Anyone ever turn acacia?

[Rick Bailey]

I got a big one down on my property.

[Roger Chandler]

Pretty stable wood.....good to turn. I had a couple of pieces gifted to me from a turner in Arizona.....they were small pieces, so small projects.

[Brian Kent]

I turned some black acacia that was great. Then last night I tried to turn some acacia that had fallen in a windstorm and it was like turning a bundle of straw. So I recommend - give it a try but it may be firewood.

[Rick Bailey]

This guy is a would say about 14'' round and just went down last weekend.
What dose it look like when turned?

[Rick Bailey]

Here's a shot of it.
334350

[Justin Stephen]

No, but I once peed on one in Africa while keeping a lookout for lions.

[Brice Rogers]

In January, one of my acacia trees tipped over in some wind. It was about 20 years old and maybe was 8 or 9 inches wide. The color of the wood is very pretty ranging from yellow to dark brown. Nice striping. I think that you'll like it.

I only rough turned it and wrapped the edge with stretch-wrap. I'll know better how it works when I second turn it. I took a picture of a rough turned bowl and I'll post it if I can find it.

[robert baccus]

The word "acacia" is like saying wood. There are boo-coo species all over the world. Here we have Mimosa which is beautiful but affects breathing for many. Mimosa ia an import but Honey and black locust are native.

[Rick Bailey]

No, but I once peed on one in Africa while keeping a lookout for lions.


Thanks Justin,
You just made me spit my drink all over my laptop. LOL.:D

[Rick Bailey]

Thanks Brice,
I just didn't want to die for a hunk of tree.:D
Is this stuff toxic?
I would love to see some pics of it turned.

[Rick Bailey]

Robert,
Didn't know that.
Tell me more sir.

[Ron Rutter]

It is nice looking wood! Use it!

[Reed Gray]

I have only turned a few pieces of it. Most of it was pretty splintery, but had some dark reddish color to it. I believe Koa is a variety of acacia.

robo hippy

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I believe Koa is a variety of acacia.

robo hippy

Yes, koa is an acacia. As Robert said, there are tons of acacias. We have a couple acacias here, the "true" acacia koa and the formosa acacia (Formosan koa). Well, we have more than 2 but those are the 2 I know about and like to turn. I just turned about 10 koa pen blanks today. Koa is real pretty.

No lions. LOL. Good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I read that.:eek:

[Jim Colombo]

I turned some once and never will again. The wood was beautiful but so porous that my vacuum chuck couldn't hold it when I tried to finish the bottom.

[John Beaver]

Indeed, lots of types of Acacia. Usually turns pretty well wet, but can be prone to cracking so take precautions. Can be very hard when dry. Prettiest wood I ever got was Black Acacia.

[Stan Smith]

Yes, koa is an acacia. As Robert said, there are tons of acacias. We have a couple acacias here, the "true" acacia koa and the formosa acacia (Formosan koa). Well, we have more than 2 but those are the 2 I know about and like to turn. I just turned about 10 koa pen blanks today. Koa is real pretty.

No lions. LOL. Good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I read that.:eek:

I have 4 ukuleles, but only one is koa. I'm very careful with it. Bought in Kauai while on vacation. Beautiful instrument with sweet sound.

[Jeffrey J Smith]

I picked up some black acacia from an old friend in CA who builds custom furniture - some call it California Koa. He gets interesting woods from an arborist, trades a share of the log to a friend with a portable mill, then airdries slabs before milling for projects. This log was over 30" in diameter. It had a similar look to walnut with a coarser texture. It is extremely heavy, dense with a grain pattern like black locust. It did turn nicely. I've still got a few chunks and roughed blanks - still waiting for the shop (2-3 months more to go.
Here's a couple shots of the haul.
334561334562
Here are some quick shots of the first test from one of the blanks we cut that day. The largest is 17" x 4-1/2". Apologies for the quickie photos
334569334570

[John Grace]

Combining the posts of two others...I've turned Koa on a number of occasions it turns wonderfully with beautiful coloring when 'fresh'. Once it dries out too much, however, I have found that the comment of 'straw-like' comes to mind...the wood becomes too brittle. Try it...nothing ventured after all.

[Barry Richardson]

I have turned turned most of the ones we have here locally. Like Robert says, Acacia is a very general term, it's the most abundant and widely distributed tree in the world. and the wood varies a lot between types. The one in your pic looks like nothing I have ever worked with, but all I have turned have been worthwhile...

[Peter Blair]

I have turned it and found the dust to be a little more difficult to deal with than most of the other woods I turned. Please be aware of this and wear a good quality respirator. The pieces I turned are all from burls which are beautiful. I cored a set of three and a half and dyed them. The turned out pretty cool looking with the dark bark, very light next layer and darker center.

[George Guadiane]

There are a number of varieties of acacia, including Koa from Hawaii and black acacia which is from Australia I believe.
It is generally GREAT to turn and, so far as I know, not on the danger list. I have turned a number of pieces without difficulty.

[Dok Yager]

Rick, I have turned a number of pieces of Acacia here in AZ. The most prevalent is the "sweet acacia" that is a desert native and grows quite well and fast. There are two others found here. The wood is nice and turns well and comes out with some nice character.