TURNING    SPECIES    AT     A.F.T

SPECIES

THICKNESSES AVAILABLE

Density                 :   VH = Very Hard;    H= Hard;    M = Medium;  S = Soft

Turning Quality   :   VG  = Very Good;    G = Good;    F = Fair;        P = Poor

19

25

38

50

63

100

125

150

200

COLOUR

DENSITY

TURNING QUALITY

OTHER COMMENTS

0.75"

1"

1.5"

2"

2.5"

4"

5"

6"

8"

Afrormosia

*

*

*

*

Gold / Brown

H

G

Teak like specie. Renowned for durability & stability

Amoora

*

*

*

*

*

Red

M

G

Mahogany type. Extensively used by school students, boat builders and furniture makers

Ash, American White

*

  *

White

H

F

Classic US species. Can be stained to match Oak

Basswood

*

*

White

S

G

Kauvula- N.G species

Blackwood

*

*

*

Straw - Red  / Brown  

M

G

Favorite Victorian & Tasmanian specie. Multi purpose

Box,Northern               ( Pelawan)

*

*

Red / Brown

H

G - F

Related to the Australian Brush Box

Bubinga

*

Purple / Pink

VH

F - P

Highly figure quartersawn boards often exhibit very attractive mottle patches

Cedar Pencil

*

*

Pink

S

G

Easy to work hardwood

Cedar Red, Surian       ( Malaysian)

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Red

S

F

Lustrous finish a feature. Mahogany type

Cherry African

*

Dark Red

M

F

Attractive outcome though tools need to be sharp.

Cherry American

*

*

Orange / Brown

M

G

Very versatile; satisfaction with results ought to be high with this species

Durian

*

*

*

Straw                          

M

VG

Malaysian fruit tree. Open grained but interesting

Elm, Red American

*

*

Cinnamon

H

G

Fabulous grain pattern. Unusual colour.

Elm, Grey American

*

*

White

H

G

Beautiful swirling grain

Geronggang

*

*

  *

*

Red / Pink

S

G

Excellent working species, very stable.

Gum Mahogany

*

*

*

Red / Pink

H

G

Strong durable Victorian Timber and cheaply priced species

Gum, Red

*

*

*

Red

VH

G - F

Good outcome makes the effort worthwhile.

Iroko ( Odum)

*

*

*

Gold / Brown

H

F

" Poor man's Teak" favorable for its strength, durability and  "stability"

Jarrah

*

*

Red / Purble

VH

F/P

W.A Classic. Multi purpose hardwood  

Jelutong

*

*

*

*

Cream

S

F

Pattern maker's favorite

Karri

*

Red / Pink

VH

F/P

West Australia timber, similar to Jarrah in many ways

Koto

*

White

M

F -VG

Good "contrast" timber because it is so white

Leatherwood

*

*

Cream / Pink

M

F

Well known Tas turning species

Mahogany African

*

*

*

*

Gold / Red

M

VG

Good finish possible. Spectacular grain common

Mahogany Eastern

*

*

*

*

*

*

Olive / Brown

H

G

Lustrous finish. Excellent alternative timber to Walnut, Spotted Gum & Tallowwood

Mahogany   Swietenia  ( Plantation from Fiji)

*

*

*

*

Golden brown

M

G

Physically & Ecologically attractive. South American tree grown in Fiji

Maple American Hard White 

*

*

White / Silver

H

VG

Classic contrast species.

Melunak

*

*

*

*

*

*

Gold

M

G-F

Resembles Blackwood but considerably bigger & cheaper

Meranti

*

*

*

*

Pink

M

G

Universally used. Multi purpose.

Merbau ( Kwila )

*

*

*

Red

VH

G-F

Will outlive most of us in the ground or above it

SM

VG

Myrtle Tasmanian

*

*

Pink / Purple

M

VG

Can be breath-taking in colour range & appearance

Nyatoh

*

*

*

*

 *

Pink

M

G -F

Many uses, very versatile. Unusually interesting

Oak English

*

*

*

Straw

H

F

Renowned traditional timber, sourced from England; medullary rays a feature on quartersawn boards

Obeche

*

White

S

G

Pattern making alternative from Africa.

Pine, Huon

*

*

* 

Honey Blonde

S

VG

Sought after. Becoming rare.

Pine , Radiata

*

*

*

Yellow

S

G

Popular with students hobbyists and "pros"

Pine, Parana

*

*

Blond / Red Streak  

S - M

G

" Kauri like" South American species

Pine, Yellow

*

*

Yellow /  Red Streak   

S

VG

Pattern making species

Rimu , Fijian

*

Gold / Dark Streak  

M

G-F

Care required to avoid splits. Lustrous planed surface.

Rosewood African

*

*

*

Orange / Red

H

G-F

Striking appearance, vivid colours, extremely stable.

Rosewood Burmese

*

*

*

Brown / Tan

H

G

 Distinguished appearance

Rosewood New Guinea

*

*

*

*

Gold / Red

H

G-F

Excellent outcome. Spectacular array of colours and patterns.

Sassafras [ Black Heart]

*

Straw with Dark Stripes

M

VG

Turns well with spectacular results

Teak Burmese

*

Gold with Dark Stripes

M

VG

First European Quality Scale Kiln Dried boards. Finest quality teak available. Superb results

Teak New Guinea

*

*

Gold with  Dark

M

G-F

Turns well. Plantation Teak ex N.G.

Victorian Hardwood

*

*

*

White / Straw

H - M

F

Very popular and oft -requested species - proven its worth since European settlement

Walnut African

*

*

*

Olive Bronze

M

G

Turns well - lustrous finish. Appealing appearance.

Walnut American

*

 *

 Dark Brown

M

G

Excellent for carving and turning. Relatively easily worked

Walnut Brazilian

*

*

*

Gold / Brown

H - M

G

Possibly our most beautiful species.

Walnut Peruvian

*

*

*

Black

M

G

Like a puma's coat! Planed surface dark and glossy

Wenge ( West African )

  *

Black Dark Brown

H

G-F

Spectacular grain. Can produce smooth finish

PerfectPlank (Laminated Sugar Pine )

100mm x 457 mm ( 4" x 18" )

Biscuit Yellow

S-M

VG

Perfect in quality and shape. Most adaptable for large projects

RARE        NORTH      QUEENSLAND       SPECIES

*

White

M

G -F

Desirable for contrast

*

*

*

*

*

*

Pink

M

VG

Compares well with Honduras Mahogany in every respect

*

Tan / Pink

M

G

A highly ornamental and generally excellent cabinet and joinery wood. Very stable.

*

*

*

*

Red / Mauve

M

VG

Silken lustre appearance, turns beautifully

*

*

*