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  1. #1
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    Default What Type of Grain Pattern is this

    The timber is WA Mulga. I would be grateful is someone could advise what this type of grain pattern is called. Its like bandsaw marks across the grain.
    Thanks in advance.
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    Experienced in removing the tree from the furniture

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  3. #2
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    The pattern running across the cathedrals are medullary (or medulla) rays, sometimes known as pith rays or vascular rays. In the live tree, they conduct nutrients from the centre pith of the tree to the periphery. While all trees have them, they are not always visible. One of the most common examples are found in oak.

  4. #3
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    I can't see bandsaw type marks in the image but that ripple effect might be called fiddleback?
    Franklin

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  6. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by RossM View Post
    The pattern running across the cathedrals are medullary (or medulla) rays, sometimes known as pith rays or vascular rays. In the live tree, they conduct nutrients from the centre pith of the tree to the periphery. While all trees have them, they are not always visible. One of the most common examples are found in oak.
    Ross, the medullary rays of Mulga are extremely fine & not normally visible to the naked eye. As Fuzzie & Elanajacobs sugest, that is more likely 'fiddleback' figure, which is caused by uneven growth in the cambium making 'ripples' in a longitutinal section. Some species, like River Red Gum produce this figure relatively commonly, others rarely, if ever. I have only seen fiddleback in Mulga once before, myself.....

    Cheers,
    IW

  7. #6
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    What I was thinking too.
    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by IanW View Post
    Ross, the medullary rays of Mulga are extremely fine & not normally visible to the naked eye. As Fuzzie & Elanajacobs sugest, that is more likely 'fiddleback' figure, which is caused by uneven growth in the cambium making 'ripples' in a longitutinal section. Some species, like River Red Gum produce this figure relatively commonly, others rarely, if ever. I have only seen fiddleback in Mulga once before, myself.....

    Cheers,
    Thanks Ian - I stand corrected.

  9. #8
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    Here is an example of fiddleback in a log of WA Mulga for comparison.
    It was cut 12 mths ago along a natural check in the wood, so heart is a bit messy. Face it coated to reduce changes and enhance appearance.

    WA Mulga.jpg

  10. #9
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    Wow Euge, that's the most spectacular Mulga I've ever seen! I've had a few pieces with some localised fine fiddleback, probably from near a crotch, but the majority of pieces I've had were very straight-grained. But I love even the straight stuff, it polishes so beautifully - makes the most tactile handles of all, even better than The traditional Rosewoods (Dalbergia spp., that is), I reckon...

    Cheers
    IW

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by IanW View Post
    Wow Euge, that's the most spectacular Mulga I've ever seen! I've had a few pieces with some localised fine fiddleback, probably from near a crotch, but the majority of pieces I've had were very straight-grained. But I love even the straight stuff, it polishes so beautifully - makes the most tactile handles of all, even better than The traditional Rosewoods (Dalbergia spp., that is), I reckon...

    Cheers
    As you say Ian, fiddleback figure is uncommon in Mulga. So, I was surprised and delighted when I cut this log, one I have had for years.

    The common "mulga" (Acacia aneura) may be split by western botanists into a number of subspecies / varieties as some have distinct morphologies eg a broad leaf and narrow leaf form. (From wood samples, both of these look identical.) Maybe the species has adapted to circumstances across the continent.

    Of course there are other different species called mulga eg horse mulga, hop mulga, red mulga, black mulga ... each is a distinct species ie not Acacia aneura, which is widespread over dry part of Australia. Their woods looks slightly different but I could not easily tell them apart. Some red mulga (also called minneritchie in east has beautiful figure, hard to describe, and a high luster.)

    I agree mulga as we know it and see it eg as milled boards, IS a beautiful wood even when unfigured. I love it even though I don't make items anymore.

    Cheers, Eugene

  12. #11
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    I'd call it fiddleback too, but sometimes you'll hear it called ripple grain, or wavy grain, or waterfall grain - bit of country of origin nomenclature, bit of marketing appeal.

    (Waterfall grain mostly refers to the process of making a grain flow continuously around a vertical corner but the marketing guys love "waterfall" in things like bubinga because "fiddleback" or "quilted" just don't sound as good when you're selling tables at $50k a pop.)

    It's a desirable thing and the visual appeal it gives commands a premium although excessive fiddle (or some other grain patterns) can be hard to dress because the grain wants to tear out rather than slice smoothly. In some species its more common than others, and the "depth" of the pattern can range from barely there like in the mulga to blatantly obvious in other species.

    IMG_20200504_163643.jpgIMG_20200506_160222.jpgimage.jpg

    Not detracting from the mulga guys but damn I'm spoilt.

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