Bootlace Oak

    (hakea chordophylla)

Also known as: Northern corkwood, Bull oak

Bootlace Oak isn't exactly common but you see enough around that it's not on the endangered list. The specimen pictured below is about as big as they get around here and I don't think he's going to last much longer because of the trunk damage (and I continue to check on it after every storm!).

About 6 metres high and 200mm diameter at the deck, there wouldn't be much useable timber in one but it does have a nice oak 'fleck' to the quarter sawn face.

I have acquired a tree that had died from the drought but I don't know that I'll ever try and use the timber. Just 2 cuts through the 200mm trunk rendered the chainsaw blade useless due to the timbers abrasiveness/hardness. This problem lends weight to my theory regarding drought-killed trees taking up more silica than normal as I have seen this with several other species. It also seems to affect the colour of the timber, changing it to a bland grey - all in all, not a very appealing turning proposition!

Regardless of it's value as a timber, I think they're an awesome looking tree, particularly when in flower (August-ish).

For the time being, my knowledge of this timbers turning qualities is restricted to this small green sample that I turned my 'sample' egg from. Much like Silky oak - machines well, sands well and really soaks up the finish.

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