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Ironwood
(Acacia excelsa)
Also known as: Rosewood
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Ironwood is common across the region and as one of our largest, long
living acacias, it will grow to around 15m high with a trunk up to about
500mm diameter. The timber is very hard and heavy with a more even
colouring than most of the acacias from around here. It does tend to
check a bit on the endgrain but is stable once sawn along it's length.
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One noteworthy characteristic of the timber is its smell. When I mailed a
piece of Ironwood to a friend in WA, he opened the package in his office and
noticed later that everyone was checking under their shoes to see if they
had stepped in something - it's subtle - but its there!!! Maybe this is why
the only thing I have used it for so far is tool handles - nothing to go
inside the house.
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West
of the Drummond Range (Alpha), the foliage appears more silvery green in
color as seen in these examples yet it is still a.excelsa.

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As the name suggests, Ironwood is very hard but it still machines OK with
sharp tools and it sands well and finishes to a very high polish.
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