Complementary Veneer Divider Sheet

[semery74]

Does anyone know what kind of wood the divider sheet that comes complementary in every box? It's certainly not Spanish Cedar, took some 400grit sand paper to one during lunch and it doesn't give off that cedar aroma. By the time we open the box they are always oxidized a dark golden brown. Which is indicative of Spanish Cedar, but the sanded side doesn't brighten very much. My initial guess is some species of Mahogany.

[Guest rob]

Smokin Al is the man who'd know. If he doesn't see this thread - maybe pm him for an answer.

[El Presidente]

I will leave it to Punch Joe or Al to confirm but I am near 100% positive it is Spanish Cedar although the quality does vary immensely.

[SmokinAl]

I will leave it to Punch Joe or Al to confirm but I am near 100% positive it is Spanish Cedar although the quality does vary immensely.

I've never seen one that isn't Spanish Cedar. The manufacturing process is quite cool. A log of wood is spun against a blade to make the veneer. The wood has to be softened for this to work which is done with high pressure water. The veneer that comes off is saturated and taken to dry under pressure. In a porous wood like Cederla Odorata almost all of the sap is washed out. That's the reason it doesn't smell/taste like a normal piece of wood. Because of this rotary slicing, you see a different grain pattern to a normal piece.

Still, if a chunk of mahogany did turn up, I wouldn't be too surprised.

[El Presidente]

Thanks Al

[semery74]

I've never seen one that isn't Spanish Cedar. The manufacturing process is quite cool. A log of wood is spun against a blade to make the veneer. The wood has to be softened for this to work which is done with high pressure water. The veneer that comes off is saturated and taken to dry under pressure. In a porous wood like Cederla Odorata almost all of the sap is washed out. That's the reason it doesn't smell/taste like a normal piece of wood. Because of this rotary slicing, you see a different grain pattern to a normal piece.

Still, if a chunk of mahogany did turn up, I wouldn't be too surprised.

I'm trying to procure a graduate cylinder to do a measure of specific gravity which should definitively tell what type of wood is actually used. I do have some sheets that are actually Spanish cedar, but some that are clearly not. Perhaps their is a reason that it is mahogany and not spanish cedar depending on the cigar. We'll have to explore this further, but I will return once I learn more with my tests and which vitolas in my collection consistently have each type.

[smokem]

I'm trying to procure a graduate cylinder to do a measure of specific gravity which should definitively tell what type of wood is actually used.

Didn't think a graduate cylinder was precise enough to tell the difference between different woods. In the old days we use to use a picnometer for SG of liquids/creams, but perhaps I'm way off here.

[semery74]

Didn't think a graduate cylinder was precise enough to tell the difference between different woods. In the old days we use to use a picnometer for SG of liquids/creams, but perhaps I'm way off here.

I've never done this before, but it seems relatively simple. Measure the mass of the sample in grams, measure the displacement of the sample in ml and divide the two together.

[smokem]

I've never done this before, but it seems relatively simple. Measure the mass of the sample in grams, measure the displacement of the sample in water and divide the two together.

Maybe I'm way off, but I think if using a gc for telling the SG difference between say lead and wood, it would work. I just didn't think it would be precise enough for telling the differences between woods. Also, how do you keep the wood submerged? Enough with my negativity, I would be interested in how your experiment turns out. Nothing ventured, nothing gain. Let me know if you have a problem finding a gc. Maybe I can help you out.

[semery74]

Maybe I'm way off, but I think if using a gc for telling the SG difference between say lead and wood, it would work. I just didn't think it would be precise enough for telling the differences between woods. Also, how do you keep the wood submerged? Enough with my negativity, I would be interested in how your experiment turns out. Nothing ventured, nothing gain. Let me know if you have a problem finding a gc. Maybe I can help you out.

Your probably right, but I'm not about to pay $200 plus to identify unknown woods. Hopefully a gram scale accurate to a 1/100 and a GC accurate to .2 ml will be sufficient to tell the difference between mahogany and cedar.

[SmokinAl]

or, you could just build a chest of drawers out of it and see how well it lasts.