Ipe Hardwood Sample (1/2"x3"x6")
$7.00 ea.
| Nominal Thickness | 1/2" |
| Actual Thickness | 1/2" |
| Width | 3" |
| Length | 6" |
| Brand | Woodworkers Source |
| Grade | Samples are milled on all sides, cut square and sanded; wood is a product of nature with inconsistencies from piece to piece. Use species samples as a guide, not a perfect representation. (more info) |
| Size | 1/2" x 3" x 6" (official size of the International Wood Collectors Society) |
Wood Species Guide
About Ipe
Tabebuia spp Grows in Latin America
Latin America
Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil
Compare Ipe with
Color Range
Light to dark olive brown with greenish caste, often with lighter or darker streaks.
About the Tree
May grow to 140-150 feet in height with trunk diameters of 72" and frequently to heights of 100 feet and diameters of 24-36". Boles are clear to 60 feet and more, with or without buttresses.
Other Names
Amapa prieta, Bastard lignum vitae, Bethabara, Canaguate, Cortez, Ebano verde, Ebene vert, Greenhart, Guayacan, Ipe, Ironwood, Lapacho, Lapacho negro, Pau d'Arco, Polvillo, Tajibo
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, industrial uses, tool handles, exterior applications, decking, inlay, furniture parts.
What Does The Janka Hardness Rating Mean?
The Janka hardness test is the international standard for measuring the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear.
It's expressed in psi, or pounds-per-square-inch. The test measures the pressure required to embed an 11.28mm (.444 in) diameter steel ball into wood to half the ball's diameter. The measurement was developed to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring; however, we include it here and compare it to the rating of red oak to help you make a buying choice.
There is a difference between hardness and being difficult to work with. Generally speaking, the harder the wood the easier it is to finish and polish. Harder woods create good, solid long-lasting joinery in furniture.
The hardness of wood varies with the direction of the wood grain, and varies from piece to piece. So a Janka rating is an average of numerous tests performed on all directions and numerous pieces. Use the Janka hardness rating as guide, not a definitive answer.
Image by Nasa-verve, Wikimedia Commons
Great looking wood
A GENUINE IPE SAMPLE
Helpful Lumber Resources
Understanding hardwood lumber starts right here with these wacky fractions.
If you're expecting perfect clear lumber 100% of the time, you're in for a surprise. Here's a summary of the hardwood lumber grades and what to expect from them.
Board feet isn't your everyday kind of math, but these three simple steps make it easy to figure out your project.
Here's a handy (and free) Excel worksheet that helps you estimate the lumber needs for your project.
Are woods poisonous? Hazardous to use in cutting boards or baby cribs? Find out here.
Wood is like a sponge, and it's always in a state of absorbing or releasing moisture to stay equalized with its environment. The problem with that is it also swells and shrinks. Here's what you need to know to protect your project.
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