Stony Ridge Wattle is a short lived tree to about 5 metres tall with a trunk
to about 150mm diameter. They are normally only found in SouthEast
Queensland apart from this small stand near Clermont which is under threat
from the coal mine built virtually on top of it. One of the establishment
conditions of the mine was to protect the stand - so they bulldozed most of
them to make room for a fence to protect the trees?!?!?!?! The trees flower
around March/April.
Stony Ridge Wattle timber is very pretty, of moderate weight and density,
and is very unstable while drying. The sample I got cracked aggressively
even though the ends were well sealed.
Getting enough material to make this small mantle clock meant having to
laminate pieces together to get around the cracks. The timber is hard but
turns well and sands OK. It takes a very nice finish with ease and the
colours really 'pop' with an oil coat.
Not sure about the Ebony finial on this one - might change it for a brass
one yet to match the clock rim.
