Anyone ever engrave Amber wood?

[mike klein]

I have a chance to pick up some picture frames mad from what is called 'Amber Wood', or another term used is 'Rubberwood'. Just curious if anyone has ever laser engraved this type of wood with good results. Looking at some pictures that the guy sent to me, it looks much like Alder wood.

Thanks
Mike

[Kevin L. Waldron]

Never used it but you might compare the stats from Wood Explorer with other known woods. It would appear to be a good wood for laser work. Hope this helps.

Kevin

Scientific Name
Hevea brasiliensis
Trade Name
Para rubbertree
Product Sources
Apart from timber, latex tapped from Para rubbertree produces the best quality rubber, superior to that from all other latex-producing trees and synthetic rubber. The tree is the source of all the natural rubber produced in the world. About 95% of the world's rubber supply originate from Southeast Asia, and it has been estimated that about 50,000 different products are directly or indirectly made from rubber. The tree is also valued for its edible seeds, and the earliest and principal use of rubber trees locally was for that purpose. The mottled seeds are also used as fish bait by the natives.
Distribution Overview
Native to the Amazon region; Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. Introduced to many other tropical regions of the world, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Liberia, India, Sri Lanka, Sarawak, and Thailand. Ranges from Subtropical Wet (without frost) to Tropical Dry to Tropical Wet Forest Life Zones, rubber is reported to tolerate annual precipitation of 10.2 to 42.9 dm, annual temperature of 23.1 to 27.5*C, and pH of (4.0) 4.3 to 8.0. A rain-forest species of the Amazon Basin, rubber is now an Asian crop, with Asia producing 92% of the world's natural rubber in Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Vietnam, and Sarawak. Thrives best in deep well-drained loamy soil, covered by natural undergrowth or leguminous cover-crop and protected from erosion.
Heartwood Color
****** Yellow
**** Orange
*** White
*** Red
* Pink
* Brown
******* White to cream
******* Pale brown
****** Pale red to pink
*** Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
* Whitish
* Light brown with pinkish cast upon exposure

Sapwood Color
** Red
** Yellow
** White
********* Same as heartwood

Bending Strength 6644 10419 psi
Density 37 lbs/ft3

Routing & Recessing
*** Poor to Very Poor Results
*** Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Sanding
**** Fairly Easy to Very Easy
** Very Good to Excellent Results
** Fair to Good Results

Screwing
* Screwing yields good results
* Possible if prebored

Turning
*** Poor to Very Poor Results
*** Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
** Poor results
** Difficult to turn
* Finish is generally satisfactory
* Easy to turn
Movement in Service
*** Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Veneering Qualities
** Good gluing qualities
* There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
* Suitable for peeling
* No steaming needed during bolt preparation.
* Easy to cut

[mike klein]

I guess we'll see how it turns out.

Thanks