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Thread: Pink Tamarind
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24th April 2014, 02:01 PM #1Senior Member
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Pink Tamarind
Has anyone had experience using pink tamarind (Jagera pseudorhus), a small hardwood rainforest tree from northern NSW and Qld for cabinet work. Bootle's book says its straight grained and easy to work, but both wood and bark have saponins which foam in water. As an aside I'm told aboriginal people used this property as a toxin to stun river fish. A neighbour has offered me a recently dead tree, about 40cm dbh in size, which I need to remove and mill, but am just not sure if its worth the effort? Thanks.
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24th April 2014, 03:34 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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Can't talk about the timber but would suggest you wear a dustmask when sawing it in any case; I've sawn a couple of species regarded as "fish poison", and tend to be numb around the tongue and mouth for a day or so after cutting them. No worse then a trip to the dentist I suppose but it might have longer term effects if you were to cut a lot of it.
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24th April 2014, 09:09 PM #3
At first I was thinking ferny-tamarind (Sarcotoechia serrata), a well protected rainforest species. One site I viewed says your tree wood is suitable for tool handles and is a tree to 30m with 50cm dbh. So you probably have a fairly mature specimen.
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24th April 2014, 10:12 PM #4
I'd say worth it. The whiter Tamarind is good, the pink even better. I've seen a beautiful small fluted vase thingy made from a branch only 50mm dia and it was gorgeous
Neil____________________________________________Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new
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24th April 2014, 11:08 PM #5GOLD MEMBER
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I'm familiar with the living tree and its distinctive fruit but not the wood. Saponins can stun fish by reducing oxygen levels -- not necessarily a poison, but the name suggests caution for allergens. Morris Lake (2006) "Australian trees and shrubs - common and scientific names and toxic properties" does not mention the species as being toxic. I would say it is definitely worth felling and milling. Put some on the forum for sale, I'll bid for some! Always willing to try a new timber.
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