Desert Ironwood from Griffin Exotic Wood

Griffin Exotic Wood

Desert Ironwood (Arizona & Mexico)
(olneya tesota)

Desert Ironwood grows predominantly in the deserts of Arizona and California, USA as well as Mexico. It is one of the hardest and densest woods in the world, with a specific gravity around 1.2 or more. The color may be like the picture above or any variation of light to very dark browns, with or without lighter areas. Burls have high figure. The logs are full of cracks and making a clean turning blank of any size requires removal of about 95% of the log. This is why it is usually sold in logs rather than clean turning blanks, since the material cost for clean turning blanks averages over 20 times the cost for logs. These trees are harvested legally from a reputable source in Arizona and now also from another reputable source in Mexico . The pieces we sell are completely air dried unless otherwise noted on the item.

Grading system for ironwood:
A grade means that this is a completely clean turning blank with almost no cracks or checks. Tiny defects are allowed, but very uncommon. If grade isn't stated, assume A grade
B grade means that this is a good turning blank, but there will be some small fissures or checks. We try to glue these with cyanoacrylate glue for you.
C grade means that this is a cleaned up section of a log, but will have some cracks, gaps, and/or checks, and may be rough cut.

New: see bottom of page for some of our customers work using this wood . . .

SCROLL DOWN, there is a lot here!

This is a sample of what you'll get.
These are SELECT grade pen blanks without cracks/checks or holes.
They will all have some lines.
Desert Ironwood pen blank 3/4 x 3/4 x 5 inches
SELECT
Price: $3.90
Qty:

This is a sample of what you'll get.
These are SELECT PLUS grade pen blanks without cracks/checks or holes. They will all have some lines AND some line movement/waves.

Desert Ironwood pen blank 3/4 x 3/4 x 5 inches
SELECT PLUS
Price: $5.50
Qty:

Click the photo above for another view. Actual pieces shown, order by letter below.
Dried .

Pieces not listed below or that get a red out of stock notice in the shopping cart were previously sold.
No surprises: ALL four sides visible in photos:
Click here for a third side view.
Click here for final fourth side view.

Desert Ironwood
Piece M
1 1/8 x 1.75 x 5.25 inches
A grade
Price: $31.00

Click the photo above for another view. Actual pieces shown, order by number below.
Dried . Note that sizes are not exact due to sanding them flat, so they could be a little under the listed sizes in some cases, though not far off.

Pieces not listed below or that get a red out of stock notice in the shopping cart were previously sold.
No surprises: ALL four sides visible in photos:
Click here for a third side view.
Click here for final fourth side view.

Desert Ironwood
Piece 312
1.5 x 1.5 x 6 inches
A grade
Price: $23.00

Desert Ironwood 1 x 1 x 12 inches
No defects, dried standard grade (some have lines, some may not)
Price: $18.00

Click the photo above for another view. Actual pieces shown, order by number below.
Dried . Note that sizes are not exact due to sanding them flat, so they could be a little under the listed sizes in some cases, though not far off.   Pieces not shown below or that get a red out of stock notice in the shopping cart were previously sold.
No surprises: ALL four sides visible in photos: Click here for a third side view.
Click here for final fourth side view.

Desert Ironwood
Piece H
1.5 x 1.5 x 12 inches
A grade
Price: $42.00

Customer gallery using Desert Ironwood:

Order online, or call us Monday through Friday at 970-241-2827
International callers and all Questions:Email us

Note that everything on this page (photos too!) are copyrighted and may not be used
without written permission. Copyright 2006, 2022 by James Griffin. If you are a customer
and desire to use some of our photos on your website, email us with your request.