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Blackwood and matching species at Australian Furniture Timbers

Blackwood  is "one of Australia 's most attractive woods, even plain timber having a fine appearance. It is used mainly for decorative effect, for panelling, interior joinery in prestige buildings and for furniture".

At Australian Furniture Timbers we have good stocks of Australian Blackwood in a�wide range of sizes. We also have in stock a number of other species which, by reason of their own character or colour, can be presented to closely match. Blackwood in manufactured furniture or interior fittings. The details relating to these species are set out here under.

Australian Blackwood (Acacia Melanoxylon)

This is a timber of Southeast Australia and Tasmania . It is found in a range of colours from straw /gold to chocolate brown with a number of other colours in between, including red. The Tasmanian Blackwood tree�can grow to heights in excess of 30m . Trees of a similar size grow in Victoria.

Sizes generally stocked:

  Thickness    (in mm)                :  25, 38, 50 and squares of 75 and 100.

  Widths (in mm)                          : 150 plus

  Density                                      :  665kg / m³ or  41.5 pounds /cubic foot.

Queensland Black Wattle( various Acacia species including Acacia Melanoxylon)

Grow in North Queensland . This is a fast growing but much smaller tree than that sawn and produced into commercial timber in the southern part of Australia . Its tropical growing conditions also influence the colour and character of the timber, in general terms it is slightly harder and much more consistent in colour than Blackwood grown in Victoria or Tasmania . The colour more of a bronze/ olive.

Sizes generally stocked:

  Thickness (in mm)                     : 25, 38, 50.

  Widths       (in mm)                     : 75 plus ( generally narrower than Australia Blackwood.)

  Density                                        : similar to Australian Blackwood ( above)

Silver Wattle ( Acacia Dealbata)

Very similar to Australian Blackwood but white to silver in colour. The tree is also�considerably smaller than the Australian Blackwood tree and hence wide boards are rare. Used for very much the same range of purposes as Australian Blackwood and working properties are similar. Can be matched to Blackwood with an appropriate staining. Generally less expensive than Australian Blackwood.

Sizes generally stocked:

   Thickness( in mm)                   :  25.

   Widths      ( in mm)                    :  75 to 200

   Density                                      :  600kg/ m³ or 37 pounds/ cubic foot.

Sepetir ( Copaifera Palustris and Sindora spp)

This light hardwood from Malaysia is generally lighter in colour than Blackwood but can be stained to match. It offers advantages in price and in the sizes available.

Sizes generally stocked:

Thickness (in mm)                       : 50.

Widths     ( in mm)                        : 150 to 250 in long boards

Density                                         : 530kg/m³ or 33 pound / cubic foot.

New Guinea Rosewood (Pterocarpus Indicus)

Coloured light gold to golden brown with occasional red boards. This timber is used for very similar purposes to

Australian Blackwood and is invariably considerably less expensive. This timber is also extremely durable and is used in outside furniture and boat building..

Sizes generally stocked :

  Thickness ( in mm)                  : 25, 38, 50, squares of 100mil and fliches in a range of sizes .

  Wide boards in this timber are rare and widths range from 75mm to about 200mm.

  Density                                     : 660 kg/m³ or  41 pounds / cubic foot.

Melunak ( Pentace spp)

This is a Southeast Asian timber the colouring of which closely resembles Australian Blackwood. The advantages which this timber offers by comparison with Australian Blackwood include the following :

(1)   price

(2)   width and length of boards and

(3)   a greater selection of end section .

Sizes generally stocked:

  Thickness in mm)                   : 25, 38, 50, 75 , squares of 100, 125, 150 .

  Width ( in mm)                         : up to 300.

  Density                                     : 530kg /m³ or 33 pounds / cubic foot

Iroko or Odum ( Chlorophora Excelsa)

This timber is also commonly referred to as "the poor man's Teak". It is available in a wide, long board specification and closely resembles both Blackwood and Teak in its colouring. It is an extremely durable and hard timber. Pricing is on a par with Blackwood.

Sizes generally stocked :

  Thickness ( in mm)                 : 25, 38, and 50.

  Widths ( in mm)                       : 150 to 300

  Density                                     : 660kg /m³ or 40 pounds /cubit foot.

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