1790L x 400W x 360H
Banksia and Salmon Gum
Another piece currently on display at the “Out of the wood” exhibition. Since natural organic lines are always popular, I had to do something in that line…. Besides, everybody loves those butterfly keys! This coffee table was inspired by the work of the Japanese American woodworker, George Nakashima, specifically his well known Minguren table. No better way to show off the natural beauty of the wood! The timber I used is known as Banksia (Banksia marginata) which is indigenous to Australia where it is apparently quite rare. I was fortunate indeed to obtain just a few boards from an Australian friend who immigrated to SA. He had some dying Banksia trees on his property which he felled, milled and brought with him. It is very likely that this is the only example of the timber in my country (apart from the bookcase I made for the Australian in exchange for the timber!) The keys are Salmon Gum, also indigenous to Australia, also from my friend.
As always, comments, critique and suggestions are welcome.
PS. I am very happy to say that the response to the furniture component of this exhibition has been so good that the gallery decided to extend the exhibition by another month. Furthermore, they have decided to make it an annual event! Myself and the 4 other furniture makers/designers are very excited about this!!
Banksia !!!/Huon Pine
Wow i did not know that Banksia looks like that, i'm going to get the chainsaw out when i go past a tree next time. I must say that is a rather big tree!! For Banksia. They are everywhere around here in Tassie. Where that join is did you join 2 Planks?
This is a great idea for a Huon Pine Coffee table!! In my email to you i said that the guy here in Tassie has alot of Huon, he does but i have since found out that this timber is vary rare and very difficult too find. I made my first Bedside lamp last night and the timber is amazing. The round bottom has so many rings in it, i counted about 200 plus. I also said that Huon pine has rings of 1-1.5mm. I was wrong that is Celery top pine, Huon Pine has one growth ring every 10th of a mm. I have also spoken to a local and they say they have pretty much not publicised it because of its rarerity. They do alot of Boat building with it down in the southern part of Tassie. I will attach a photo tomorrow of the lamp.
Hi Simon. Nice to see you
Hi Simon. Nice to see you here! Welcome! Yes, it is a pretty rare piece of wood, one plank around 350-400mm wide. No joins in the top, the keys are there to stabilize the crack and also for pretty!
Huon Pine? The little I know is that it is very rare and I've also heard about it being used for boatbuilding (I was wooden boatbuilder for many years) One growth ring every 10th of a mm is amazing!!
Looking forward to the photos. Post it as a blog entry.
Aussie Woods
Hi Div,
Tought you might like to see some of the delights that come from this side of the world. The Forestry commission guys of WA have a quartely auction, here is a link to view some of the offerings. There are slabs as well as whole logs for the smaller millers. Enjoy!!
http://www.auctions.com.au/auctions/2011/03/12/wa-log-burl-burl-slices-c...
Regards
Stephen
Howzit Safferinoz! Great to
Howzit Safferinoz! Great to hear your voice as well, Stephen! Welcome to my little blog. Nothing like LJ's, but a little more personal. I really hope to hear your voice more often.
I'm kinda scared to check out that link of yours, what if my keyboard packs up from the drool??!!
Anyway, here goes, check you later......
F&*%! How's those burls! Man,
F&*%! How's those burls! Man, I'd kill for some of that. How do I get to this Harvey place? Sigh....I wish.
Huon Pine
Here's my first attempt at a bedside lamp out of Huon, my wife likes the plain look no fancy thrills and curves. No photo will do the justice of how small the rings are but maybe 1/10 of a mm was ltd to only some of the areas at the base. The upright part has some incredible features which look like i have not finished sanding it yet. I will get another camera some other day. A friend has just offered me some of that wood "banksia" he has some offcutts which are pretty much the same as your size there. I cant wait for the easter weekend to begin. What type of Oil should i use on this stuff????
Howzit Simon! Looking good
Howzit Simon! Looking good from here! Your wife has good taste man. I also like the modern look without all the frills. I can just make out some incredible grain pattern on the pillar. When you apply the finish it will just pop out! You should post a close up picture once the finish is done.
Great score on the Banksia! It is a beautiful timber, family of the Protea, did you know? Much similarity in the timber grain and pattern to Transvaal Boekenhout and Waboom.
About the oiling, click on "All blog posts" and look for the blog "Finishing with Oil". I wrote quite a bit on the subject. These days I'm using a varnish/oil mix. 2 parts Woodoc, 1 part boiled linseed oil, 1 part mineral turps. Finishes very well. The thing with oil finishes is to sand very well, I go to at least 320, then oil, then rub with 0000 steelwool or 3M scouring pad(very fine) then oil again. Maybe another coat and polish with the 3M. Wax if you want, depends on how much shine you want...
Read the blog, lots of info there.
Sweet sawdustmaking for the Easter weekend!
Woodoc and 3M
Its amazing i cannot find any of that stuff here, no worries mate i will look at the local stuff and see what works. Some of the SA products are just way ahead in terms of technology than that of the Aussie stuff. I don't know if they have Woodoc on The mainland but this island has very unfamiliar stuff. Will have to learn eish!! Imagine being without biltong for two years. Everything is different actually even tools. for example You don't get Gedore here i took it for granted that hand tools are the same. I must say makita is popular being so close to Japan. Electric stuff is the same. Just the cheap brands are different. I had to change about 20 different plugs on my electric tools "FUN" Not!! Have a piece of biltong for me.
No biltong?
Try any one part polyurethane varnish instead of the Woodoc. Can't believe 3m is not there, it is an international company. No worries, surely you can find fine steelwool?
No Woodoc is OK but No biltong, eish!!! Never mind woodfinishing recipes, you need to make your own biltong, boet!
No Biltong!!
Hi Div,
I agree, make your own. I've been out of SA for more than 10 years but always have a stash of Biltong, Dry wors and boerewors in the freezer. All home made, you can get some borrie here but you don't know what crap they've put in it.
Back to business, Div a question for you, what would your method be for drying hardwood (Jarrah) Burls. I bought 6 green burls at the Harvey auction a couple of months ago. They are 500-800mm in diameter and between 40-60mm thick.
Many Thanks
Biltong and burls
Howzit Stephen. I think Simon needs to get some tips from you about making biltong....
I have no experience with burls. They are still only a dream to me. (500 x 40, I drool!) I will ask my master turner friend Dave. I see him at the gallery on Saturday and will report back after. I once heard to prevent cracking in crosscut slabs was to dry them covered in sawdust but I haven't tried it.
Biltong or Burls
When you way them up Burls are at the top of the list, i got hold of A Musk burl the other day just cut it outta the native bush helps being a Tassie forester.Olearia argophylla a relatively small tree 10m high max but with a wide stem when very old. Vary rare the locals tell me. Its terrible being a native forest wood planner i walk in these forests all day and find it hard to concentrate on the job especially when i see these burls. I ve seen a Myrtle burl approx 2m wide by 1.5high but i was bloody 2kms from a road Eish!! If those two Other Musk burls don't get taken soon they will also get "klapped" They are on my GPS one is about a metre tall and only 40cm wide but "sonice" Will get to the Biltong thing soon. They say Wallibie meat is not to bad when made into biltong do you agree Stephen??? I know i can get hold of Deer here they are wild in the mountains. Will get some more photo's of Musk