Cheese tree is usually found growing along creeks in sandstone country like
Carnarvon Gorge and the Springsure area. The tallest would be around 12
metres like the specimen pictured at left with trunks to about 400mm at the
base.
As a rainforest remnant, it does struggle out here in dry times but the fruit is
welcomed by native birds.
Cheese tree timber is very close-grained and is moderately heavy. I found it is
stable while drying, showing very little tendency to crack.
The timber is quite hard to turn but like most hard timbers, it scrapes well
- so well in fact that I was gob-smacked at the finish I could get off the
skew chisel and parting tool in scraper mode. You can see the fine shavings
produced and the excellent finish straight off the tools in this picture. Probably just
as well you can get a good finish off the tool too as it doesn't sand well at
all! Resists even the coarsest grits with ease!!
This natural-edged pot was finished with 3 or 4 coats of Kunos oil which bought
the colour out nicely. The separately turned feet are from Australian ebony.
