Another guess the wood

[Mike.R]

Acacia ?

 

[KimG]

I've run out of ideas for this now, but I must add that it is a super platter, really nice piece of turning WM.

 

[Woodmonkey]

Not a fruit wood. I think it would be classed as a legume as it has seed pods. The native american version has large thorns although the ones here do not.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Not Wisteria??

 

[Woodmonkey]

Correct Bob, NOT wisteria!

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Git

 

[Grahamshed]

Correct Bob, NOT wisteria!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Woodmonkey]

Ok doesn't look like anyone will get this. Its gladitsia, also known as honey locust (sorry, I did say it was a hard one...)

 

[Grahamshed]

Never heard of it There is a black locust if I remember rightly that is also known as false acacia.

 

[Woodmonkey]

That's right, they are similar looking trees, although a different genus

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I think "git" still covers it

 

[Woodmonkey]

:lol:

 

[KimG]

It doesn't show very strongly in the images (but you can just see it in the first one) the classic zig zag feature of Legume timbers, I had not heard of a Honey Locust either, apparently the pods when unripe are very sweet and edible and were used as food at one time.

Timber pic

Wicki article

 

[Grahamshed]

So where am I looking, on those wiki pictures, for the zig zagging Kim ?

 

[KimG]

Look at the end grain Graham, it is a feature that is between the rings (it is formed by the pores that the water etc travel up when the tree is living) it is less distinct in this picture (and possibly this type of tree) than say Laburnum or Iroko.

In the square Acacia bowls that Woodmonkey put up you can see the pore structure is similar, the zig zag pattern is less distinct (in reality it may not even be a true zigzag as such as it is more an optical illusion in the way the pores are arranged and they LOOK zigzaged, but actually close observation shows this to be variable)

But the overall appearance of the Legume timbers is strikingly similar in this regard particularly the end grain. In Laburnum and Iroko the illusion of the zigzag nature is more apparent, also Gorse is pretty distinct too.

In the image I linked too the feature shows best on the lower right side of the log where there is a slight bulge giving a wide gap between the rings in a couple of spots, the pores are closer to the classic appearance there.

 

[Grahamshed]

I am going to have to take your word for that Kim, not seeing it.

I wonder if the ring pattern on some trees is an identification factor as well. With some species there is a white outer layer with a solid darker inner ( like all pics of Yew I have seen ) with others like this one and laburnum and the Staghorn I showed a pic of a few weeks ago, there are very prominent rings alternating dark and light.

 

[KimG]

This is Laburnum, in between the thin rings there is a sort of wavy pattern to the markings, this is what I refer to as the zigzag. In the wicki page the bit I pointed out show a similar arrangement, though the rest of the log is more regular, but the overall effect is distinct in the family.

Rings and end grain can be used to identify woods, but due to the varying nature of timbers, often more is needed, Bark, twigs, leaves and side grain all help in identification. The white outer part of Yew and Laburnum, Walnut, African blackwood etc is the Sapwood, the living part of the tree, as it dies to become heartwood it changes colour, so yes it can be used as part of the process, but usually such timbers are pretty distinct if you see both Sapwood and heartwood together.

 

[Grahamshed]

Cheers Kim.

 

[Woodmonkey]

It almost has a kind of 3D effect when you catch the light on it