Way back in 1970 I turned a few pieces of lignum into cups on my lathe. I still have these cups proudly displayed on the mantle of my fireplace 53 years later.

In 2014, treasure divers in Florida found a bedpost made of Lignum Vitae from the shipwreck site of the Spanish ship the Atocha. It sank in 1622. It was made in Peru. See Mel Fisher’s Treasures On-Line Research Archives for more information.

I use it to make blade guides on my bandsaw , especially useful when I use my 1/8” (3 mm) blade that has not enough width for a ball bearing .

When first joined Met Police in 1966 l was issued with a lignum vitae truncheon, and retained it as a souvenier on retirement, l display it with other memorabilia that includes a Peelers mace, and a Staff of office of a Parish Constable from King William the IV…

Grows easily, everywhere in Jamaica.
Extremely hard, commonly used as a chopping block

Where you aware that John Harrison, the clock maker, used Lignum Vitae in his sea clocks to lubricate the cogs in the clocks in the 1700s

My School Master used to eagerly await his delivery of LV to the local Docks …. mid ’70s

Then we would turn the blocks in the Lathe to make the Chanter pipes for his
Northumbrian Pipe Group …

His name was Mr Sterie.

I lived in the Dominican Republic for 16 years and the tourist stores sell many souvenirs made from Lignum Vitae. Dominicans call it Guiacan. The locals also make medicinal tea from the leaves. Unfortunately Dominicana practice zero conservation hence I have little hope for these trees lasting long term.

Used to make bell hammers out of! When I worked as an apprentice at John Smiths Clocks of Derby. Wonderful material very hard, when it struck the church bells gave a wonderful sound.

I only know the wood from handles of chisels and knives. I was also aware of ironwood but didn’t know it was the same thing.

Thank you

When I lived in Carriacou in Grenada W.I. We used it to make cutlass bearings for the prop shafts of the local schooners and even yachts as it could take up to a year to get in the right size of brass bearing. Even when the boat got the new brass bearing delivered they usually kept it in stores and continued with the lignum vitae one for several years. The wood also has the advantage of not being susceptible to damage by electrolysis.
I seem to remember it grows in the tropical dry forest rather than the rain forest, often close to the beach, and a machete just bounces off it as I discovered when trying to clear some bush once.

Interesting article on the Lignum Vitae. I did not know it is a diminishing resource! The trees are grown all over Jamaica where I spent my childhood. It is the national flower there. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers and when the trees are in flower it is a glorious sight! I paint fruit and flowers inspired by my childhood garden in Jamaica and feature the Lignum Vitae flowers on my bone china collections.

A fascinating lesson on the varied properties of this tree. I love its vivid blue flowers, and wouldn’t mind trying the medication for my arthritis.