Lacewood
Formal Name: Roupala montana

Other Names: Silky-oak, Australian Silky-oak, Northern Silky-oak, Queensland Silky-oak


Wood Description

The narrow sapwood ranges in color from almost white to pale yellow. Lacewood is pale pink to light reddish-brown in color, with a silver grain that gives the wood a silvery sheen. With age, the heartwood matures to a brownish color. Its conspicuous, large rays give it an appearance similar to Oak. The wood is straight-grained with a moderately coarse to even texture.

Region

Lacewood is believed to be native to Queensland, Australia, specifically in the northern coastal areas. Other species also are found in India and Indonesia.

Working Properties

While not as strong as Oak, Lacewood is a highly dense wood. While it works well with hand and machine tools, the high density causes a medium blunting effect on cutting tools. Lacewood has satisfactory gluing properties. It can be nailed or screwed easily without pre-boring. The wood has good sanding properties and turns well. It takes stain easily, and a good finish can be achieved with polishing.

Main Uses

A decorative wood, Lacewood is popular for ornamental furniture inlays. It can be peeled or sliced to produce decorative veneers, hence its popularity for paneling and in furniture and cabinet making.

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