Thread: Veritas vs Lie Nielsen vs HNT Gordon Spokeshaves

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

I told him I wanted a set of three with matching handles. He gave me a few options including Gidgee, Mulga, False Sandalwood, White Malee Burl, Buloke, and Ebony. Ebony, being unnastrayan, was out

AUSTRALIAN EBONY (Diospyros ferrea & varieties)

It is found in Northern Australia. Rare.
True ebony, some jet black black, sometimes with pale or cream streaks, very fine grain.
Hard (like mesquite), splits easy and needs care in handling like any ebony.
Finishes beautifully with oils or surface finishes. Too fine to accept polymer filling or other stabilizing agents.
Weighs 78 lbs per cubic foot.

NOTE: There are other species called Ebony, but not Diospyros which is the Genus of the true Ebony. Not all ebonies have black heartwoods!

Ref: http://ajh-knives.com/xylo-2.html#a-wood-24

Originally Posted by ian

AUSTRALIAN EBONY[I] (Diospyros ferrea & varieties)

It is found in Northern Australia. Rare.

Well, it's true there are a couple of Diospyros species (and many others!) that managed to sneak down from Asia during periods when sea levels were low, but they are johnny-come-latelys, & don't belong to our 'old' Gondwana flora.

The Allocasaurinas are truly 'Ostrayan', and unique - they have a family all to themselves. In a 'reverse invasion', one has managed to cross Wallace's line & sneak into Asia, but unlike some of our other 'old' flora like Nothofagus, the proteaceae, & acacias we don't have to share our she-oaks with the other southern continents. This genus is definitely ours, so Luke, you've got yourself a truly ocker wood there, mate!

Cheers,