Bog Oak... Is it real?

[Andrew Garrett]

I have an interest in supplementing my exotic handle material collection with some 'bog oak', 'bog wood', or 'Morta' as it is sometimes called.

Of course, I went to Ebay to see what is out there. I found this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Russian-Bog-...#ht_196wt_1153

and this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bog-oak-blan...#ht_264wt_1153

These look like new oak that some enterprizing lad has soaked in black dye and is trying to pass off as the genuine article to make a fast buck. The pores are open and fresh looking..., just not very 'old' looking. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel a scam here.

Where can I get genuine bog oak/bog wood? Are there American importers? I already have a bunch of ancient Kauri, but the black bog wood looks very interesting.

I also find it interesting that Kauri does not turn black in a bog like other species, even at ten to twenty times the age (up to 50k years).

Any help would be great.

Thanks

[BCROB]

The 2nd pic sure looks like dyed oak

[cnccutter]

try Mark at Burl Source. he's a nice guy and i have bought it from him before. i wont be cheap for the real deal.

http://burlsource.us/ancient-bog-oak-stabilized/

Erik

[Crex]

While it's always possible, it does appear to be "forced bog oak", in other words what Rob said.
I have some oak from off the bottom of Lake Lanier that looks more boggish than that. It was some submerged since the initial flooding of the lake.

I have found that you can soak redoaks in aged vinegaroon you can get something that looks just like what you see on those Ebay links. Iron dissolved in white vinegar reacts with natural tannins in the wood to turn it gray/black.

[BCROB]

Originally Posted by cnccutter

try Mark at Burl Source. he's a nice guy and i have bought it from him before. i wont be cheap for the real deal.

http://burlsource.us/ancient-bog-oak-stabilized/

Erik

Yes nice indeed but I don't want to re mortgage !!

[Doug Lester]

The stuff isn't being created anymore. What there is is all that there is. That makes it like Sea Cow ribs, Mammoth teeth, and oosic the price is driven by supply.

Doug

[BCROB]

Originally Posted by Doug Lester

The stuff isn't being created anymore. What there is is all that there is. That makes it like Sea Cow ribs, Mammoth teeth, and oosic the price is driven by supply.

Doug

would love to find some sea cow , thats real nice stuff

[Doug Lester]

I don't remember where I saw Sea Cow ribs listed last. It might have been Boone Trading Company. It might have been tacked onto their listing for oosic. I don't know, it's been a while since I've been to the sight.

Doug

[GHEzell]

I've bought a few from burlsource, I prefer them unstabilized (I use it mostly on historic patterns) and it just so happens it is cheaper unstabilized. I would not buy from someone I did not trust.... there is also a source for small pieces out of Scotland from a trusted dealer, but the shipping will add quite a lot to the price.