Four attractive Australian hardwoods

EOUR hardwoods from the f Queensland area of Australia are known for their attractive appearance. Used mainly as veneer, often in fine furniture, they are considered scarce and costly.

Queensland maple (Flindersia brayleyana), despite its name, is unlike maple in appearance and is not botanically related. Known also as Australian maple and maple silkwood. it comes from both Queensland and New South Wales. Queensland is the Northeastern most Australian state; New South Wales is in the South Central part of the country. The tree grows to medium height, less than 100 ft., with a massive trunk.

In color it ranges from a pale to medium pinkish brown to brown. With a moderately coarse but even texture, it has a grain which is straight, interlocked or wavy, sometimes with a stripe or a mottle figure. The wood has an exceptional luster. The name silkwood is often applied because the combination of mottle figure and luster gives the appearance of watered silk. The weight is comparable to mahogany.

The wood dries well although there is a tendency for distortion if the grain is interlocked or irregular. Strength properties are good, working well by hand or machine although the bending quality is low. It stains readily, polishes exceptionally well, and glues easily. These qualities plus a hard, close grain with small, scarce pores make it one of the finest Australian cabinet woods.

Considered the equal of mahogany and other classical woods, it is used for fine furniture, decorative interiors, boat interiors, planking and rudders, propellers, and rifle stocks. Outside of Australia it is seen mainly as veneer.

Lacewood (Cardwellia sublimis), also known as Australian silky oak, Queensland silky oak, selano, and silky oak, also is found in Queensland. The tree grows very large, often reaching l?fr ft., with a straight bole about four ft. in diameter.

A very decorative timber, it has a well-marked silver grain on quartered surfaces, not unlike the true oak. The heartwood is pinkish or reddish brown, much like the American oak, and turns browner with age. The grain is usually straight with a coarse, even texture. Narrow lines of gum ducts are often found.

Drying rate is variable with little tendency to check or collapse. Severe cupping may occur in wide, plainsawn boards dried at the top of a kiln charge. It saws and machines satisfactorily, bends well and glues well.

The attractive overall pattern is used most often on the highly figured portions of furniture, patreling, or office fittings.

Black bean (Castanospermum ousffale) grows to a height of about 130 ft. with a bole diameter up to four ft. in Eastern Australia. It is also known as beanwood.

The wood is very attractive with a chocolate-brown background accented by narrow, greyish brown streaks of tissue surrounding rather large pores. It resembles the European walnut or Queensland walnut now known as orientalwood. The grain is straight with some slight interlock.

The texture is rather coarse. It is a relatively hard and strong timber with medium movement. The wood dries slowly with a tendency to collapse, honeycomb and split. Air drying before kiln drying is recommended.

Story at a Glance

Australian hardwoods used mainly as veneer ... Queens. land maple, lacewood, black bean, orientalwood similar in figure, luster resemble classical fine hadwoods.

Although working qualities are satisfactory, they may be affected by alternate hard and soft patches. It stains and polishes well with variable gluing properties and satisfactory nailing. Suitable for joinery, furniture and interior fittings as a decorative wood, it is used both as solid wood and veneer.

Orientalwood, (Endiandra palmerstoni) is also known as Australian laurel, Australian walnut, oriental walnut, and in years past as Queensland walnut. Native to the heavy rainfall area in the coastal tablelands of northern Queensland, it is considered one of the most common trees in that area.

With a resemblance to plain European walnut, the wood shows a variety of coloration. Varying from light or pinkish-brown to dark brown, it often has pinkish, grayishgreen or blackish streaks. The pattern also is like walnut but with dark stripes.

The stripes vary from straight, irregular, mottle with straight, and fiddleback, to finger roll, because of the grain which interlocks in varying degrees and frequently becomes wavy. The texture also is similar to walnut, medium and even, but the wood is more lustrous and slightly heavier than its look alike.

Silica tends to accumulate in the wood rays offering resistance to hand and machine cutting tools. Special saws equipped with tungsten carbide blades are recommended. The silica seems to cause less trouble with veneer knives, making it easier to prepare the wood in that form. Flitches are often sliced on the quarter to take advantage of the stripe and mottle figure.

