My biggest fear when traveling to Australia wasn’t the 16-hour flight, the change of hemispheres or the spiders that would make my *deleted* fall off.
It was the timber I’d have to work with.
Australian woods have the reputation of being the nastiest, hardest, most interlocked and silica-choked timbers on the planet. One stroke on a board of figured blackwood has been known to reduce an infill smoother to tears.
So I headed to Australia with my old block plane, 1/2” chisel and Tite-Mark gauge and hoped they wouldn’t be destroyed.
After four days, I can report no problems whatsoever. Of course, I haven’t gotten to work with any Australian timbers. To build this tool chest during my first session in Australia, we’re using Malayasian Kauri pine, which is fairly soft like radiata pine or a sponge cake. But it planes up just fine, as long as your tools are really sharp and finely set.
The classes in the coming weeks promise more fun.
I’m off to bed in a few minutes, but in the coming days I’ll show you some photos of the amazing woods in the racks at the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking. So stay tuned.
— Christopher Schwarz
On a related question; does anyone know about wood and veneers from South Africa? I’m going to be there in May and would like to buy some unusual veneers.
Any input is welcome.
Chris, you are unlikely to find much Jarrah in Melbourne. They only have woosie wood, such as Kaurie Pine, which is as soft as. You’ll need to come to Perth …
Hope you are having fun and dodging the local reptiles, arthropods, and alcoholic beverages.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Indeed you are almost correct Derek.
The stuff you guys grow out West is indeed hard, and really tough stuff. Apart from the slightly girly by comparison Sheoak.
… and watch out for Chris Vesper as well – he frightens my dogs and eats pizza, or vice versa … but does make half-decent tools.
Regards fro Perth
Derek
Mate, if you plan on staying here you’d better familiarize yourself with some Australian folk music!
I half-expected to have hear “Waltzing Matilda” already.
Suggestions …
“Pub with no beer” … by aussie legend Slim Dusty …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E0aZ387M_I
“Redback on the toilet seat” …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjDAiq2-xeU
“I hope your chooks turn into emus and peck your dunny down” …
or a modern legend … Paul Kelly …
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/liveset/paul-kelly-deeper-water/4504660
Thanks Chris for the posts, photos, videos, & music.
I love the music. Who is it?
Birmingham Jail by Chatham County Line. This version available at freemusicarchive.org (Wanted to find it myself…)
Thanks! Downloaded the whole album.
That’s a cool video, but the music is a serious downer. Woodworking is my escape from a world where stuff like that happens.
That’s funny, I just logged in to post my first comment on this site to find out who Chris uses for his soundtracks. I kinda like it…
Clay: You understand the lyrics? Wow.
But thanks for the videos and post, Chris. It’s always good to see that people are the same all over the world. Without hearing them speak, I could swear these guys were from the USA…or Europe…or Wherever.
That is a very cool looking stool in the video at 0:31 thru 0:40.