Unboxing Exotic wood mix and Maple Cutoff wood from Bell Forest

Today I am unboxing two boxes of cutoffs from Bell forest. One is maple and the other exotic woods! #woodworking #woodworkingprojects #woodworking
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL AND PURCHASE THIS BOX OR ANY OTHER STUFF THAT I MAKE YOU CAN DO THAT NOW HERE. www.skylerewing.store

[@Jake00001]

I am very impressed by your work!

[@bellforestproducts]

Thank you for sharing your unboxing video of our products! Our cutoff packages are great for inlays and small woodworking projects like knife handles, intarsia, and pens. Depending on what the shop has been processing, you’ll find a variety of species and sizes in the cutoff packages. Not every size nor species will work for all projects, so we ask (when placing the order) that you let us know what you’re planning on using the material for. That way, we can do our best to accommodate your project. You can also leave us a comment and say that you’re not interested in dowels or to not send Padauk. We wish you the best and we look forward to watching future videos!

[@woodrowsmith3400]

This particular response just earned BellForest an order. Skylar's review was just barely so-so, yet Bell answered with courtesy and a willingness to accommodate (within reason, I am guessing) a customer's need. I saw intarsia blanks, handle blanks, a mallet or three and tons of scroll saw projects. What did you see?

[@rcrogers6]

Very helpful response. Clearly you are nice people. I read about your business on your excellent website. You'll be getting an order from Carrboro, NC requesting contrasting woods for small box creation.

[@jimdoe1694]

You do a great job with my projects and purchases, wide variety and packages. You also provided me with a lot of extra lumber that would normally have been "cutoff" or "waste" at no additional charge that made great scrap and wood for other projects.

[@Randy-br3kf]

I should be so lucky as to get a huge box full of Purple Heart and Pauduk! For $35 you could send me one of those boxes every week and i would be happier than pigs in slop! Ordering soon!

[@robertcornelius3514]

Tears rolled down my cheeks when you said you bought two boxes. In no time at all you will have two of every thing. You are on your way to being a real wood worker, or at least a collector. Welcome to the club my friend.

[@MichaelRedford]

Lmao

[@norm5785]

What a eide difference Skyler, between the two boxes. Love the Maple. Thank you for sharing this with us. Everyone stay safe, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Hi Norm. What are you working on this days?

[@chuckfalgout9596]

When I first got into woodworking, I found a local hardwood dealer here in New Orleans, Riverside Lumber, that has a table off to the side of cut-offs and odd shaped pieces. I used that table a lot as I was learning and making basic things. Every so often, I still pick through that table and see if something catches my eye. Thanks for the video and look forward to seeing what you do with the pieces you received.

[@MrSeminole77]

Love Bell Forest Products!!! Highly recommended, always get min of 10BF and its always packed well and high grade material.

[@LambyMcChop]

They look perfect

[@kamilegier4730]

I bought a sample collection of 4”x 6” hardwood veneers to use for identification purposes. Each piece is labeled so it works quick well, it also helps when deciding what species I would like to use in a project

[@raveniskcrow]

I totally agree with you!

[@markeverson1999]

I guess a box like that is not for everyone. A wood turner will find many treasures especially in the first box for pens, bottle stoppers or finials. Enjoyed your unboxing video and hope you can’t find some fun things to do with the wood.

[@edwardwilliams9923]

At 3.5 mins in the $35 is more than made!!

[@dian3145]

Thanks for the view of the cutoffs! I don’t turn pens, so very few pieces would be appealing. Some may be good for splines? Working with walnut, I can see that. I bought a 6” jointer from Grizzly. It came with the infeed table out of plane with the outfeed. It is a pain to adjust, so watch for that.

[@peteg4526]

Those long dark wax covered pieces could be Chechen. I’ve been using it lately and it looks just like it. Great for bottle stoppers and pens (if you have a lathe).

[@woodrowsmith3400]

Wow! A reply from Bell! It shows they have interest in more than selling their off-fall. I wonder, Skylar, if you know anyone that has a scroll saw. I see lots of material that could be easily resawn (with care, of course) on your tablesaw and turned into victims of a #7 blade. I see several intarsia projects in that collection. Maybe a mallet for carving and chisels? I'm not too much of a fan of using anything but known safe woods for cutting boards. I agree with you that straight out of the box it is more of a turner's paradise...but I see great value in those boxes. In fact, I'm going to ask Santa for a couple!

