Rosewood handles vs Beech handles
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- This topic has 12 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 10 months ago by Larry Geib.
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5 June 2017 at 1:37 pm #312595
Rosewood seems to have visible pores, less uniform coloring and structure aswell as a distinct smell to it.
On a finished piece the pores are probably the easiest bet.The one way to make absolutely sure is to expose some Grain, Beech is super easy to recognize.
no visible pores, sprinkled with oblong dark dots, usually somewhat uniform coloring and structure5 June 2017 at 2:28 pm #312597Just a quick note on handles.
I usually try to have my rip saw handles in beechwood and I have crosscut handles in walnut or applewood. That way I have a good idea as to what saw I am using with the task at hand. It helps a lot if you are really distracted or get an interruption while working.
Just thought this would help others.
I usually make my own saw handles. I just use thin plastic cutting boards that I can get from the dollar store. They’re flexible and you can make an error or trim it the way you want to get your pattern.
Not an expert, but I have been interested in this subject when buying and refurbishing older planes on ebay. Rosewood varies considerably in appearance and colour unfortunately and most manufacturers used coloured varnish to make the beech look as rosewoody as possible to maintain the “quality” look after they started cutting costs.
You can sometimes spot the distinctive, prettier grain patterns through the years of applied finish that signify rosewood rather than beech. I find that is often easier to spot this grain on the rear tote than on the front knob. The top of the front knob where it is end-grain may show the rosewood pores but this can be difficult to see depending on how much crud is on top.
If you are talking about old stanleys or Records then you can use the plane features combined with a type study to work out if there is a chance that they could be rosewood. e.g. google “dating record hand planes” etc. Generally the older the plane, the more likely the handles are rosewood and there is a date range after which they will 100% be beech, although the range might be larger or more confusing than ideal – I have some old records with beech rear handles and rosewood front knobs – they must have been in the process of transitioning to beech when they are made as they are undoubtedly original.
The only way to be 100% sure sometimes is to have the plane to hand. Usually removing the handles will help as they are often unfinished underneath or the finish has worn there – Beech is very obviously much paler. Failing that you may have to strip, sand or scrape the finish if you are still not sure.
12 May 2018 at 3:43 am #544521If you take them off the plane, you can usually tell by looking inside of the screw hole. If not you can scrape the finish from the bottom of the handle where it doesn’t show.
Another thing to look for is grain orientation. Stanley’s cocobolo/rosewood totes were almost always cut from quartersawn or riftsawn stock which makes them resistant to warpage but susceptible to breakage. Beech totes are more likely to be cut from flatsawn stock.
Dave
14 May 2018 at 5:31 pm #546628The medullary rays and flecks are usually pretty telling to me on a piece of beech. Sometimes the finish turns so thick and gummed up they’re hard to see though.
14 May 2018 at 5:31 pm #546629The medullary rays and flecks are usually pretty telling to me on a piece of beech. Sometimes the finish turns so thick and gummed up they’re hard to see though.
19 May 2018 at 6:01 am #547955Why are you asking? Is it a perceived value your looking for?
Whatever the wood may be is often very difficult to identify and can be only a best guess as to what the wood really is. I’ve seen popular that looks like walnut, it’s often very hard to accurately tell what a wood species really is.12 June 2018 at 4:19 pm #548483Wood species for handles is probably the least reliable method for dating planes.
Stanley, for instance, sold beech ( sometimes maple) handled tools to trade schools in the 1890’s and did so for most of its history. Many of those tools made it to the collector market when public schools stopped offering shop classes.
And rosewood was sold in all eras, even during WWII until inventory was exhausted.
I just purchased a type 11 #5 ( three patent dates on the body) with what appears to be rosewood stained walnut that passes pretty well for rosewood. (Fooled me until I got it home and took it apart for restoration) I’m pretty sure the totes are original.
There might have been import issues during the first Great War as well.A much more reliable dating method is to compare the casting, patent dates, and logo details for plane bodies and irons. Hyperkitten has one of the best type study charts to work from.
- This reply was modified 5 years, 10 months ago by Larry Geib.
- This reply was modified 5 years, 10 months ago by Larry Geib.
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