The wood dries fairly rapidly in the kiln with little tendency to check in the thinner sizes, but with some warping. Thicker materials are likely to split unless quartersawn.

Because it is attractive, turns and polishes well, the orientalwood is most often used in furniture and cabinet making.

Redwood Promotions

(Continued from page 1 1 ) learn more about redwood, they buy more redwood.

Redwood's beauty and proven performance create a natural demand, making it one of the most desirable woods on the market today. Professionals know that redwood will not split, cup or warp as other wood will despite chemical treatment. Redwood has been pre-sold through decades of national advertising.

As a dealer or wholesaler, your effective use of advertising, how-to clinics, homeshows and serninars will significantly increase your redwood sales. You can also take advantage of sales aids available through your supplier and the California Redwood Association. You will be joining others in the redwood industry enjoyrng the benefits of a steady and strong demand.

For a free sample package including ad art, design ideas, brochures, construction tip sheets, a buyers guide and a Desigrr-A-Deck Plans Kit, write to California

Redwood Association, Dept. MM-2, One Lombard St., San Francisco, Ca.9{lll.

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For more information on New Products and New Literature, wriie fhe Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., $yi1s 480, Newgort Beach, Ca. 92660. Please mention issue date and page number so we can process your request fasterl Many thanks!

Forest Products

Exclusive sales representatives: CALIFORNIA SPLIT RAIL FENCE CALIFORNIA CRAPE STAKE

PLqS

All species of cedar productsTreated and untreated poles for farm €, ranch supply dealers WHOLESALE ONLY

JACKSMTTH (4O8)637-745s

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67238 N. Blackstone, Fresno, Ca.93710

Old Gronth Douglas Fir

Green, Rough or Surfaced

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Home Insulation

The FTC Home Insulation Trade Regulation Rule requires all sellers to honestly represent the R-Values of the home insulation they sell.

It is designed to combat the consumer rip-offs involving home insulation which had been all too prevalent in the marketplace. Products almost as flimsy as foilwrapped cardboard were advertised and sold as the ultimate in home insulation.

Celotex, like other reputable manufacturers, is in compliance with the law. We have developed Fact Sheets which outline the insulating properties of our home insulation products. Our labeling, packaging, imprinting, literature, and advertising materials also have been brought into compliance as required.

We feel it's a good law benefiting the consumer; therefore, we're spending the necessary time to make sure this law is effective. Our sales representatives have been instructed to make certain that their customers understand the law and are able to discuss it with home buyers.

The possible $10,fi)0 fine for noncompliance is one incentive, but making sure that consumers are getting what they pay for is the ultimate goal.

Frank S. Burgen President Celotex Building Products Division Tampa, Fl.

West Well Represented

I received your January issue which is as informative and professionally competent as always and on behalf of this association I would like to thank you again for the exposure that you give us from time to time.

You will find enclosed the copy pertaining to NHLA and I would like to call your attention to the last sentence "None are from the West."

It is certainly true that none of the directors or officers that were elected at the last convention were from the West, however, you will notice in the margin of our letterhead that there are directors from Portland,Or., San Francisco and Los Angeles, Ca., and Phoenix, Az., and a past president from Oakland, Ca. In addition, our newly elected president, Paul Webster. has extensive hardwood interests in the State of Washington.

The Nominating Committees always make an effort to see that every geographical area and special interest group within our membership are represented on our board. In view of the fact that western representation was certainly present in fair proportion, the nominees this year did not include western people. I am certain that the policy of adequate representation will continue in the years to come and that you might expect additional nominees from the West as the individuals serve out their terms.

S. Carrol White Executive manager National

Hardwood Lumber Assn. P.O. Box 34518

Memphis, Tn. 38134

THE SAIL'S BACKWARD

Re sailing 'around the horn' per illustration in the J.E. Higgins Lumber ad page25, The Merchant, Jan. '81: Despite the vessel's chugging engine, it's hard to believe they ever made it with the large square sails being so strongly backwinded. Was the captain drunk?

