Wood List relating to Specific Gravity

Please Note: Wood species which take a thread easily are close‐grained, dense hardwoods with a (SG) specific gravity usually around 1.0 and above. The lists below include certain woods and their “approximate” specific gravity. A SG number is a guideline and is no guarantee how well the wood will accept a hand‐chased thread. SG numbers vary based on the source and how the wood is weighed: i.e., the moisture content of the wood.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY, defined: SG is a relative comparison of the weight of ONE cubic foot of water at sea level to another material like wood. One cubic foot of water is 62.4 lbs. 62.4 lbs=SG of 1.0. A cubic foot of wood weighing more than 62.4 Lbs will sink, weighing less, it will float.

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plsept99.htm source for this chart

Common Name Plant Family Native Specific (Scientific Name) (Scientific Name) Country Gravity

Lignum Vitae Caltrop S.E. U.S. & 1.37 (Guaiacum officinale) (Zygophyllaceae) Caribbean

Snakewood Mulberry South 1.35 (Piratinera guianensis) (Moraceae) America

Leadwood Buckthorn S. Florida 1.31 (Krugiodendron ferreum) Rhamnaceae and Keys

Burma Ironwood Legume India 1.29 (Xylia xylocarpa) (Fabaceae) Burma

Quebracho Sumac Argentina 1.28 (Schinopsis balansae) Anacardiaceae S. America

Womara Legume British 1.28 (Swartzia leiocalycina) Fabaceae Guiana

Wawra Combretum Zimbabwe 1.23 (Combretum imberbe) (Combretaceae) South Africa

Billian Laurel Borneo 1.20 (Eusideroxylon zwageri) (Lauraceae) Malaysia

Pau d'Arco Bignonia Brazil 1.20 (Tabebuia serratifolia) (Bignoniaceae) S. America

Knob-thorn Legume South 1.19 (Acacia nigrescens) (Fabaceae) Africa

Brazil Ironwood Legume Brazil 1.15 (Caesalpinia ferrea) (Fabaceae) S. America

Desert Ironwood Legume S.W. U.S. 1.15-1.4 (Olneya tesota) (Fabaceae) Mexico

Ceylon Ironwood Mangosteen India/Burma 1.12 (Mesua ferrea) (Guttiferae) Ceylon

Ebony Persimmon India 1.12 (Diospyros ebenum) (Ebenaceae) Ceylon

Mountain Mahogany Rose S.W. U.S. 1.12 (Cercocarpus ledifolius) (Rosaceae) Mexico

Black Ironwood South Olive (Oleaceae) 1.11 (Olea laurifolia) Africa

leadwood or wawra 1.23 (Combretum imberbe

Condalia/tropical ironwood 1.42

Mulberry 1.43 Piratinera guianensis 1.43

Density Solid SG My comments (S. Angelo)

Box Wood 0.95 - 1.2 Turkish or English-Everyone’s favorite European/Buxus Sempervirens

Ebony 1.1 - 1.3 Threads OK-tends to crumble

Mountain Mahogany I have tried a little-it has possibilities 1.2 (Cercocarpus ledifolius) and worth trying

Excellent/my next favorite-may shrink Lignum Vitae 1.17 - 1.33 when drying

Persimmon 0.9 Will thread if you are very skilled!!

I have had good luck with Honduran Rosewood, East Indian 0.90 Rosewood

Satinwood 0.95

Teak, Indian 0.65 - 0.9

Teak, African 0.98

African Blackwood Very good, will crumble “a bit” if not 1.2 Dalbergia melanoxylon careful

Mopane 1.2 Excellent and very pretty wood Colophospermum Mopane

Satine Bloodwood 1.2 Takes a thread well….. Brosimum paraense

Austrailian (From a pen blank) very hard wood and 1.35 Snakewood excellent threading wood

Kingwood Never tried this but I think it is very 1.2 Dalbergia cearensis good

Cocobolo “Thread ability” depends a lot on the 1.1 Dalbergia retusa piece of wood

Rosewood (family) Around 1.0 The right piece will thread well. Or Not..

American Hard maple I have had some luck with hard maple .6-.8 I use such wood for temporary screw chucks