The highly decorative hardwood of blackwood outshines almost every other timber in the range of colours it possesses. The heartwood is a rich golden brown through which there may be streaks of reddish brown or almost black. The sapwood is a pale cream-brown, contrasting strongly with the heartwood. Grain is usually straight but sometimes wavy, producing a "fiddleback" figure. Blackwood is rated as moderately decay resistant, though susceptible to insect attack.
End-grain: Un-patterned, diffuse large pores with narrow rays which can be reddish in colour.
Workability: Australian Blackwood is easily worked with both hand and machine tools, but figured wood and pieces with interlocked grain can cause tear-out. Australian Blackwood turns, glues, stains, and finishes well. It also responds well to steam bending.
Common uses: Veneer, furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments and wood objects.
GET A QUOTE