A Latin term that translates to "tree of life." Lignum vitae is among them. The wood was once used as propeller shaft bearings in nearly all the ships sailing the ‘Seven Seas’. I found this description on Wikipedia: Lignum vitae is hard and durable, and is also the densest wood traded (density: 1.23 g/cm3);[3] it will easily sink in water. Lignum vitae Lignum vitae A hard wood, traditionally used for Parrel balls, for Blocks and for Fairleads.. Lignum Vitae: A smooth hard wood grown in the West Indies which had many maritime uses, such as deadeyes and the sheaves of blocks. The reason it isn’t as well-known as more popular wood types, like oak or pine, is that it’s slow-growing, heavy, and very hard to work with. The densest hardwood that is traded/ commercially available is Lignum Vitae. : Closer scrutiny reveals that they are made of lignum vitae, an exotic West Indian hardwood characterized by occasional streaks of bright yellow. What is Lignum Vitae? Lignum vitae is a hardwood that came from trees with genus Guaiacum. The plant is extremely ornamental, producing an attractive blue flower and orange-yellow fruit,… Cellulose, the stuff Ma Nature makes her wood with, is heavier than water. This dense wood was once popular for use in the manufacture of bowling balls and has also been used … Lignum vitae (Guaiacum officinale) medicinal herb is commonly known as Guayacan, Palo Santo, Wood of life, Guaiac, Lignum vine, Guaiacum officinale as well as Holy tree and is the source of guiacum resin. It is an evergreen. Proceeds of the fundraising auction were split between the builders and a scholarship fund was established to support woodworking education. Because of this, Lignum Vitae and Jamaica are closely associated in shipyards worldwide. Lignum vitae definition is - the very hard heavy wood of any of several tropical American guaiacums. Lignum vitae seems to be the standard wood for this, as it definitely holds up well. Underneath the smooth, beige/grey bark of Lignum vitae is some of the heaviest of all wood, sinking under its weight instead of floating in water. The resin of the tree is guaiacum gum which has been used as a treatment for arthritis, gout and syphilis. Lignum Vitae registers 4,500 pounds-force (lbf) on the Janka Hardness Scale, over twice that of Bois d’arc (Osage orange) wood, a more common hardwood in North America. Greenish brown to brown with a tight and pronounced interlocked grain, very dense, waxy – with self-lubricating qualities, hard wearing in almost all the contexts in which lignum vitae (Guiaicum spp.) Find Lignum Vitae Wood Suppliers. Lignum Vitae is a tree. Note: Guaiacum Officinale relieves the inflammation and pain in case of Gout attacks. The short, compact tree is native to continental tropical American and the West Indies. Joined May 1, 2005 Messages 2,709 Location Newark, Delaware, USA. lignum vitae This is the wood used to construct a sea-going chronograph that won the contest set by the British monarchy. Thanks for the compliments. Lignum Vitae is excellent for use where mechanical lubricant is difficult or impossible to apply. A collection of 12 Lignum Vitae metalworkers tools, used to forge or shape metal around. This naturally green wood has been used for time untold in construction due to the fact that it is so hard and dense. Lignum vitae definition, either of two tropical American trees, Guaiacum officinale or G. sanctum, of the caltrop family, having very hard, heavy wood. A suitable substitute is Vera or Argentine Lignum Vitae. Use and Management. Wood against wood is not as harsh or potentially damaging to my precious gouges. What we sell is accurately named. All real lignum vitae has a botanical name that starts with "Guaiacum". Because of its strength, this wood has been used for building homes and constructing furniture. Wood from the Lignum Vitae tree is extremely versatile and has served many uses over time. Olive to dark brown or black coloured wood from Central America and northern South America. Family: Zygophyllaceae . Awards Ceremony and Fundraising Auction. lignum vitae furniture isn’t so popular and there are reasons for this, firstly, lignum vitae is endangered and hard to get. Lignum Vitae, Latin for "Tree of Life," is the national tree of the Bahamas. In Central America it is also referred to as guaiac meaning, "woods of life." (b) Will the sphere float or sink in … Nov 12, 2005 #3 I guess it is what they used. It is the World's second densest wood and is usually half or less expensive. Page - 5 It is extremely dense therefore durable in the outdoors. Lignum Vitae: Contributors The fixed valve face is of lignum vitae in a metal recess, and the revolving valve of gun-metal. Please refer to the Catalogue or Timberline's Shop for up-to-date prices. It was the alleged medicinal properties of Lignum Vitae which have earned it the title ‘tree of life’. A sphere of this wood with a diameter of 7.60 $\mathrm{cm}$ has a mass of 313 $\mathrm{g}$ . Lignum vitae . Even in modern times, lignum vitae has been used for underwater propulsion parts because it often performs better than steel. has traditionally been used. The actual wood cells are filled with water and then, after drying, air. Commonly used in tool handles, mallet heads, bearings, bushings, pulley wheels, and turned objects. Nicely done. Before polymers, alloys and composites, the wood of Guaiacum officinale, also known as tree of life, was extremely important due to its combination of strength, toughness and density.The common name, Lignum vitae (tree of life or wood of life), comes from its historic medicinal use as a remedy for conditions from arthritis to coughs to syphilis.. It measures an impressive 4,500lbf (20,000N) on the Janka Hardness Scale, a universal measurement of how easy wood is to dent. It grows in a tropical climate. Wonderful patination of the wood. The lignum vitae mallet heads usually end up being 2 to 3 times larger diameter than the metal mallet of the same weight. B. BigRob777 Member. Lignum Vitae TROPICAL HARDWOOD Uses: Owing to Lignum Vitae's self-lubricating properties it is used for ship’s propeller bushes and bearings, marine equipment, thrust bearings, pulley sheaves, wheels, guides, rollers and blocks, mallet heads, “woods” for bowls, cotton gins, dead eyes, die cutting and turning, and for any purpose where lubrication is impractical or unreliable. The wood is full of resin and was once used for the bearings of boat propeller shafts due to its self lubricating properties. Bamboo is light, elastic/springy so you can hit another bamboo bokken and it won’t splinter or shatter upon impact, and it is durable. Lignum vitae. 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