[@ronboe6325]

Early in the first box with the torn label; my WAG is Jatoba. I get my wood locally (Phoenix AZ) from Wood Workers Source. They have bins out front full of large cut offs that I have found useful from time to time. They do a fair amount of mail order; might be a useful 2nd source for you.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Thanks Rob. I almost bought the wood for my daughters bed from them online but the shipping was $300 so I decided to just go to my local hardwood dealer

[@geoffnicholson776]

Looks like both boxes would benefit woodturners more than the work you do

[@garyleonard9178]

Looks like a great deal to me. Those wax covered are turning blanks, probably patagonia rosewood, those longer red/black pieces. Wax is used to seal wood that is cut green. looks like some boxwood, or boxwood like wood in that white box.

[@mickbarnett4217]

I make custom knives so a lot of the cutoffs would be suitable for those or very nice inlays. Looks ok to me.

[@shadowwalker3054]

Wow!

[@chrismorgan6898]

You have convinced me to look at buying some of these from bell forrest. Cut offs are great for woodturners. As to your product knowledge, needs work. Wood covered in wax, is not waxy wood. The wax is a protective measurer to limit moisture. In your first box saw a very good assortment. In the second "White Wood", maple, poplar, oak. If you are new to woodworking, I can understand your confusion. You might want to pick up a lathe or not.

[@acusticsix]

black wood most likely ebony.... for guitar fret boards and bridges.....great for inlay work in light contrasting wood....

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

cool. Will maybe use it for inlay or small handles for boxes

[@christophermoore1774]

The wax covering is a protective layer added to stop the effects of humidity, most likely during trans ocean shipment where the salt sea air and humidity is very corrosive. I have typically observed this on species from Central and South America, so it probably also helps with jungle humidity and rot. As for removing it, I'd suggest just cut it off on your table saw with real thin passes until it is fully removed. On the one piece of Granadillo I bought, scrapping didn't seem to fully work, I think because the melted wax gets right down into the pores of the wood grain when its applied.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Hi Chris, thank you so much. That makes so much sense. I will do it on the table saw as well then

[@cecilferris1163]

Sometimes those cutoff boxes from Bell Forest can be hit or miss. You can come across some really great pieces. I've been fortunate enough to get two great boxes in a row.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Very true!

[@UPwoodturner]

I live about 5 miles from Bell Forest Products. I go into there store for special wood that I don't have at home. I look at their scrap bin and find some good items to use for my turnings. They are very fair and they cater to our local wood turning club.

[@christianbookter1016]

Skyler if one doesn't by the lottery ticket one cannot win. I bet if you challenge yourself you will find a good use for the small stuff.

[@johnford7847]

I found your video informative. If I were making pens, or whittling, or making miniatures, either box would be worthwhile, I think. But not for the kind of things I do. Thank you.

[@brucemartin5510]

It makes money for Bell Forest and helps them get rid of trash.

[@magicworldbyjorg]

,a cool video keep up the great content.. Thank you……

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Thanks, will do!

[@magicworldbyjorg]

@@woodworkingwithSkyler Thank you very mutch... have a nice day.... see you….

[@gregeastman6662]

id be happy too take that purple heart of your hands :)

[@sambow4u]

Those would be Perfect for Guitar rossettes or Guitar bindings ! Jewlery Boxes , Chess Board, Cutting boards

[@jamesbrasseaux133]

A lot of that could be for wood turning projects.

[@usernotfound904]

👍🏼 👌🏼 ✅

[@smilingdog2219]

I am lucky to be located where a few local hardwood vendors have bargains and scrap boxes reasonably cheap. Additionally, we grow local hardwoods in just about everybody's yard so when April-June winds knock these giants down, we have a chance at free wood which you have to cure yourself.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

That sounds awesome. I have a few good vendors in the area as well just always a bit intimidated to go in as is mostly a male dominated place

[@dian3145]

@@woodworkingwithSkyler I have three hardwood suppliers 2 hours in all directions. Generally they are really cool guys that work there. I walk in saying I know nothing about the purchasing process, and only surface knowledges about the species, and they seem really interested in offering advice and assistance. They always move the larger pieces to be broken down to fit in my SUV. I would give them a shot, and review/avoid the ones that treat you like a car service guy would 😛

[@brucewelty7684]

If you are a turner some of that stuff would make great tops.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

I don’t have a lathe:(

[@fembotheather3785]

The dark waxy wood could be rosewood, or it could be katalox.

