Thread: Where did all the colour go? DEAD FINISH / RED LANCEWOOD

Bloomin' common names, Euge! I've only ever seen Archidendropsis called 'Dead finish', before, and "lancewood" as the common name for Acacia shirleyi. I guess the distinction is the 'red' part, you can hardly describe A. shirleyi as red: Lancewood.jpg

OTH, Archidendropsis isn't all that red either - 'tis a bit when first opened up, like your example above, but as in your pics above, the colours of the freshly-worked wood soon subside to more muted brownish hues. The DF gauge on the right has just been finished, the one on the left has been sitting around for a few months: DF mortise Gs a.jpg

Rather like what you just demonstrated?

So many woods don't hold their fresh colours for long, in fact you could say very few do, & those are mostly the bland, near-white ones. Pity!

Cheers,

Bloomin' common names, Euge! I've only ever seen Archidendropsis called 'Dead finish', before, and "lancewood" as the common name for Acacia shirleyi.

Names:

Yes Ian, using common names is often problematic. BUT most woodworkers prefer them. But as you know, a common name can apply to a few species, which can sometimes be VERY different. "Dead Finish" is applied to a few species incuding this one. "Red Lancewood" should be preferred because it much more specific. (I suspect the popularity of the other name leads to its use and appeal to buyers)

"Lancewood" and "Ironwood" (edit: also "Oak," and "Rosewood") are names commonly used but mean almost nothing unless locality or pics are provided as clues to identity.

Acacia shirleyi is called Lancewood (although this is applied to quite a few other species). I prefer Shirleys's Lancewood for this species.

Cheers, Euge

PS: beautiful gauges Ian showing fresh red wood and changes to brown after some light exposure.