Restoring a bench seat

**ROWLAD** · 31st December 2012, 05:43 PM

My wife has inherited two bench seats (see one example in the first attached image) which she would like me to restore. I'm wondering what wood they might have been made of. The second bench had been painted innumerable times and, after dismantling and considerable sanding, one of the boards looks like this (second image).

They were made in Toowoomba in the 1920s for two young sisters by their great-uncle, so the value is essentially sentimental. They appear to have been treated with a dark shellac-like coating but the timber underneath is rather paler. Any good guesses as to what sort of timber would have been available in Toowoomba for such a purpose in the 1920s? Also, does this style of bench seat have a name?

Grateful for any comments.

**AlexS** · 31st December 2012, 05:46 PM

If it's fairly light in weight, it may be kauri, which was (& is) often used for furniture.

**ROWLAD** · 31st December 2012, 05:59 PM

I immediately rushed off to estimate the density of the timber (only kitchen scales, ruler etc to work with) and it comes out at 600 kg/cubic metre (plus or minus a good ten per cent!). (which would be about right for Queensland Kauri, as far as I can find out from a quick look online).

Thanks, Alex.

**artme** · 1st January 2013, 10:47 AM

Nice timber whatever it is!!

I can't see anything there in the photo but Kauri often has reddish tinges in the grain.

I wonder if it might be White Beech, although it is usually much paler.

**AlexS** · 2nd January 2013, 06:54 PM

I think it looks more like kauri than WB. Kauri varies quite a bit in colour, from almost white through to reddish yellow. I've seen kauri used in wide boards like that because it seems to be very stable.

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