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 .