but then you cut it up and used it in something, too? :)
Great intentions. I am a novice, but already I have stockpile items that I have no idea of the provenance of but nothing super-special so I'm not stressed by it :)
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Hi Luke, good to hear from you. :) When I raised this subject it was meant to inform / clarify what I knew about "dead finish” ie not to question any one identity. It was more a rhetorical question, inviting comment from members on my suggestions and descriptions.
It arose after being asked "is this dead finish?” or seen a wood object labelled "dead finish" but then assigned a wrong botanical name. So assigning the correct botanical name requires correct identity and that does not come (unambiguously) from a common name, not without more explanation. This arises because a common name can be attributable to a number of very different species. Most know this now but it remains the cause of constant confusion. The IWCS booklet (Australian Trees and Shrubs) shows the many, many names applied to Australian woody plants.
True, locals usually know their trees by local common names. But when wood is moved about from one state to another or country to another and different species are given the same name (eg “dead finish”, lancewood, rosewood, walnut, ironwood etc), the question can validly be asked ….. which one is it? Common names are often region specific and the best answer is… "it comes from this area and looks like this".... Some names are corruptions of aboriginal names (eg Boonry become boonery in common practice).
Your imagined description Luke about how the name "dead finish” arose seems plausable. Thanks.
My own interest is more in the physical properties of wood rather that the origin of common names. This results in studying the correct taxonomic, botanical and chemical nature of wood requiring the correct application of names (ie correct identity) to woods wherever possible. As I suggested the recommended name for A. basaltica is Red Lancewood. Not many woods called red lancewood so its more unique and less corruptible.
There is no one (real) dead finish. If the REAL "dead finish" was to be shown, it can't be attributable to one species because wood examples of each of the half dozen species could be shown. And they would all look different because they are different .... A basaltica would be one.
These are my views,
Cheers Euge
And just to add to the confusion, the Acacia tetragonophylla in WA is different to the one in Qld. The WA one more a twisted stumpy shrub with trunk only 3-4", where as the Qld one grows into a decent tree.
So which one do I have here?
Attachment 460333
A partial set of HNT Gordon shoulder planes. Dead finish, but which one? I bought them off a friend on the Forum. Some close ups.
Attachment 460334Attachment 460335Attachment 460336
Regards
Paul
Paul,
Archidenropsis basaltica , otherwise know as Red Lancewood (or confusingly, dead finish)
Never seen Acacia tetragonophylla as "decent tree" in Qld or elsewhere... always been a spreading shrub 2 - 4 m, twisted & multi-stemmed. Some occasionally small trees.
Then again (rarely) some shrubs or vines grow into trees
Here is a good link: Acacia tetragonophylla | Atlas of Living Australia
Pictures of A. Basaltica, Red Lancewood what I know as Dead FinishAttachment 460390Attachment 460391
As far as I know apparently the aboriginals were 'heard' to say that '' if that tree die, him white man, dead, finish". Attachment 460392Attachment 460393
The beeswing figure on the q'sawn face is beautiful.
Pictures of A. peuce, Purple Gidgee aka WaddywoodAttachment 460401Attachment 460400Attachment 460399Attachment 460398Attachment 460402
I can only differentiate it from A. crombei because the last piece shows me the tree grew to around 12" diam.
Cant see the connection with these pics of "gidgee" with the topic (Dead Finsh) CD.
Neither do they look like Waddywood (A peuce) or Purple or Pink Gidgee (A. crombei) to me. Both these grow to med size trees (ie 12 in diam stems) but are quite different trees and neither is called dead finish.
The earlier pic of dead finish / red lancewood with beeswing figure looks right though. Thanks for sharing :)
Here are some pics requested
Attachment 460411 Attachment 460412 Attachment 460413
Unfinished to show approx features and colour. One on far right taken in sunlight, others in workshop. See descriptions above.
1. Above: Acacia tetragonophylla (3 from different parts of the country). Left WA (10 cm log) and right SA and Qld (from memory).
Attachment 460414
2. Above: Acacia carneorum with it bright purple heartwood is also called dead finish and has prickly phyllodes like the species above
3. The most familiar species Archidenropsis basaltica is shown by others as tool handles so wont post pics
Cheers Euge
Hi CD...
Here is what woods of Acacia peuce (left) and Acacia crombiei (right) look like....
Attachment 460419 Attachment 460420
Both from largish trees ...
Left the waddywood was VERY old, long dead and sapwood was all gone. It has a deep / dark purple heartwood
Right: the P Gidgee develops a a purple colour on exposure to light and is brighter in colour.
NOTE: Neither is called "Dead Finish" though
Both are exceedingly dense, hard, dryland species as most inland acacia of Australia are.
I disagree with that, there is a marked variation in the colour & grain of some of this stuff depending on where it grows.
None of the Archidendropsis basaltica that I collected west of Longreach was red, mostly brown with some pink/purple in it that fades after it has been cut.
The piece with the wild grain came from the same property but was collected on the side of a sandy ridge.
It was the largest solid tree that I have ever cut on the property.
Most of the other large ones have had the middle taken out by termites.
They continue to grow & thrive for years with a hollow centre.
The colour/grain/stripes in the termite damaged ones can be much more pronounced than the undamaged ones.
I still have some of that one with the wild grain, it is amazing to look at but is getting darker as it ages.
Other Australian native trees called lancewood are Acacia species.
IE; Acacia shirleyi, Acacia doratoxylon & Acacia crassicarpa.
Common names in general are misleading.
A past member here arranged to swap some timber with me several years ago, he wanted Archidendropsis basaltica because he thought it would be red, it wasn't, he was disappointed.