australian timbers

[weisyboy]

what is a good readily avalible dark timber that is sutible for bowls.

i have camphor, white and red cedar, silky oak, pine and jacaranda these are all verry light and i am looking for sompthing to give my work a bit more variety.

[LuckyDuck]

G'day mate:

Have you thought about Jarrah? Although it is probably not a first choice for some turners, I find Jarrah turns up beautifully. Yes, it is hard, but with sharp chisels, its a viable option. Regards LuckyDuck

[ss_11000]

i dont know if they are aussie timbers but they are dark:

lance wood
western rosewood

[cedar n silky]

Don't forget the wattles. Especially sally wattle. Pretty local to Brizzy and common on the North coast. Figurative and dark!:D

[hughie]

Have you tried Red Gum? its dark, moves around abit as it drys but other wise it ok. hughie

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Red gum also usually darkens further with an oil finish.

[CameronPotter]

Sassafras can be quite dark, but the dark stuff is usually highly figured (and thus expensive). Lovely wood to turn though.

I also like jarrah too.

[reeves]

in general terms try some of the eucylypts bluegum, bloodwood etc...
dark blackwood, Aussie red cedar the older stuff...various ebonies.....

Qld blackwood is pretty dark...
camphor heartwood is pretty dark...
spme rosewood is quite dark....

then go to Mulga, gidgee,brigalow etc even river oak...
many acacias.....

jarah....black gum, black acacia, black wattle..

most woods darken when finsished...

boree, black ironbark...black mulga is pretty awesome....

also ebonising via flame looks cool sometimes..

let us know how u go

[skot]

weisyboy,
if you get a chance get along to "Watt's Wood & Mouldings" in Pentax St. Salisbury..they have a good display of samples on the wall showing the types of wood they can supply. They also have blanks for turners of different species of timber

[reeves]

watts sound sinteretsing have not checked em out yet..

in Brisbane Wistboy get out to Hurricane st in Banyo and check out lazarides....Timbers.expensive but good quality..

also Dave at St east Qld woodworking supplies now in Slacks Creek..

cheeeeeeeeers
john

[soundman]

ironbark.
almost anything with red or black in the name.
torialana.