Blackwood is over rated.

**44Ronin** · 23rd April 2009, 04:15 PM

Blackwood varies from a golden brown to a chocolate brown. It also tends to have interesting streaks, and a reddish tint.

It can be plain grained but interesting with pieces that are sawn that reveal the radial surface of the log and blackwood has a lovely figure when sawn to reveal the tangential surface of the log. So you have nice straight grained varieties of blackwood and you have lovely wavy grained varieties of blackwood.

It's medium hard density.It's reliably hard. It's not necessarily a heavy wood, but it is solid, stable and dependable.

Because it looks good, similar to koa, it's in vogue as an alternative to koa.

Accoustically, it is a very popular timber because it sounds great in accoustic guitars and for stave drums. It makes for full bodied and warm sounding instruments. It looks great, a nice and warm aesthetic.

Like it or not, all in all, it's a classic timber that deserves its status. I think it's fantastic.

I cannot understand how someone could call it "boring".....the colour variation, the tint, the individual streaks on each piece.....makes it such a varied, interesting species.

**echnidna** · 23rd April 2009, 05:08 PM

The nicest blackwood seems to come from dead trees

**mic-d** · 23rd April 2009, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by echnidna

The nicest blackwood seems to come from dead trees

Yes, I get all my blackwood from dead trees, just as all my steaks come from dead beasts

Cheers
Michael

**Rattrap** · 23rd April 2009, 07:25 PM

Maybe i'm spoiled when it comes to blackwood, Tassie blackwood is some of the nicest of the strain i've seen.

**steck** · 23rd April 2009, 10:29 PM

Thanks to RSSER I've learned a new word today : Chatoyance.
And I've got to agree!
I love an interesting piece of blackwood.
I've got a couple of trees drying in my shed and a blackwood kitchen.

**springwater** · 23rd April 2009, 10:54 PM

Have to throw my heart into the ring for Blackwood. It can hold some fiery gold figure amongst its dark. Here's some from a bag I keep for a rainy day

Attachment 103131
Bit of blur, lots of flash, fresh from a bucket of water
Attachment 103132
Ah, a bit of blur but look...at...the...Blackwood, some with a bit of sap wood which borers love!
Attachment 103133
Sfumato sap wood nose

**Claw Hama** · 23rd April 2009, 11:21 PM

I think blackwood is one of the best timbers, similar to Australian Cedar but with a lot more interest. It has the most fantastic glow to it. Grain direction and inside or outside rings sometimes have a huge effect on the look and no doubt there is some plain stuff around too. Here are a few pieces I have used.

**thefixer** · 23rd April 2009, 11:38 PM

Are you serious? This is irony in its finest form. This very day I turned a bowl from some blackwood . This is just a leftover from a piece that is currently glued up and clamped ready for another masterpiece

This particular stock came from a dead tree that i felled myself at BILs place in Tolme. The trick with blackwood is to take 3 or 4 cuts and then visit the grinder

Tools must be very sharp at all times and take the last cut immediately after a visit to the grinder. Oh. and don't use scrapers on blackwood, sheer cuts only. I love turning this stuff. Once the technique is right it is fantastic to turn and sanding is kept to minimum.

I've included two pictures of the bowl and one of the curlies to show how important it is to keep your tool sharp. The whole job was done inside and outside with a 3/8" deep flute bowl gouge.

Cheers
Shorty

**KevM** · 23rd April 2009, 11:46 PM

Blackwood has an inner glow as you move around it, the depth and colour changes.

**tea lady** · 23rd April 2009, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by springwater

Have to throw my heart into the ring for Blackwood. It can hold some fiery gold figure amongst its dark. Here's some from a bag I keep for a rainy day

Attachment 103131
Bit of blur, lots of flash, fresh from a bucket of water
Attachment 103132
Ah, a bit of blur but look...at...the...Blackwood, some with a bit of sap wood which borers love!
Attachment 103133
Sfumato sap wood nose

So! Hearts coming along nicely then.

**tea lady** · 23rd April 2009, 11:58 PM

So apart from the lovely colours, the figure and the feel, what has Blackwood done for us?

I'd just spent the day struggling with quite a beautiful bowl. (If I don't say so myself.

) Twas a laminated bit cunningly disguised as an old grey lump is the "outside wood pile" at Knox Woodworkers Club. Did the ol' "Just a bit more off there" and have a big catch. But it still ended up pretty close to what I visualized. I guess now you want to see a pic. Sorry. Still have 'puter problems. So you'll have to imagine.

**BobL** · 24th April 2009, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by tea lady

So apart from the lovely colours, the figure and the feel, what has Blackwood done for us?

Don't forget the sound (it makes wonderful sounding guitar backs)

**BobL** · 24th April 2009, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by KevM

Blackwood has an inner glow as you move around it, the depth and colour changes.

That has a technical term, it's called called "Chatoyance" it normally applied to gemstones but I reckon BW is a bit of a gem.

**tea lady** · 24th April 2009, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by BobL

Don't forget the sound (it makes wonderful sounding guitar backs)

......and the sound!!

**Sebastiaan56** · 24th April 2009, 08:41 AM

I reckon Tassie Backwood is the bees knees....,

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