Dead Finish OR Archidendropsis Basaltica

neil mackay

Member
Messages
162
Location
sydney australia
This wood most of you guys probably wouldnt have seen before. Its local desert wood the name Dead Finish was given to it by the Aboriginees. In their old pidgin English it meant this tree would be the last one standing in a long drought. ""When this tree die, this country, him dead - finish" Its a very tough tree although recently we have had a few die.

Hard as nails takes a shine like a french polish finish. I turned this one sideways to get the contrast of the Sap and heart wood, adding the flat spirals for greater effect. 7x3.5" finished with WOP
 

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Beautifully done, Neil. :clap: This spiral is different from the others I usually see you do. I really like the stair step look. I wonder if the Dead Finish wood is any relation to the various "Ironwood" species we have over here? From your description, it sounds similar to the Desert Ironwood from our SW deserts.
 
Did you do the spirals on a rose engine, or hand carve them

All by hand, flat one are not so bad as you can lay a file along them. Although for some reason this one gave some problems, took forever to get them right. Must be outa touch or something.

I wonder if the Dead Finish wood is any relation to the various "Ironwood" species we have over here? From your description, it sounds similar to the Desert Ironwood from our SW deserts.

Dunno Vaughn, that why I included the latin or botanical name, hoping some body might do a bit of research. If you do have something similar then grab a piece its a great turn.
 
Stunning job on the spirals. Really impressive with the even transitions. Generally like pretty much everything about this piece, the form, the layout and the execution are all well done. Who says poly can't look good :D

I was originally trying to figure out what sort of off center jig you would use to cut them, should have known better :rolleyes:
 
I was originally trying to figure out what sort of off center jig you would use to cut them, should have known better :rolleyes

Ryan, I wrote an article on how I do it, maybe I should publish it here. Its currently on another forum and I'm not sure on the policy re posting links for another forum.
 
neil you can post links to anywhere but porn or political stuff or religious,, so post away your tutorial and maybe we can get a mod to put in our tutorial forum for you.
 
Since I happen to know what article he's referring to, I'll save Hughie the trouble...

Sculpting Spirals on a Bowl

Although it could be said that this article might be against the CoC, since seeing Neil's work is a form of wood porn to turners, and to some it's almost a religious experience. :D
 
Well i would have to agree with a comment posted on the Woodturners site. The point made by the comment "I would need to get a lot of nerve up" so would i.

Enough to get the hollow form to that state, to consider wrecking it with carving well i would want to be able to knock off a few more hollow forms easily before i go carving them. Lovely tutorial almost makes it as easy as watching Toni carve.
 
Great wood, and striking features. I looked very attentively to your tutorial and I think I'll use a variation of it in one of my carvings ( still in the pipe). Getting enough tension on those lines is not an easy job at all.
 
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