Australian Blackwood

Description:  Colour can be highly variable, but tends to be medium golden or reddish-brown, similar to mahogany. There are usually contrasting bands of color in the growth rings and it is not uncommon to see boards with ribbon-like streaks of color. Boards figured with wavy and/or curly grain are also not uncommon.

Grain is usually straight to slightly interlocked, and sometimes wavy. Uniform fine to medium texture.

Properties:  Australian blackwood is easily worked with both hand and machine tools, though figured wood and pieces with interlocked grain can cause tearout. Australian blackwood turns, glues, stains, and finishes well, though two-part catalysed finishes can sometimes be slowed in their curing. Responds well to steam bending. Reported to have good impact resistance