Steve Frceman

Stephen G. Freeman & Co. P.O. Box 1445

Newport Beach, Ca. 92663

'iliit$Lillit$jlr.:i+,:i!:llillllll:r;liilll:itilt:lll,ilt$!:iilltlil$iitltl:iii:il:$

Spotlight on Cedar

Construction Concepts for use as a mailing piece or customer promotion is free from the Western Red Cedar Lumber Assn., Dept. 663, Yeon Bldg, Portland. Or.97?.04.

Clear as a Crystal

Catalog describing new clear packaging for locksets and security hardware is free from Kwikset Marketing Dept., 516 E. Santa Ana St., Anaheim, Ca. 92803.

Underfoot Fashion

New floor covering patterns with room settings and vignettes are in a catalog available free from Mannington Mills, P.O. Box 30, Salem, N.J. 08079.

Wood Production Figures

U.S. Production ond Trade in Lumber, Flooring, and Siding, U.S. ITC Publication 841, Control No. 2-l-3, is available free by calling ?12-5234125.

Security Check

Copies of the Industry Security Performance Standard No. I are available free from the Fir &HemlockDoorAssn., Yeon Bldg., Portland, Or.97?,44.

Cabinet Seller

A copy of the Certified-Cabinet Merchandiser is free from National Kitchen Cabinet Assn., Box 2978, Dept. CCM, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163.

Merchandising Concept

Publication 7718 describing their macro-retailing concept is free from Rust-Oleum Corp., ll Hawthorn Parkway, Vernon Hills, II. 60061.

Solar Heat Cell

How To Reduce Your Heat Atl/s, $9 plus $l postage and handling, or the Texxor Heat Cell demonstration kit with book, temperature indicator, and instructions, $18 plus $2 postage and handling from Texxor Corp., 9910 N. 48th St., Omaha, Nb. 68152.

What's On Top Counts

Sove on Home Heating and Cooling Costs: Insulate Your Attic Now is Qa with a stamped, self-addressed envelope from MIMA, 382 Springfield Ave., Summit, N.J.07901.

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Monolithic Pavement

Color brochure on Grasscrete structural paving system is free from Bomanite Corp., 8l Encina Ave., Palo Alto, Ca. 94301.

Barbecue Lighter

Information on no fluid, no electricity charcoal lighter for barbecues is free from John W. Mullins, Alma Products, 125 Alma St., San Francisco, C-a,, 94117.

Decks, Outdoor Projects

A new l0-p. brochure Decks and Outdoor Projects is free from GeorgiaPacific Corp., 900 S.W. Fifth Ave., Portland, Or.97?.04.

Roofing Relerence

Residentiol Aspholt RooJing Monual is $3, third cliass mail, or $3.50, first class mail, from Asphalt Roofing Mfrs. Assn., 1800 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 702, Washington D.C. 20036.

Architectural Products

Brochures on wall systems, bath and shower enclosures, sauna entrances, and sliding glass doors are free from Richard Church, Howmet Aluminum, P.O. Box 629, Terrell, Tx. 75160.

Merchandising Displays

For free information on end caP displays and other merchandising assortments write or call the Flecto Co., Inc. P.O. Box 12955, Oakland, Ca.94608.

Energy Saving Shades

Energy guard window shade information is free from Clopay CorP., Household Products Div., CloPaY Square, Cincinnati, Oh. 45214.

Wood Door Data

Fitting, hanging and finishing and wood door system air infiltration tests data sheets are free from the Fir & Hemlock Door Assn., Dept. DS-12, Yeon Bldg., Portland Or.972M.

Computerized Thermostat

Computerized thermostat brochure 14-6018 is free from Nutone Housing Group, Scovill Inc., Madison & Bank Rds., Cincinnati, Oh. 45227.

Upward Mobility

Catalog CL-182 of rolling metal ladders is free from Cotterman Co., 130 Seltzer Rd., Croswell, l.ldi. 4U22.

Energy Cost Cutter

Trimming Your Energt Costs in the Plywood ond Veneer Industry,5Gp., is $5 from the Hardwood Plywood. Mfr. Assn., P.O. Box/789, Reston, Ya.?21D0.