[@recipio6561]

Put it down to experience. I've been a woodworker for 30 years and bought scrap pieces mainly from UK woodworking shows. Unless you are a turner they tend to gather dust and take up precious space. Now I only buy wood for specific projects. Here in Ireland we are limited to North American Hardwoods believe it or not. !

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

I am starting to learn that. :)

[@opa_plays_mw5318]

35 bucks, yeah, good deal.

[@TheBobdabob]

Watching your beautiful set of huge........eyes 😊 makes it worth it.

[@fdort3971]

@Sawdust and Splinters you can always send me the purple heart! Please and thank you... Seriously you can make a gorgeous jewellery box armoire...with gold inlay.

[@doctordrae]

Bell Forest is located in a small town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, they know wood!!!

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

I buy my maple, cherry and walnut from them. They have truly best quality boards

[@donaldberry617]

Here in Maine, we call that "firewood."

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Hey Donald! Where in Maine? I live near Portland

[@bradleytuckwell4881]

You could cut those thin pieces to the same width and glue them together and make a nice cutting board

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Thanks for the tip

[@BobBob-eh5sb]

If you’re a woodturner then it looks like you have a lot of potential pen blanks. I’ve also seen guys glue a bunch of small pieces of different wood scraps together and turn them into bowls and things. They can be cut into different shapes on with epoxy resin can make a mosaic or stained glass looking piece. As you said some could be used as handles. I was a bit surprised at the bigger pieces you got, though I guess they can’t really sell them. I have bought a couple boxes from smaller wood sellers that none of the pieces were as big, but I think it was around $20 or so.

[@randymartin2396]

That black chunk loos like ebony

[@alanwright5437]

You bought 2 boxes of cutoffs and that's what you got. I don't think you can expect a lot of large pieces that they can sell separately.

[@vanislescotty]

If you look at some of her previous unboxing from Rockler, they aren't filled with the little dinky pieces. They were filled with the equivalent larger pieces that she found in this box. So I think it's reasonable to expect the same. But it was a good learning lesson. I was picturing what I might do with the much smaller pieces. I was thinking I might still go for a box inspite of what Skyler found.

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

Thanks Skyler; Not worth it to me, I bought 2 boxes from EFP after your last vid about what you got. I got some nice wood. I even made a vid about what I got.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

:thats awesome. Just watched your video, thank you

[@kendibben3179]

Seems a bit like a lucky dip, great video, very pleasing to the eye ❤

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Thank you 😁

[@thefilthelement]

Try ocooch hardwoods. They sell cutoffs of domestics and exotics

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

I just placed an order. Thank you

[@davedietz8726]

I prefer Ocooch Hardwoods.

[@fretless05]

Certainly was hit and miss regarding what you get in the boxes, but considering their prices, for the few good pieces you got, it still seems like a decent deal. It could be worth the risk. In the first box, I think the long waxy pieces were rosewood and the short one ebony... hard to say from a video.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

I scraped the wax off one of the long pieces with a card scraper and it definitely appears to be rosewood. The short one I am 99% sure is ebony. Thank you. Now I have to come out with a project to use them:)

[@user-ls8oi4ib1j]

Got a lathe? Lots of woodturning blanks in those boxes.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Unfortunately I dont but I know someone that does. Maybe I will just give it to her

[@stephenreed2345]

I believe the dark waxey wood is cocobola

[@Cabmaker]

I think the waxy wood is cocobolo

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

for turning a lot of this stuff is great. You can create all sorts of combined pieces.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Very true! But I dont have a lathe :(

[@janetpersons8030]

How do you know what wood it when you look at it.

[@jvmiller1995]

5:10 looks like leppard wood,

[@jessegomez697]

Sorry this batch wasn't what you were expecting ,next one will be better, we'll see

[@Mostviews111]

Use those small pieces for inlays

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Will do. Great idea. Thank you

[@stlwoodworking]

The one you kept sayting was pretty and you didn't know what it was and was light really looks like Spanish cedar

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Thank you

[@user-xr1rx6gl7r]

I'm going to start selling my scrap instead of throwing or giving it away.

