WoodSense Spotlight on Lacewood A decorati ve wood with a colorful past. By Robert J. Setti ch Technical consultant: Larry Osborn

Woodworkers in the United instrument makers States have long delighted in have glued down the species the striking appearance of robustasubstitute, lacewood, which gets its name while knife makers employed called Southern silky from the lacelike pattern of thin pieces for �ingerboards, light-colored medullary ray It, too, is not related to the it for scales. Because of the Quercusin that region of Australia. grain that can range from a pink wood’s susceptibility to rot the wood appears similar to �lecks against a background and insects, you won’t �ind its northerngenus. cousin, But because importers But during its colorful history, itWhere in outdoor it comes projects. from to orange-tinged tan to brown. Sorting out the genuine article have received the “lacewood” Here,appropriated again, aggressive the Australian cutting a number of different species lacewood name serves more as a lacewood name for the species. marketingis a trying taskalias because than a description the Thatlabel, said, making lacewood it dif�icult remains to speciesdepleted from availability. Brazil and adetermine sought-after the woodworkingwood’s true origin. furniture woods referred to as Today, a SouthRoupala American brasiliensis wood for a variety of uses, of a single species. The earliest Argentina ( ) Bothlacewood are Platanus were actually species, American with (Some�ills the mistakenly void while stillmarketed refer Historywith many in being woodworking decorative. sycamore and London plane tree. under the lacewood name. The medullary ray look sublimis was a To add to the confusion, it of lacewood results from large and visually obvious ray isto sometimesit as Australian sold withlacewood.) a �lecks. similar species–leopardwood makes the wood especially much later species bearing the (Brosimum guianense appealingquartersawing to woodworkers the logs. This islacewood more commonly moniker. referredThis tree, who have used the wood for tonative as Northern to northern or Australia, Despite all of the differences,)–which silky oak in its native continent, is denser, heavier, and darker.

furniture, cabinetry, decorative to the Quercus allthe part Australian of the predominantly and South andboxes, British inlays, furniture turnings, contain and even though it doesn’t belong American lacewood species are even carving. Antique American (oak) family , which Unitedfamiliar States, to North it acquired Americans. a new includesSouthern some Hemisphere 60-80 genera botanic and woods that–back in the day– As the wood journeyed to the wereLacewood referred veneers to as lacewood. have Over time, the species (See “Where it comes from.”) name–Australian lacewood. andover 1,000 species. serve asThe current South American lacewoods Lacewooddressed up strips box tops have and served plywood became a victim of its own trees can grow to 150' high panels for dramatic effect. beauty and desirability and was primary lumber sources. The overharvested to meet demand. as74 eye-catchingwoodcraftmagazine.com inlays. Musical April/May This2015 led lumber importers to and boast 4'-diameter trunks. What you’ll pay You can purchase a 3 and can even show up on edge sanders work well smoothing �lecks across a board’s face have one. Block and random-orbit ⁄4 at a specialty wood supplier, × 3 × 24" growth of the tree, making whichlacewood may board sell wood for about in a variety $19.00 quartersawinggrain. That is due uneven to the from spiral lacewood surfaces. Note that the of thicknesses, widths, and andwood may surrounding sand off more the rayquickly, �lecks 1 8 × 3 × tends to be a smidgeon softer one end of the log to the other. ⁄ appears dull and ordinary, you’ll lengths. A specially milled Because �latsawn lacewood resulting in ray �lecks that feel 24" board carries a premium price raised. Here, use a sanding block tag of about $13.00. Consider annot impressive �ind it sold characteristic,commercially. awareto ensure that an some even have surface. suffered savingFor individual a few bucks 3 by × 3 resawing considerWhile largethe style size and �lecks scale are of skinWhen and sandingeye allergic lacewood, reactions be lacewood stock when possible. ⁄4 ⁄4 your project when choosing × 5" work with a small piece to see pen-turning blanks, expect to to the dust. As a precaution, pay about $1.50; bundles of willyour look stock. completely For example, out ofa sleeve shirt and respiratory blanks carry a lower price per jumbo �leck on a pen turning protectionif you are allergic. when turning Don a long- and unit. You’ll �ind larger 2 × 2 × 12" turning blanks for about $11.00. scale. Also, be sure to match the Due to the low resin levels in Use this size for shaping bottle colorWorking of the lacewoodboards you select. lacewood,sanding, and common wash afterward. woodworking quartersawnstoppers, spindles, veneer and in severalhandles. in the shop adhesives produce good Lacewood is also available as formats: no backing, paper- Lacewood can be crosscut and bonding results. It also acceptsI backed, and also with pressure- ripped cleanly; the same can be all �inishes, and may darken sensitive adhesive (PSA) backing. said when edge routing. However, with exposure to sunlight. A package containing 3 square planing lacewood boards with Lacewood Quick Take offeet the of same unbacked product veneer is under sells for large ray �lecks can result in tear- Cost Moderate under $12.00; 12 square feet out. Using sharp cutters, take only Weight Moderate �ine cuts and run the boards at $36.00, generating a signi�icant workingan angle diagonallyto reduce tear-out. across the Take Hardness About the same as discount. Purchasing a 4 × 8' �ine passes when hand-planing, African or Honduran Mahogany sheet of PSA quartersawn veneer wood at a drum sander if you willHow set to you select back $275.00. grain. Better still, thickness the Stability Good the best stock Strength Generally not used in Quartersawn lacewood’s large projects where decorative appearance results stout structural strength is required. Durability Not resistant to from ray �lecks that can rot or insects in Thesebe large can (up taper to 2" down long), exposed outdoor/ tonumerous, much smaller and distinct. exterior applicati ons Toxicity Some may experience an It’s a fact that… allergic reacti on. Various tree parts, including Tool Can be successfully bark, roots, leaves and fl owers, cut and shaped have served as medicines with both hand and for treati ng headache, power equipment. cough, indigesti on, stomach ulcers, and kidney disease. Common Small-scale Uses decorati ve projects.

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