Interesting grain

**Wizened of Oz** · 26th February 2013, 12:40 PM

Nice shaped turnings, dramatic grain, but a lot of "natural features".
Maybe not Silky Oak though. There are so many species across several related genera that have the medullary ray pattern that it is difficult to identify the species with only the wood.
The bark and the gnarly trunk shape look wrong for Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta). It usually grows with a quite regular trunk. Your timber may be Banksia. The only one of these I have used for timber is the Coastal Banksia. Its wood looks much like Southern Silky Oak, but lighter weight and softer and redder. And the grain pattern is bit more dramatic. All this makes me think you may have a piece of one of the Banksia species.

**robo hippy** · 1st March 2013, 07:28 AM

At first thought, I said oak, like the acorn types. The medullary rays are spectacular. It doesn't look red enough to be the silky oak/lace wood, from the few pieces I have seen, and the flecking isn't big enough. Possibly sycamore or London plane tree, which some call lace wood.

How did it turn? Splintery? Which is how I think of silky oak. Hard? Like most of the acorn oaks, but not as hard as some of your down under woods. Soft? Like most of the sycamore I have turned, which is a soft maple.

robo hippy

**torchwood** · 2nd March 2013, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by robo hippy

At first thought, I said oak, like the acorn types. The medullary rays are spectacular. It doesn't look red enough to be the silky oak/lace wood, from the few pieces I have seen, and the flecking isn't big enough. Possibly sycamore or London plane tree, which some call lace wood.

How did it turn? Splintery? Which is how I think of silky oak. Hard? Like most of the acorn oaks, but not as hard as some of your down under woods. Soft? Like most of the sycamore I have turned, which is a soft maple.

robo hippy

Hi robo, it did look very red when I first split the log, it wasn’t hard to turn, but it was a bit splintery.

**Barden Koenig** · 8th March 2013, 05:53 AM

It shares qualities with our red elm, but I'm sure that's not helpful

**Trent The Thief** · 8th March 2013, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by hughie

put it in the freezer for a few days at below zero

works a treat

Originally Posted by TTIT

I concur!

I wish that worked here. If I try that, the little buggers just snooze until it warms up

**Mobyturns** · 8th March 2013, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by powderpost

Agreed.... Southern silky oak or Grevillea robusta
Jim

I would agree, southern silky oak (Grevillea robusta) or certainly another grevillea. Did it have a natural slightly waxy feel to it?

**ogato** · 8th March 2013, 10:08 AM

I'd be inclined to go with Wizened's post - Banksia. Very wize in regards to local trees/timber.

I picked up a couple of bits of banksia from the local dump on the weekend, very similar in appearance to your vase.

**torchwood** · 8th March 2013, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

I would agree, southern silky oak (Grevillea robusta) or certainly another grevillea. Did it have a natural slightly waxy feel to it?

Not sure Moby, but it was nice to turn

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