Willy Nelson
5th February 2012, 10:59 PM
Good Evening ladies and Gentlemen
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit a huge shed (the most timber I have ever seen (apart from a mill and the forest, of course)).
This fellow was a furniture maker and getting out of the business, he is selling the lot. I picked up a good amount of Jarrah Burl at a price I was very happy with.
His parting gift was a segment of Snake Wood.
I knew of it, but have never turned any. It is extremely dense and heavy with beautiful red bark. The cut ends were dull grey with age.
Couldn't wait to get it home and through the bandsaw. The picures say it all. I have glued some up ready for pens. Can't wait
Oh yeah, try this Acacia xiphophylla (http://www.woodworkforums.com/wiki/Acacia_xiphophylla) (family Fabaceae (http://www.woodworkforums.com/wiki/Fabaceae)) in Australia
Sincerely
Willy
Jarrahland
(also inhabitated by Snakewood)
Further reading
Snakewood
Acacia xiphophylla
http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/assets/images/plantations/species/36_Snakewood_Acacia_xiphophylla/acacia_xiphophylla-01-small.gif (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/assets/images/plantations/species/36_Snakewood_Acacia_xiphophylla/acacia_xiphophylla-01-large.gif)
http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/assets/images/plantations/species/36_Snakewood_Acacia_xiphophylla/acacia_xiphophylla-02-small.gif (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/assets/images/plantations/species/36_Snakewood_Acacia_xiphophylla/acacia_xiphophylla-02-large.gif)
Snakewood is a large bush, or a small tree with numerous spreading branches growing to about 5 m tall and 7 m wide. It often has two or three twisted trunks with dark grey, rough bark. Commonly found in the southern Pilbara, Gascoyne and Murchison, in the drainage areas of the Gascoyne and Ashburton catchments.
Wood description [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#wooddescription)
Heartwood is a very dark brown with some darker grain and golden flecks, and sapwood is yellow. Timber is very hard and close-textured.
Wood density [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#wooddensity)
Air-dry density is about 1200 kg/m3.
Shrinkage [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#shrinkage)
Tangential and radial shrinkage are estimated as about 3.0 and 2.0 per cent respectively.
Workability [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#workability)-
Durability [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#durability)-
Strength group and properties [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#strength)
Green and dry strength groups are (S2) and (SD2). The brackets indicate conservative provisional ratings based on the air-dry density.
<TABLE class=stripeMe width="50%"><THEAD><TR class=alt><TH vAlign=top width="51%">
Property
</TH><TH vAlign=top width="13%">
Units
</TH><TH vAlign=top width="18%">
Green
</TH><TH vAlign=top width="18%">
Dry
</TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="51%">Modulus of Rupture
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="13%">MPa
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
86
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
130
</TD></TR><TR class=alt><TD vAlign=top width="51%">Modulus of Elasticity
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="13%">MPa
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
14200
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
18500
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="51%">Max Crushing Strength
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="13%">MPa
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
43
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
70
</TD></TR><TR class=alt><TD vAlign=top width="51%">Hardness
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="13%">KN
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
-
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
-
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Uses [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#uses)
Previous use was mainly as firewood in remote areas. The species is becoming increasingly popular for craft purposes because of its attractive appearance.
Availability [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#availability)
Limited availability because of the scattered nature of the resource.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit a huge shed (the most timber I have ever seen (apart from a mill and the forest, of course)).
This fellow was a furniture maker and getting out of the business, he is selling the lot. I picked up a good amount of Jarrah Burl at a price I was very happy with.
His parting gift was a segment of Snake Wood.
I knew of it, but have never turned any. It is extremely dense and heavy with beautiful red bark. The cut ends were dull grey with age.
Couldn't wait to get it home and through the bandsaw. The picures say it all. I have glued some up ready for pens. Can't wait
Oh yeah, try this Acacia xiphophylla (http://www.woodworkforums.com/wiki/Acacia_xiphophylla) (family Fabaceae (http://www.woodworkforums.com/wiki/Fabaceae)) in Australia
Sincerely
Willy
Jarrahland
(also inhabitated by Snakewood)
Further reading
Snakewood
Acacia xiphophylla
http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/assets/images/plantations/species/36_Snakewood_Acacia_xiphophylla/acacia_xiphophylla-01-small.gif (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/assets/images/plantations/species/36_Snakewood_Acacia_xiphophylla/acacia_xiphophylla-01-large.gif)
http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/assets/images/plantations/species/36_Snakewood_Acacia_xiphophylla/acacia_xiphophylla-02-small.gif (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/assets/images/plantations/species/36_Snakewood_Acacia_xiphophylla/acacia_xiphophylla-02-large.gif)
Snakewood is a large bush, or a small tree with numerous spreading branches growing to about 5 m tall and 7 m wide. It often has two or three twisted trunks with dark grey, rough bark. Commonly found in the southern Pilbara, Gascoyne and Murchison, in the drainage areas of the Gascoyne and Ashburton catchments.
Wood description [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#wooddescription)
Heartwood is a very dark brown with some darker grain and golden flecks, and sapwood is yellow. Timber is very hard and close-textured.
Wood density [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#wooddensity)
Air-dry density is about 1200 kg/m3.
Shrinkage [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#shrinkage)
Tangential and radial shrinkage are estimated as about 3.0 and 2.0 per cent respectively.
Workability [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#workability)-
Durability [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#durability)-
Strength group and properties [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#strength)
Green and dry strength groups are (S2) and (SD2). The brackets indicate conservative provisional ratings based on the air-dry density.
<TABLE class=stripeMe width="50%"><THEAD><TR class=alt><TH vAlign=top width="51%">
Property
</TH><TH vAlign=top width="13%">
Units
</TH><TH vAlign=top width="18%">
Green
</TH><TH vAlign=top width="18%">
Dry
</TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="51%">Modulus of Rupture
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="13%">MPa
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
86
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
130
</TD></TR><TR class=alt><TD vAlign=top width="51%">Modulus of Elasticity
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="13%">MPa
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
14200
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
18500
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="51%">Max Crushing Strength
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="13%">MPa
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
43
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
70
</TD></TR><TR class=alt><TD vAlign=top width="51%">Hardness
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="13%">KN
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
-
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="18%">
-
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Uses [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#uses)
Previous use was mainly as firewood in remote areas. The species is becoming increasingly popular for craft purposes because of its attractive appearance.
Availability [more info] (http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/content_migration/plantations/species/species_notes.aspx#availability)
Limited availability because of the scattered nature of the resource.