Easiest to work with hand tools. American Walnut or Iroko?

[Bod]

As per the title.
I will be using it to make drawer fronts, for the inner till in a tool chest.
I will probably be buying a thick plank, then working down using hand tools, hopeing my small bandsaw will co-operate at it's max depth for resawing, otherwise, it's out with the 4 1/2 tooth 28 inch Buck ripsaw!(very old, but still good. Buck of London, before Buck & Hickman)

Thanks
Bod

 

[Beau]

American Black Walnut by a country mile.

 

[custard]

No argument, walnut every time.

Incidentally, I'm not that far from you (Hampshire south coast), so if you get stuck you're welcome to bring your wood to my workshop for re-sawing, actually I'm sure I could sort you out some nice walnut for a tool chest till.

Good luck!

 

[RobinBHM]

I wouldnt attempt resawing iroko into thin boards, you are likely to end up with severely misshapen pieces only suitable for the fire -iroko boards often have a lot of tension in them (I dont know whether this is caused by harsh kilning or a problem inherent in the timber).

Walnut on the other hand is generally a lovely timber to work with.

 

[CHJ]

Walnut looks an order of magnitude more classy and considerably less likely to cause any allergy reactions when working, which Iroko is very prone to do.

 

[Klaus Kretschmar]

I've worked Iroko for outdoor furniture quite a few boards. In this regard it shines. Nearly as good as Teak. But that's all, that I can talk good about this wood. It's not a fun to work with since it dulls the tool edges very quickly, it is difficult to finish and aside of it's rather boring look (little figure, ugly colour) it's open grained and it is hard to get filled the pores. The biggest downside is it's hard allergic attack (at least to me). If there's a chance to do the job with another wood, I'd always go with another one. Walnut is so much easier to work and so much more beautiful once it's finished.

Klaus

 

[JimB]

One more for black walnut.

 

[Bod]

Thanks all.
Walnut it is!
Custard, many thanks for the offer, I've sent a pm.

Bod

 

[custard]

Bod, here's a photo of some walnut from the scrap bin, all four boards are 860mm x 155mm, the two on the left are 10mm, the two on the right are 12mm. If you want them and can collect then you're welcome, otherwise they'll go on the firewood pile. By the way, these are English walnut not American, but they're fairly dark and would match up reasonably well with either English or American.