Wood ID

[Gary G™]

I found an unknown stick in the shop.
It’s about 7/8” thick, 3” wide and 24” long
I’m thinking it’s one of 3 varieties:
Lignum Vitae, Cumaru or IPE.

It’s very dry and kind of oily.
Planing produced some really small dusty chips.
The smell was similar to ironwood but not nearly as strong.
It’s brownish green but so is some IPE I have.
It has a little reversing grain.

What characteristics help id one from the other?

[jcredding]

I generally look at face grain and end grain, then go to either the Wood Database online or I also have a copy of Wood! I find end grain is often more helpful than face. Smell scan sometimes give it away, but that’s usually with woods I already know (Olive, walnut, etc.)

[FS7]

Can't speak to the other two, but ipe produces a greenish-yellow powdery dust when sanded. If you take sandpaper to it (don't use power tools, as it definitely irritating if not toxic) you will find out quickly enough.