The Wonderful World of Wood:

Australian Blackwood:

  • "Acacia melanoxylon"

Other Names:

  • Black wattle.

Sources:

  • Mountainous regions of South and Eastern Australia.

Tree Characteristics:

  • A tree of moderate height, reaching 80ft with an average trunk diameter of about 5ft.

Characteristics of the wood:

  • Medium and even texture, with lustrous golden brown to dark brown colour.
  • Generally straight grained, but can be interlocked and wavy.
  • Selected wavy grain wood produces attractive fiddleback figure.
  • It is a strong wood, with good bending properties.
  • The heartwood is naturally durable and resistant to preservative treatment.

Workability:

  • The wood works well with hand and machine tools.
  • Straight grained wood can be brought to a fine finish, but irregular grain can be difficult.
  • It glues satisfactorily.

Average dried weight:

  • 41lb/cuft.

Finishing:

  • It stains well and produces a fine finish when polished.

Common uses:

  • Fine furniture.
  • High class interior fittings.
  • Joinery.
  • Turnery.
  • Decorative veneer.

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