Ipe Serving Tray 502
Measures 6" wide by 17" wide by 19" tall - $40
Ipe (Brazilian Walnut) – Ipe is a wood of extremes: extremely dense and durable, as well as extremely difficult to work. Its incredible hardness and strength make it well suited for flooring applications, though it is referred to as “Brazilian Walnut” among flooring dealers—though it is not related to true Walnut in the Juglans genus. It is three times harder than oak, and a board will sink in water. The heartwood of Ipe has a color that ranges from reddish brown to blackish brown to yellowish olive brown. It is normal to see the wood having black and brown stripes. The Ipe wood has fine to medium texture. It features straight to their regular pattern of the grain. It is commonly used for flooring, decking, exterior lumber, veneer, tool handles, and other turned objects. It is very durable and has excellent insect resistance.
Finish - Besides being hard, ipe is an oily wood, and any type of finish that forms a film, such as varnish or polyurethane, will begin to peel and flake soon after you apply it. A better option is to use a penetrating oil finish. The oil won't penetrate the close-grained wood very deeply, however, and the residue that remains on the surface will quickly become tacky unless you wipe it off. Consequently, the best way to finish ipe is to brush on a light coat of oil with a paintbrush and wipe off the excess almost immediately. The best covering is a thin coat of ultraviolet-blocking oil- or water-based penetrating finish.