A little while ago a most generous friend brought over some wood samples of a species that I had never seen before. As usual with unusual species, I took my time selecting a piece to try out on the lathe. With the dust extractor at close proximity to remove all the shavings and sanding dust, I turned a disc of sparkling Pink Silky Oak. Confusingly, it is nothing like the oak we know in Europe and America. The surprising softness of this wood was a challenge, but I had been told that there was a chatoyancy worth working for. With time and elbow grease the wooden treat now shimmers when it is rotated in the light, and although I tried to capture some of that in the photograph, it hardly does the actual item justice.
I only used a small piece of the block, so no doubt I will be revisiting this material in the near future.
One wood experience that will have to wait is that of the Australian Red Cedar. Apart from the similar-sounding name, it has nothing to do with the Canadian Western Red Cedar at all. However, that did not stop the custom’s agent determining that this rare wood was non-importable,…and off to the incinerator it went. I cannot, therefore, show you an example of its amazing grain in a turned or carved piece here, but maybe – one day – another piece will turn up for the turning.
Mooi hout hoor! Hoe heet het, en waar is het gegroeid?
Het hout heet, zoals gezegd, pink silky oak. Dat is helemaal geen eikehout, maar een boom uit Australie.