Scientific Name: Argentine Lignum Vitae
Guayacan
Lignumvitae
Palo santo
Origin:
South America (Mexico, Argentine)
Appearance:
The narrow sapwood is pale yellow or cream colored, and is sharply delineated from the heartwood. The color of the heartwood ranges from dark greenish brown to almost black. The grain is reported to be typically strongly interlocked, very irregular and roey. The wood is very fine-textured. Lignum vitae is reported to be especially waxy because of high guaiac gum content which accounts for about 30 percent of the weight of the wood. The timber is slightly scented when it is warmed or rubbed, and the taste has been decsribed as slightly acidic.
Properties:
The heartwood is reported to have high natural resistance to decay, and attack by termites, marine borers. Green wood is reported to be somewhat susceptible to attack by longhorn beetle. Lignum vitae is reported to be barely treatable because of high density and high resin contents, but it is so durable that it can be used without preservative treatment.
Hardness:
Densest wood in the world, will rapidly sink in water.
Workability:
The timber is very hard and heavy, and the heartwood is reported to be very difficult to saw. The sapwood is much less hard and brittle. Blunting effect on cutting tools is reported to be moderate.
Principal Uses:
Master clockmaker John Harrison used lignum vitae as the basis for his nearly all-wood clocks, since the wood provides natural lubricating oils which do not dry out. For this reason it was widely used in shaft bearings. According to the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association website, the shaft bearings on the WWII submarine USS Pampanito (SS-383) were made of this wood. Also, the bearings in the original 1920's turbines of the Conowingo Hydroelectric Plant on the lower Susquehanna River were made from lignum vitae. Judges mallets were traditionally made with lignum.
Why we use it for Bokken:
This is our favorite wood. It resembles the weight of a katana more than any other wood. It is very heavy and good for building strength. It will shatter any other bokken it goes up against. |
