Sindora Burl (Sindora siamensis)

 

 

Sindora Burl is from Southeast Asia.  Burls yield a very peculiar and highly figured wood, its rarity also adds expense.  It is very sought after.  Burl wood is very hard to work with hand tools or on a lathe because its grain is twisted and interlocked, causing it to chip and chatter unpredictably.  This “wild grain” makes burl wood extremely dense and resistant to splitting. 

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These burls yield a very gnarly and highly figured grain with a wide variety of brown, golden, and tan colors.  Although difficult to turn, it is worth the effort as it shows three dimensional qualities that are highly sought after by fine artisans.  The gnarly grain makes the wood almost impossible to split which is an excellent attribute for pen turners needing to drill and glue small, thin pieces.  Some of the blanks in this special have an exceptionally high amount of burl eyes per square inch, making it an exceptional choice for fine articles such as knife handles.