Lightweight case

[user459]

I was amazed by the light weight of this case from the moment I got it. The original dark finish masked its identity. It weighs much less than the chests and cases I've been used to working on. Now that I've stripped it, I am still unsure of the wood. It seems to be a close-grained soft wood, but does not have the characteristics of pine.

https://gerstnertoolchest.shutterfly...herchests/1750

Any ideas?

[craiglong]

Terry,

The wood-database.com has contact info for USDA for identification, I think it looks like Chestnut. Good luck

[Bill]

They used to call chestnut the poor mans oak.

[user459]

This wood is quite soft and lightweight. The empty case weighs in at just over 3 pounds, where a comparable oak case is well over 6 pounds.

I never pictured chestnut as a soft wood. but then, I haven't worked with it before.

I couldn't find it on the site Craig mentioned - they want you to buy the book!

[craiglong]

Terry,

Below is a link for that site. Once at the site Click on the log on the top left corner, and a list will populate. Each species has a list of info, including the weight of a cubic foot dry.
It also has pictures of most of woods listed.
Chestnut and popular have almost the same harness and weight.

http://www.wood-database.com/

[Joseph1456]

It might be White Cedar. The smell is not as strong as red Cedar, but if you give it s light sanding and sniff you might be able to pick a faint smell of cedar. White Cedar is a very light wood and durable enough to be used in furniture.

[Steve Downes]

Terry,
Take a look at butternut on the wood data base listed above. The little bit I have worked with it, it seems to be similar to what you described.