Just curious, what is the RAREST wood you've ever worked with?

zircote

-- no matter what size job big or small do a job right or don't do it at all.

The one I do not have!

-- Thor and Odin are still the greatest of Gods.

Mopane is the rarest I’ve worked

The mopane or mopani tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200 to 1,150 metres in elevation, in the far

northern parts of southern Africa, into South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola

and Malawi.

Very dense and heavy but polishes up nicely

jamie

-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I’ve worked with Iron Bark from Australia. I smuggled home a few small pieces when we were there. The lady that gave it to me was burning big pieces of it in her fire place in the restaurant on top of this mountain.
It is a very dark and beautiful wood.
.................Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!

I’ve worked with a lot of woods that are considered rare, but I beg to differ. I just walked into my local woodcraft and brought them to the register. Anyone could do the same, so how rare could they really be? I’d love to get my hands on a big chunk of Australian Buloke though.

-- https://www.etsy.com/shop/KandJWoodcrafts

i know its not all that rare, but the rarest one that I’ve probably worked with is cypress…hopefully someday soon i will have a better answer

-- It's made of wood. Real sturdy.--Chubbs Peterson

The rarest woud be mammouth kauri wood. Its a light brown, tight grain and soft. Purchased at Woodcraft.
I’ve seen just about everything on my vacation in ME. at Rare Woods USA. http://lumberjocks.com/489tad/blog/31004

-- Dan, Naperville IL, I.G.N.

I have, in my attic, two sets of guitar backs and sides of Brazilian Rosewood purchased in 1976 from Gurian Guitars in NH. Traveled and picked them out myself, and never used. Since they are illegal to import now and endangered, I’m wondering if I use them or sell them to the highest bidder. I actually can’t make up my mind.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful.

Pink Ivory and Snakewood

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

A straight, flat piece brought home from a big box store!

-- Dave; Lansing, Kansas

Got a few scraps of Texas Ebony that are drying in my work area. Looking forward to seeing what I can do with it.

-- Brian Timmons - http://www.BigTWoodworks.com

@CotL – You could get at least $500 a set for those Brazilians. I think I’d pocket the money and just get another set of Indian Rosewood (which is arguably just as good acoustically) or something exotic that you’ve never used before in a guitar.

As for the most exotic wood I’ve ever used, it’s probably Austrailian (Tasmanian) Blackwood, but who knows how truly rare it is? I’ve also used Gabon ebony, which is probably rare mostly because of its price.

Koa gets more rare each day, and that’s probably the one wood I’d LIKE to work that I haven’t…though being from the same family as the above blackwood, it’s probably similar.

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

I’ve worked several woods considered rare, but mostly in smaller pieces. I’ve used kingwood, koa, gaboon ebony, african blackwood, among others. Mostly I enjoy getting turning blanks and making tool handles or using larger pieces as fretboards on my guitars. I have a goal to at least use each of every kind of wood I can get my hands on. I just love trying different kinds to see how they work, look, etc.

-- Brian T. - Exact science is not an exact science

finger wood (happens when you cut your finger)

-- Joel

Yes Comic. I will eventually sell them. I made a lot of instruments but that was 30 years ago. I think if I made more I’d just use some of the exotics that are being used now by guitar companies.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful.