I picked-up a board-foot of shagbark hickory. It's about 20% more dense than rock maple so I figured I'd give it a shot for sinking needles.

Unfortunately, it didn't turn well. It's "stringy" (for lack of a better word) -- any break in the surface wants to peel back like string cheese.

I'm sure many of you know this, but I figured I'd post what I found.

Eric

If you want a nice turning, dense, non-floating wood for sinking needles, try Green Heart. Looks like teak, finishes up like maple and sinks nice and easy!

locust ........ but hard to find...

theres old fence posts still out in the boonies sitting there from the 1900's

the savvy farmers back then planted locust trees along their property lines
and "grew" their fence posts .....knowing they'd last forever

it's hard yes
but turn-able
and the finish is as smooth as a bowling ball

Try birch. Just soak it double the time you would basswood or something similar. You'll add a lot of weight but it will be balanced as it will be through out the body. You'll see the bodies dissapear one by one as they pass neutral boyancy.Just takes a day or two for them to dry completely. Ron

One of the deck mahoganys is heavier than heck. It will sink. It's a pretty dark wood. I think it's Ipe. Turns good but I think the dust is no good for you.