Better Shoveling

Literature on better shovels is free from International Reforestation Suppliers, Box 5547, Eugene, Or.97405.

SALES PERSTON for well established industrial lumber wholesaler serving greater Los Angeles, Ca., area. C.omplete milling facilities and excellent backup for person with following. Good fringe benefits and working conditions. Contact Al Foreman Ql3) 875-2511 or (213) 983-nn.

SALESPERSONS/BUYERS

PACIIIC STATES II\DUSTRIES (PSI) has immediate openings in its wholesale lumber division (No. Ca.) for experienced buyers and salespersons. Distribution yard experience dcired. Rernanufacturing knowledge a plus. Serving Ca. and national markets, PSI offers a base salary plus orcellent commission to the individuals who possess a strong buying and sales background. MedicaVDentaVlife included. Contact Dan Naughton at 40,8--429 MAt for interview, or send resume to Sales Manager, P.O. Box l3@, Morgan Hill, Ca. 95037.

EXPERIENCED pallet salesman. Ask for Carl Boesch, Hunter Woodworks, (2131 775-254.

MANAGER wanted for large retail lumber company in San Francisco, Ca. area. Excellent salary. Send resume to: Box 3&, c/o The Merchant Magazine.

LOCAL SOUTHERN California wholesale/contractor yard with planing and custom milling facility seeking experienced industrial salesman. Must be experienced in hardwood and softwood lumber and possess working knowledge of industrial trade. Please send inquiries to Box 396 c/o The Merchant Magazine.

TFTI.PTJONE SALES, pleasant telephone voice, light typing and basic familiarity with general office functions. Apply in person. Hunter Woodworks, 1235 E. 223 St., Carson, Ca, Ask for Tom.

LUMBER SALES

LONG established financially strong small independent wholesaler seeking lumber salesman to work from our Fort Bragg distribution yard. Contact Steve or Fred Holmes at (707) 96/.6177, Box 800, Ft. Bragg, Ca. 95437. Response will be kept in strict confidence.

WELL ESTABLISHED Portland wholesale lumber firm has opening for experienced trader with a proven track record. Excellent commission and fringes. Reply in confidence to Box 392 c/o The Merchant Magazine.

EXPERIENCED knife grinder. milling. Permanent job. Contact: t2ussl

INDUSTRHL LUMBER salesman needed. Call or see Wm. Hunter, Hunter Woodworks, 1235 E. 223 St., Carson, Ca. 90745 (2tt) 77s-254.

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ACCEPTING applications, resumes for qualified hardwood sales people. Experienced and familiar with Valley or Orange County, Ca., preferred. All company benefits, equal opportunity employen. Box 395 c/o The Merchant Magazine.

GENERAL MANAGER needed for retail lumber and hardware store. Ideal mid peninsula location in northern Ca. Well established business with industrial, commercial and retail trade. Need sharp manager with merchandising ability. Write Box 387 c/o The Merchant Magazine.

LUMBER SALES

WELL-FINANCED Los Angeles, Ca., area wholesaler/manufacturer needs aggressive experienced lumber traders. If you feel frustrated by organizations that do not offer unlimited sales and income opportunityours is the company for you. Salary commensurate with experience. Commissions directly proportionate with your profits. Complete medical & fringe benefits. Call Dave Betz l-800-4264190 for appointment.

6'Woods moulder with heads. Good working condition. $15,0m. Contact Jack O'Bannon Far West Fir Sales (714\ 8/.2{f,81

BARNWOOD

NATURALLY weathered, 60 year and older, quality selection, references available. F.O.B. Santa Cruz, Ca. Pacific Coast Shelter Inc. (,108) 427-2N7.

16,000 lb. Hyster Forklift. Good Condition. $12,995. Watts Lumber Co., North Hollywood, Ca. (213) 877-4129

RETAIL LUMBER Co. Big Bear Lake. Well established lumber business corporation with great potential. $420,000. plus inventory. O.W,C. own/bkr. Box 867 Big Bear Lake, Ca. 92315 (714) 866-3301 ll/hen sending in a change o.f address please include zip cocle on both old and new addrbsses and either the old label or rhe inlbrmation from it. Thanks!