Thread: West Australian Grass Tree

Peter Mate you are going to be busy. That just teasing. I got some qld grass trees in the front yard. I must chop it up. Very nice indeed
Toni

Hello Peter, they look very fibrous, wonder what they will be like to turn? Amos

If by West Australian Grass Tree, you mean Blackboy, then it will be very dusty. The grain is radial so you are turning end grain all the way around. You end up in a cloud of dust.

Finishes nicely though I believe.

There is also the never ending discussion about how protected these are, but if you search you'll find much many opinions about that.

Rookie is correct in saying about the different ways to protect yourself, they vary from person to person. Do protect yourself though, the dust that these blanks generate are so fine. The finished product is spectacular once completed. Good haul Peter and stop teasing, no fair.

Enjoy them mate.
Darren

G'Day Peter

Looks like sticks of corfu or somesuch food, looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Cheers
Bernie

G'day Peter,
All I can say to that is wow, wow, wow. Incredible piece of wood that is going to make some pen kits very happy.


Cheers,

Rick

very nice never seen them in that color

Have a look on the IAP site and check out the detail of the Tree on the web site provided from there that says that colour etc is restricted to one variety,shows a full plant sliced thru the boll,same colour,scroll your piece in the mail will get to you in a few days. Peter

what a fascinating looking "wood"? Must be pretty old?

Pete, mate!

As discussed at our Pen SIG - is your wood from Xanthorrhoea (once known very politically incorrectly as "Blackboy"), or Richea pandanifolia (Giant Grass Tree)?

The Grass Tree vase I was given is definitely Xanthorrhoea, and is a quite dark red/brown colour, as opposed to the almost yellow you mentioned for your wood. Sorry about the piccies - they were quick & dirty, so as to get them into this post.

Here's a piccie of a live Richea - the source says it is native to Southwest Tasmania, so I guess it depends where your wood came from originally .....

Originally Posted by Tornatus

Pete, mate!

As discussed at our Pen SIG - is your wood from Xanthorrhoea (once known very politically incorrectly as "Blackboy&quot, or Richea pandanifolia (Giant Grass Tree)?

The Grass Tree vase I was given is definitely Xanthorrhoea, and is a quite dark red/brown colour, as opposed to the almost yellow you mentioned for your wood. Sorry about the piccies - they were quick & dirty, so as to get them into this post.

Sorry for my lack of computer skills but as I did say check the IAP site and my info came from Jack De Vos a WA expert who also turns wood,for interest look up http://jackdevos.com/grasstree_info.cgi ,It shows a boll cut displaying the bright yellow in the slice,incredible,the colour mutes when exposed for a while or mine has.The life span quoted as 600 yrs is incredible so yes Tas my piece could be hundreds of years old. Regards Peter

Peter,

I'm partial to the 2nd blank wth the crack. Anxious to see how they ALL turn out.

Rance

Very nice Peter

Looking forward to seeing them as a finished pen. they look like they will be great