Tasmanian Blackwood timber is one of the most beautiful and popular hardwoods available in Australia. Its beauty what makes it so widely known but you hardly know anything about it. Having knowledge about the timber you use gives a supreme power on how and where you can use it. You will get a very natural color of wood if you opt for Tasmanian Blackwood timber. Who doesn’t want to buy wood which can easily identify steam marks? It is never a loss to know about something primary that is used everywhere. So, all you need to know about Tasmanian Blackwood timber is mentioned especially so that you can widen your horizon.
Things to Know:
The Name: The scientific name of the tree is Acacia melanoxylon. It is also known as Australian Blackwood, Acacia Blackwood, Paluma Blackwood and Black Wattle. It is medium in size and yields really attractive timber which is often used in panelling, furniture and decorative veneers.
Location: Although Tasmanian Blackwood timber is a Tasmania native, it is also found in eastern and southern Australia. It has also been introduced to southern Asia, South America and Africa. Such trees are usually 20 to 30 meters tall and their trunk diameter varies from 0.6 to 1 meter.
Color: Being a timber of appearance, Tasmanian Blackwood timber can highly vary in color. With a rich reddish or golden brown heartwood, bands of contrasting colors can be seen indicating the rings of growth. Sapwood up to the width of 50 mm and appearing much paler is found with boards having wavy or curly consistency. Its grain is normally straight or slightly interlocked and even wavy sometimes with medium to uniform fine texture.
Application: Although it is vulnerable to the attack of insects, Tasmanian Blackwood timber rated as a moderately durable timber regarding resistance against decay. It is not recommended for outside applications as it is known to have a low durability in-ground. There is no evident characteristic odor. And, it is not known to provoke a lot of severe allergies. Even though it is not that toxic if handled for a short while, Australian Blackwood is known to be a sensitizer.
Industrial use: Tasmanian Blackwood timber is an overall workable hardwood that handles well with machine and hand tools. It works easily with nails, glues, turns and stains. Since a polished and smooth finish is easily attainable, it is perfect for furniture. Although, if the wavy grain is detected, there arises a need to adjust its planer angle. Its good response during steam bending also makes it a widespread, internationally claimed option for the creation of the sides and backs of guitars.
Availability: Australian Blackwood is grown in a large amount for use in commercial fields in wetter regions of Tasmania. In certain areas, it is considered as a pest and an invasive species. Yet, the prices are fairly high, and the figured wood is even costlier. They may be available easily but only in small sizes. It is used as a cheap alternative to Acacia Koa. The most common uses of Tasmanian Blackwood timber are interior-based. Decorative veneers, furniture, paneling, flooring, musical instruments, joinery, cabinetry, gunstocks, turning, boat building, carving are some of the applications of the concerned timber. There are other specialty objects of wood too.
Even though the timber is called “Blackwood”, there is no black colored wood. Due to the golden brown lustrous grain of the Tasmanian Blackwood timber, it is often compared closely with another lumber called Koa and also used as its sustainable alternative. It has reached a number of international in addition to national regions where it is used for various purposes.
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