Thread: Raspberry Jam vs. Strawberry Jam.

Originally Posted by AJS

New member here, I don't have any previous woodworking experience, but am looking to start making custom wood scales for straight razors that I restore. Anyhow, Australian woods hold a lot of interest for me, but I'm finding it difficult to get a lot of detailed information, I was doing a search for information on Raspberry Jam wood and in the course of my search came upon a wood known as Strawberry Jam. I would like to know if these are just different common names for acacia acuminata (sp?) or if they are different species.
Kind regards,
Alex

acacia acuminata definitely smells like raspberry (not strawberry) jam although some people get them confused. I have never heard of two different species with specific names of straw- nd rasp- berry jam. Some types of sycamores were said to smell like strawberry when hot and wet.

Thankyou for the reply.
The references to Strawberry Jam that I found were on this forum actually. Rereading them I think that Raspberry and Strawberry Jam are one and the same.
However, in this thread http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ght=strawberry the fourth post down seems to treat them as different species.
Kind regards,
Alex

Pretty certain in saying that there is no timber called Strawberry Jam. Raspberry Jam (acacia acuminata) you have identified and its easy enough to imagine the names getting mixed up.

Just got hold of some Raspberry Jam to make some pen blanks. Nice looking timber.

Whilst we're on the subject of Raspberry Jam, I'd like to ask just how difficult it is to work. I've read that it is a very hard wood, so would it be possible to cut it using hand tools? I have a Coping Saw and a Bow Saw (the one sold by ToolsforWorkingWood.com) would I need to buy a Band Saw to cope with Raspberry Jam?
Kind regards,
Alex

I wouldn't say that Raspberry Jam is particularly hard. Hard, yes, but not enough to present major problems.

Also, I've found that hand-tools work well with the harder woods, although more slowly of course.

Power tools, on the other hand, blunt quickly because (for some strange reason ) we tend to try to feed the wood at the "normal" rate instead of the "correct," slower rate.

Originally Posted by AJS

Whilst we're on the subject of Raspberry Jam, I'd like to ask just how difficult it is to work. I've read that it is a very hard wood, so would it be possible to cut it using hand tools? I have a Coping Saw and a Bow Saw (the one sold by ToolsforWorkingWood.com) would I need to buy a Band Saw to cope with Raspberry Jam?

Hand tools will work fine, just slower. Like skewy says, assuming you start with sharp tool just don't expect to do things at the same rate and expect to sharpen a bit more often. Start with blunt cheap tools and you probably won't go anywhere.

Once again thankyou for the replies.
One final request, does anyone have some pictures they could post of any finished pieces of Raspberry Jam they may have. I have searched this forum and found some nice pictures, but am always interested in more to get as much information as possible. I'm particularly interested in what people consider figured Raspberry Jam vs. "plain" Raspberry Jam. I have seen some pieces with a nice fiddleback labelled as "figured" but they don't seem to have the same depth and colour as those I've seen that aren't sold as figured.
Also, what would be a reasonable price for a Exhibition Grade Scale Blanks that are approximately 6" x 2" by a 1/4" or less, thick?
Kind regards,
Alex

I have a Raspberry Jam pen blank that I turned to a dowel. Use it occasionally
to sand a bit back for the sake of the disbelieving.

Originally Posted by AJS

Also, what would be a reasonable price for a Exhibition Grade Scale Blanks that are approximately 6" x 2" by a 1/4" or less, thick?

Of Raspberry Jam? I happily paid AUS$25 the pair for my last lot and thought 'twas a bargain. Keep in mind that here in Oz it's... well... not common, but "readily available."

I've no idea what it'd be worth in the UK.

There's a guy here in Western Australia that supplies native timber knife blocks and scales. Jam is not listed on his site, but I'm sure he'd either have it or could get it.

http://www.knivesaustralia.com.au/su...html#Aust-wood

Originally Posted by AJS

Once again thankyou for the replies.
One final request, does anyone have some pictures they could post of any finished pieces of Raspberry Jam they may have.............

Egg no.102 here. I did a lidded box once that now lives in Ballarat - I'll see if I can find the pics when I get home tonight.

Originally Posted by TTIT

Egg no.102 here. I did a lidded box once that now lives in Ballarat - I'll see if I can find the pics when I get home tonight.

Thanks for the link. I have been to your site before and found it very helpful, there are precious few pictorial guides to Australian Woods so it was good to see some of the timbers that I had been reading about.
Completely off-topic, but could you possibly give me some information about the Cocaine Bush on your site, like origin and general availability.
Kindest regards,
Alex

I have a Strawberry Tree growing in the garden. I have been told it hales from Ireland and has the botanical name Arbutum Unedi or Arbutus. Excuse the spelling. The wood feels very heavy / dense, and I have been told makes for very nice timber.

Originally Posted by AJS

..............Completely off-topic, but could you possibly give me some information about the Cocaine Bush on your site, like origin and general availability.
Kindest regards,
Alex

As soon as I find a new (bigger) home for my website there is a page ready to go on the Cocaine bush.
Origin - native to Queensland and Northern NSW, usually found as understory to Inland Rosewood around here. Very difficult to find in useable size as the white-ants love it too.
Availability - ME! I've never heard of anyone else trying it out or even finding it in the sizes I have. Amazing stuff - close grained but not too heavy, very pretty colours, turns and smells beautiful and is the oiliest timber I have ever turned - bar none! Would make great bearings but makes it crappy to sand.
Most interesting bit is that even though it is native to NSW, it is illegal to posess or propagate it there Bureaucrats eh! It was banned along with the rest of the erythroxylum species just because cocaine is derived from one of them.