[@DocMcTrussy]

One thing I am a bit confused about. You showed your receipt and it showed that you bought 2 boxes of exotic wood cutoffs and 2 boxes of birdseye/curly maple cutoffs, yet you seemed suprised when you open the maple box that it was all lighter colored wood (maple). Just curious, did you forget that you ordered maple aling with exotic cutoffs?

[@caroljohnson8817]

Waxy wood could be cocobolo.

[@0590don]

THAT IS ROSE WOOD

[@glynweir7906]

Yellow wood is probably yellow heart. The dark waxed wood might be bocote though hard to tell till the wax is removed

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

any advice on how to remove the wax?

[@glynweir7906]

@@woodworkingwithSkyler Would probably start with a simple paint scraper followed by a card scraper or smoothing plane

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

@@glynweir7906 will try that. Thank you

[@John-ms9tv]

Sorry it did not turn out well, I would be disappointed with it also. Though the purpleheart, which I really like, is nice.

[@jenda3322]

Skyler, jak dál budete toto dřevo spracovávat. Chtělo by to soustruh, asi jste očekávala něco lepšího,že.👍

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

I dont have a lathe unfurtunaly

[@tarz9386]

olive wood

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

The waxy dark one?

[@tarz9386]

YES I HAVE SOME I USE@@woodworkingwithSkyler

[@mightyV444]

Yes, a bit disappointing. I guess those smaller pieces would be great as kindling for the fireplace, in Winter.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

assuming they are not toxic. Some exotic woods smell terrible

[@mightyV444]

@@woodworkingwithSkyler - Ah, yes! True! But I was also half-joking, as it would be quite expensive kindling!

[@Mostviews111]

Bell forest products is local to me

[@kendibben3179]

Black wood could be ebony

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Thank you. I thought so too but wasnt sure

[@mikedarby4872]

Looks like two boxes of firewood, I expect you are disappointed, I think I would be..

[@JesHill]

Your dark wood might be Wenge?

[@richardmccann4815]

In your work, you should get exactly the boards you need or want. You will generate all the small pieces you can ever need by curting up decent boards.

[@user-rg6vy7nb1v]

I agree, poor amount of useful workable wood.

[@richardmccann4815]

If you were gluing up stuff, it still wouldn't be easy to come up with turning stock, due to the size variations, and I would notify the seller of my dissapointment. Not much value there. And ir looks like they got the order and made a box of each, rather than two mixed boxes.

[@nicholaskindred929]

Your right , not great.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

I know. Too bad because their lumber is really good and decent shipping price

[@Eeklex]

I think the worst of it is that they don’t identify any of the species, as I think at least one of your other box-o-wood suppliers did. Inexperienced as I am with hardwoods, that would drive me crazy.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

I agree

[@kendibben3179]

The waxy wood might be wenge

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Thanks

[@iguesi]

I tried purpleheart and gave up. Too much wear and tear on bits, blades and sandpaper. Interesting color, but not easy to work with for my little shop.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Sorry to hear that. Yes, not my favorite either. Too hard to sand

[@groverearp2600]

Hi Skyler, you have a good attitude even though you were clearly disappointed . Myself and many other loyal subscribers are already looking foreword to your next video. You're in Maine and I'm way down in the opposite corner of the US over 3,000 miles away . My shop has a roof and 3 walls , we enjoy mild weather here so it works for me. I'll ask again for a shop tour video.

[@davidatkinson3336]

One of your pieces looks like Pecky Cypress the one that looks rotten and holy very expensive wood.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Thank you

[@user-yf7lg4ib9t]

Wenge

[@franks122]

No, I'm not impressed. I would not support them.

[@woodworkingwithSkyler]

Their lumber is awesome with good shipping price but the cutoffs not so much

[@oupaswoodshop1325]

Not worth the money

[@Ricks2Cents]

*Nope!!! Not Worth it!!!*

[@robertjerome1889]

Wast of money..sorry

[@theguitarpicker]

Waxy wood = Redheart. Let me know when you figure it out if you can. TIA. Way too much purple heart. I always felt those boxes were best for beginners to practice with at a fair price. IMHO.