materials for deadeyes, and lanyard question

[newbflat]

Real!! Lignum Vitae is an endangered wood these days and very hard to get. There is this guy if you must have the real thing. http://www.lignum-vitae.com .... he has more than his fare share and meeds to give me some!!!!!
As for substitutes there is "Vera" which is very similar to Lignum Vitae and can be hard to tell apart when old..... when new its very green... lignum has more brown in it. Its nearly as hard and heavy and is also very homogenous, smooth and slipery. In fact 90+ percent of what i see being sold as Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum Officinale) is really Vera also known as Maracaibo Lignum Vitae (Bulnesia Arboria). Functionally i don't think there is much difference in usage for things like deadeyes. For applications were the inherent lubrication quality of Ligunam Vitae are desirable such as lubrication free bearings (prop shaft and such) there is no substitute. There is a another wood that is readily available and cheep..ish......."Ipe".... Its very hard!, tough, and lasts forever with no treatment. Think of it as kinda a cross between Lignum Vitae and Teak.... kinda.....and kinda similar to Iron bark. Nearly as hard as lignum and weathers like Teak. Not as slippery as Lignum or Vira but a lot more so that Oak!. Its available threw lot of lumber yards as a new type of decking... At times its given the catch all phrase of "iron wood decking". It comes in common sizes 1x4,1x6, 2x4, 2x6, 4x4...ect. It surface checks a little but stays structurally sound. I have used it as a Teak replacement for a number of years were weight is not an issue (don't drop it in the water without some scuba gear handy!) and love it. Im putting guards on my boat of the stuff this weekend. Personally i don't like Purplehart.... It (for me at least) has had a very bad habit of hiding fatal checks. I once spent 2 days working on a Purplehart stem only to have it fall in half. The check/crack was invisible and the two pieces would mate together again perfectly with an invisible seam. This is not the first time this has happened to me or other people i know. The wood is stiff and strong but brittle. I think when these things hit the ground they acquire some shock checks(there is a name for it , just cant remember..)...I don't trust the stuff anymore.. my two cents!.......... As for your lanyard leads... i don't have a clue.

Bill....
Seattle....