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I'm sure this question has come up before, however my search was fruitless. Has anyone used Ipe for guitar parts? I have some left over from a job, and being a typical old school carpenter, nothing goes to waste.
This stuff is hard, really dense and heavy. One online source has the density listed as "66-75 pcf" and a "specific gravity of .85-.97".
It's got a nice ring to it when rapped with a knuckle. Probably too heavy for a bridge, it would make a nice fretboard. I've got about 25 board feet left over so there is quite a bit to work with. One piece is nicely quarter sawn and looks rather ugly, just straight homogenous dark tan with a greenish palor. Another is almost black. It's flatsawn so it has some grain interest, and again, a greenish palor. Other than it's on the verge of ugly apperance, are there any negatives to this lumber?

Steve

Saw one of the GAL videos where Robert Ruck had a guitar with Ipe b&s. He says its one of the best alternatives to brw that he has ever used. Never heard about anybody else using it, but Ruck shure knows his stuff.

Mums the word…we don’t want the price to go up if this "Decking lumber" becomes "Tonewood"!!!

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

Hello- I've never used it for an instrument or fingerboard, but I'll chime in with what I do know:

Ipe is a good alternative to pernambuco, particularly for double bass and cello bows. It has excellent strength, abrasion resistance and elasticity needed for bows. The only complaint I have ever *read* about ipe is that the resins in the wood make it extremely difficult to glue.

If I were to use it, I would first call the guy who has experience with it and ask what he does for surface prep and what kind of adhesive he uses. My guess is that Smith's epoxy would be a likely candidate and that you would need to assume that it is probably more difficult to glue than cocobolo (so I've heard).
Rodger Bryan
(bow rehair/repair + electric builder)

It is my understanding that it is very coarse. I like a smooth fingerboard like ebony for acoustics or maple for electrics. So if I am correct I wouldnt like it for a fingerboard or anything else for that matter. I may well be wrong. I will be checking this thread in case some one has first hand experience with it in instruments.

bleh...I hate the stuff...eats saw blades and splits easily when nailed into (when you can actually get a nail to penetrate)

as others have noted, its not friendly to typical glues and since you mention its left over from a project I wonder what its primary use was for...the reason I bring this up is Ipe is noted for being very weather resistant and therefore is usually sopping wet...if you have it as leftover from a hardwood floor project then its probably dry enough...

it also (as far as I know) has to be finished with a water based product..

Leftovers are from an exterior staircase. And you're right about the wetness, it's at 14% right now. Waiting for it to dry is no problem as I've got plenty of other projects.
Has to be finished with water based???

Shellac on Ipe works well. Other finishes- I don't know.
Rodger

as I noted, as far as I know..

I've never put a finish on Ipe, but have been told by hardwood floor installers, deck installers, and suppliers of the material that only water based products will adhere to it...the rest will just flake off, again so I've been told...

I have wondered (though as noted have never tried any finish on Ipe) if a thinned vinyl sealer would bond and allow lacquer to be applied over it...

I used Gorilla Glue on a project I made out of Ipe 4 or so years ago, and though I haven't seen it since then I just conversed with the owner of it (it was a big, moveable sign with his business info in plastic letters attached to the Ipe) and he made no mention of any problems so I assume its holding up well...that damned thing weighed about 150 lbs, and I was barely able to get it on my truck for delivery...

It is my understanding that the harvesting of Ipe is responsible for a very large percentage of the deforestation in South America. Since it is used for decking, large quantities are required. I, personally would think twice about using it at all.

[quote="Randolph"]It is my understanding that the harvesting of Ipe is responsible for a very large percentage of the deforestation in South America. Since it is used for decking, large quantities are required. I, personally would think twice about using it at all.[/quote]

Before using this as decking on my porch, I checked this out. This statement is actually not true. Most commercial Ipe is harvested in a sustainable fashion.

Ipe is one of many in the ironwood family. That's basically any wood that has a specific gravity above 1 thus it sinks in water.

It is hard to finish, but it can be a beautiful red/brown wood. Ironically for decking, to finish you need to use a toxic cleaner first, then the finish. I just put the finish on and repeat each year.

I think it's tough on blades because they get so hot cutting through it. I don't know that it would be so tough on a fretsaw blade as you aren't cutting that deep. On a tablesaw most use a hollow ground blade to keep most of the blade away from the wood to reduce heat.

Personally I think the wood is beautiful.

Joe, this is good to hear. I have been trying to remember the article that I read where Ipe was highest on the list of offenders but it has been a couple of years. Do you remember where you heard about it being harvested sustainably?

[quote="Randolph"]Joe, this is good to hear. I have been trying to remember the article that I read where Ipe was highest on the list of offenders but it has been a couple of years. Do you remember where you heard about it being harvested sustainably?[/quote]
My contractor (who is an environmentalist and wild animal rehab specialist too) he had several articles on it. He said it's a pain to work with, but because it basically lasts forever (in wood terms) that's it's a good pick. I also searched the web a bit and found a number of articles on how it is being harvested in a sustainable fashion. I don't think I found anything listing it as at risk.

One of my students used it for a bridge several years ago. Since nobody told me it was difficult to glue we just put it on with HHG, and so far he hasn't called to say it's coming up.