Harp L Harp L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 2:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Dating harmonica woods


> I know Joe, that's why I said "about the most" I don't know about these
fancy woods of the wide world, but American Chestnut is more resistant than
locust, but, as far as decay goes, it's like saying Roger Maris hit more
home runs than Babe Ruth in a season- they're still both dang good. Locust
was my favorite wood for making longbows back in the day. I have noticed a
lot of similarities between chestnut, now that I'm working with it, and
locust. I wouldn't be surprised if they were related somehow. The main
difference I've noticed thus far is that a thin piece or projection of
chestnut is far more stable than such with chestnut -- I've been thinking
about this because I'm looking at making some chromatic from them.
> Ultimately, the wood I am most interested in is hophornbeam for
chromatics. When I was a kid, I drove nails with hophornbeam just to prove
it could be done.
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>
> To: David Payne <dmatthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 11:27:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Dating harmonica woods
>
>
> On Jun 12, 2009, at 11:12 PM, David Payne wrote:
> > American Chestnut because it is about the most decay-resistant wood on
earth.
>
> Honey locust (from same general area as your chestnut and your babalones).
> Iroko (Africa)
> Lignum Vitae (C. America)
>
> > We all have our fortes here and I know there are lurkers on this board
who
> > are whiz kids with wood. If anybody can help me with this, please lemme
> > know. I can get a 6 inch square crosssection when I cut the next piece.
> >
> > Dave
> > ___________________________
> > Dave Payne Sr.
> > Elk River Harmonicas
> > www.elkriverharmonicas.com
> > _______________________________________________
> > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l