I just got off the phone with Andres Rogge’s shop where I’ve had my pipes on order for a while. They haven’t started on mine yet so we got talking about different woods to use. I tend to like unusual things so I brought up Pink Ivory or Purpleheart. I like the look of both of them but we weren’t sure if it would be a good wood to use for UP. They seem nice and dense and I know that there are some whistles made out of those kinds of wood. The questions I would have are whether or not either wood would have a tendancy to go bananna after a while or if they would be likely to have a good sound. Does anyone have any idea? thanks.
As I understand it, purple heart doesn’t turn purple, till it sits in the sun a long while. until then it’s usually brown. Or maybe I have that mixed up, and it’s the other way around. I dunno. I’m only a piper man…WHADDAYA WANT!!! 
Check with Rogge and see what he thinks…
B~
Paul,
What are you getting?
Practice, half, fullset?
and what was the wood originally?
I tend to like brass with light colored woods.
(though my blackwood & nickel gets more comments)
Rogge has some good examples on his website.
Tony, my standing order has been for a Cocobolo full set in the traditional style with all block mounted keys on the regulators and sterling silver for all the metal and bone mounts. I like the look of silver next to brown or red color wood.
This is where I got the idea:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=8042&highlight=pink+ivory
I favor my O’Grady cocobolo chanter over the others
for a mellow sound.
Andreas told me that cocobolo would have a more mellow sound. That was a big reason I chose it.
I think you have your answer.
Personally, I’d want to try plumwood but I think
(don’t know for sure) it may be less stable than
cocobolo.
Fewer pipemakers are willing to work in cocobolo
because of allergies they have developed from the
wood dust
If Rogge will do it, you’ll end up with a great set!
…
Davey Stephenson, if you’re listening, can you give us a run down of your experiences with Pink Ivory as a wood choice for instrument making? It’s a very attractive wood and looks terrific with imitation ivory and either silver or brass.
Isn’t Nollaig McCarthaigh’s D set made of Pink Ivory? Perhaps it’s a stained fruitwood. Just wondering.
Hi Pat
Pink ivory wood is a superb timber for making pipes, it has a similar tone to African Blackwood but without the resin content, I have had no problems with it warping as it seasons quite quickly, in all its a very hard timber, I love it, but its hard to find the real deep red flamed heart wood, if you know where there is some I will take a few billets off you.
As far as I know Nollaig’s full set was made by Peter Hnter from fumed English boxwood, he may have another now but I’m not sure.
Davy.
Are there other names for “Pink Ivory” ?
Red Ivorywood, Umnini, Umgoloti. http://african-hardwoods.com/pinkivory/
Thanks, Davy. Sorry I don’t have any billets of seasoned Pink Ivory heartwood laying around. It surely is a beautiful timber, too bad it’s not available commercially.
Davy,
this is correct, however he now uses an Andreas Rogge chanter with the Hunter set,
regards,
Mark.
Well, the decision’s made. I told them to go ahead with the cocobolo. In the end was just too complicated for me to go up and select and buy and send the pink ivory to Germany. I’m too busy these days. Thanks for all the responses. Maybe somebody will make one some day. Maybe I will flat set made of it later on.
Maybe I will flat set made of it later on.[/quote]
That would be a truly elegant and beautiful instrument. If your’re gonna go to that expense, you might as well drop the other shoe and get sterling metalwork and a far-out regulator configuation 
Sounds good to me, Pat. Good lord. I’m already planning my second set before I get my first. 
What’ll I tell my wife? I got a good one from the whislte board. “well, it could be boats.” 
-Paul
…
Paul wrote:
Well, the decision’s made. I told them to go ahead with the cocobolo.
Paul you will not be dissapointed with the tone of Cocobolo, I think it has the edge over the pink stuff, a nice warm sound it has, best.
Davy.
Am I really the only one to find pink ivory sets extremely ugly? 