Fiddleback

[Hartley]

I decided to shift this from the 'GENERAL' category to here, it seems more appropriate.

To all you woodies with a bit of botanical knowledge.
In most cases I have some idea on what causes the various interesting characteristics we see in wood, but I have not found anyone who can explain what happens in the growth of a tree to cause the 'fiddleback' character in timber.

Someone must know. ?????????
Someone must know. ?????????

[namtrak]

Gidday Hartley, Fiddleback is a great feature and I am sure some of the wizzes here can tell you what it is.

Cheers

[DanP]

They haven't for the last six years, what makes you think they will now?

[barryr]

compression from the weight of the trees mass on the trunk ? does it really matter ... so long as it looks cool !

[namtrak]

They haven't for the last six years, what makes you think they will now?


Too good for me, thought I might be able to sneak an old one through with everyone preoccupied with the WWS

;)

[Ianab]

Stress in the tree is a common cause... but it's not allways obvious.
Read a while back about a guy experimenting with bending saplings over for a year... to stress them... then straightening them again to grow as a normal tree.
Once the wavy grain was established in the tree it grew the same pattern each year.
Dont know if that helps but I've found figure mostly in leaners and around large branches where there is lots of stress involved. Of course that also means hard to fell in one piece / hard to saw / hard to dry.. but worth it if you can make it work :)

Ian

[slabman]

Fiddleback is a feature of regular pattern caused by compression of timber fibers. It is one expression of the stresses a tree experiences as it grows.

Weight is a common source of compression and a stout large tree such as River Red Gum can exhibit marked compression on all sides of the truck.
<O:p</O:p
You will also find compression marks under heavy branches where the tree grows cells in a compressed space to counter the weight.<O:p</O:p

It will also occur where trees are regularly subject to a strong prevailing wind or grow on steep slopes for example. These forms of compression often result in tension on the opposite side of the truck where the fibers are literally stretched. Boards cut from this section of the tree are more prone to bowing when cut as the stresses are relieved.<O:p</O:p

Its worth a stroll in the forest to check for horizontal ripples in the truck of the tree. This is often a sign that compression marks and probably fiddle back is to found under the surface.

[zenwood]

Nice examples here:

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/_fiddleback.htm

But it seems the botanical cause of the grain pattern is a bit of a mystery. For example:

"Modern botany and science still cannot adequately account for what exactly causes the visually-stunning figuring in Fiddleback Maple"
and

"Fiddleback figuring is not to be confused with "compression grain" or "stress grain" found where roots merge into the bole and also on the underside of large limbs"
(see http://www.spectrumhardwoods.com/products/). I suppose your aim would be to examine a tree to detect the presence of fiddleback before felling. Maybe a timber miller could help.

[Tasman]

Out of interest we found a blackwood trunk in the forestry burning wind rows and slabbed it and has been said it was a crooked trunk like a lazy S.
Here is a pic of the fiddleback close up and a slab to show the shape of the trunk.........

Reguards Tasman

[Auld Bassoon]

Out of interest we found a blackwood trunk in the forestry burning wind rows and slabbed it and has been said it was a crooked trunk like a lazy S.
Here is a pic of the fiddleback close up and a slab to show the shape of the trunk.........

Reguards Tasman

Hi Tasman!

Wow! Imagine that (if large enough, even in several bookmatched boards) on the top of a dining table!

I want some, dribble, dribblehttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon11.gif

Cheers!

[E. maculata]

Genetics, sorta like freckles :)