Calling all exotic wood experts

[Xray]

I bought a nice chunk of what was supposed to be cocobolo, measures 5x5x12", nice block.
I was thrilled when I got it, must weigh at least 15 lbs. I know these turning blanks are typically wax coated, this one seemed to have it slopped on like it was literally dipped in wax ,,, And I thought the wood underneath was reddish, turns out that color is due to the wax.

Anyhow, I didn't know that yet. Very excitedly, I sliced 1/2" off the blank, and the first thing that struck me is it looks exactly like bocote. I am no stranger to bocote, I have half a dozen various size slabs of the stuff laying around and am constantly using it. This stuff looks exactly like bocote to me, which is very distinctive to say the least.
Don't get me wrong, I am madly in love with bocote, but obviously not what I was expecting. Have only worked with cocobolo a scant few times, it tough to find and super expensive, so I can't say I know a whole lot about the species. I did fine some real nice thin cuts years back and made and sold dozens of guitar pick guards with it, I don't recall it having much in common with bocote.

Now that is bad enough, this may be even worse - You see the nasty orange area ? That is NOT natural, it feels slimy and moist. You can see it along the entire edge of the cut piece, though it is most prominent in that one area. So the block is contaminated in my opinion, from this guy saturating it with this slimy red dyed wax.

I got this on ebay, paid $150 for it. I know it is contaminated and that is enough for me to demand a refund or a substantial partial refund if I keep it. But I'd like to see what the consensus is of the species, I am 90% sure this is not cocobolo but bocote.

1st pic shows the slab the way I first saw it, coated in red wax.
2nd pic shows the cut and the nasty orangish contamination.
3rd pic shows a little slab of bocote laying on the block, is a little darker but if it was cut, grain would be almost identical.
Last pic shows just a few of the other bocote slabs I have.

[mzettl]

Doug, I've worked with both bocote and cocobolo. Although I am always a bit reluctant to identify wood based upon photos, that sure looks like bocote to me. Freshly sawn cocobolo does not have a chocolate brown appearance like your photos. It tends to be much more orange, and darkens to almost black when it is fully oxidized. If you have a lumber dealer that you know and trust, you might want to get his opinion before making any definite decision about what you are going to do. If you don't, PM me, I know someone who is very knowledgeable about both of these woods who might be willing to offer an opinion. As you already know, the price difference between these two woods is considerable. It's certainly possible that the seller made an honest mistake, especially if he has a number of exotic wood blanks. Trying to identify them when they are all waxed up is difficult. It is not unusual to see these blanks with a very thick coating of wax, and it is usually done by the seller in Central or South America, not be the seller in the U.S. The seller that I use has pallets full of these types of blanks that he buys by the container, and they all come to him already waxed. It might be worthwhile to contact the seller and tactfully tell him of your concerns to see if he thinks he might have made a mistake. Let him know that you are checking it out Don't assume that he is trying to defraud you.

Hope this helps.

Matt

[myxpykalix]

picture number 3 and 4 looks like a piece of wood i have that i call "Ironwood". It is heavy and dense. I haven't cut my piece yet so i don't know how it cuts but it feels like a block of iron it's so heavy. What is the difference in price between the two species you mentioned? If one is vastly more expensive then i'd say you got swindled....??

[knight_toolworks]

yep not cocobolo for sure.

[Xray]

I am not assuming he scammed me at this point, could have made an honest mistake, and I have no doubt it was not waxed by him.
Judging from his sales though, I think he would be considered an expert by most
http://www.ebay.com/sch/monitorseller/m.html?item=252332762675&cp=1&euid=244e35b8fefa452b94ecce53602a84b6&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
Pictured is the pic he used in the listing, you can see how almost freakishly red it looks. Its possible he thought the red was the hue of the wood underneath, and coco can indeed have a reddish hue. Sliced open, we can see it is not the wood, but the coating itself.

Coco prices are off the charts, high demand and very little available. Its importation is very restricted if not banned, so this would have been a very good deal if it was legit. Bocote is rarely cheap itself, I'd say the upper mid range of exotic wood prices. No restrictions on it though and it is widely available, this would be a $50-$70 block if it was uncontaminated bocote.

[knight_toolworks]

no real reason to wax bocote that I know of either.

[Xray]

no real reason to wax bocote that I know of either.

Not sure about that, blocks like this are almost always waxed [I presume to limit dryout and cracking], and was probably done by whatever bulk seller he gets these from. Pretty sure the practice of waxing wood blocks is not defined by species but rather done across the board.
I have never had a need or interest in these blocks until recently, when I started making smaller items like pistol grips and shaped hearts - Without a bandsaw these would be 100% useless to me. I should probably be asking this at a wood turners forum and would if I was a member of one. [Sawmill creek for whatever reason won't accept my attempted registration].

I was at a woodcraft store the other day, they have a large selection of blocks and they were all waxed, though none as heavily as this one, and none with a colored tint. I am beginning to think the reddish tint was a cheap stunt to deceive by whoever waxed it. Certainly no practical reason that I can think of to tint wax with a reddish hue other than to make it more artificially visually striking.

[khaos]

My experience with these small blocks that I buy for inlays are they are cut and dipped in close time proximity. Many of the ones I have bought have been WET. I think they just chunk and wax for the wood turners market.

My 2¢

[Xray]

Yep, for sure these are marketed at turners, but I have found CNC and hand uses for them including gun grips, guitar parts, yoyos, 3D hearts and more. Sometimes you can get alot of bang for the buck with these blocks, they have a whole crate of them selling by the pound and on occasion can find a real nice block for around $10.