gidgee

[bigbob]

Anyone know the area purple gidgee is endemic and identification notes?

[kerry]

we lived out Charleville way when i was a kid, it used to grow out that way, don't know if it was purple gidgee but sure did pong.

[bigbob]

Thanks Kerry. Got a vague idea that there was some reference to smell in whatever I was reading. Dementia kicking in! Think it might have merit as a riser material.

[Stickbow Hunter]

Gidgee has a smell all its own Bob; especially when things are damp. Can't help you with your Purple Gidgee question I'm sorry.

Jeff

[Gringa Bows]

I read somewhere that Gidgee turns purplish with age......ive used it in tips and highlights,very nice stuff

[bigbob]

Thanks Jeff and Rod, will keep it in mind.

[slvrslngr]

Contact Rob Nichol of Flatline Bows, he scored a piece of purple gidgee and used it in my and a couple other of his bows. It definitely has a purple hue to it and Rob told me it should continue turning purple as it ages.

[bigbob]

Thanks slv knew i read about it somewhere, it was on Robs posts.

[Flatliner]

Hey Bob, I got the Purple Gidgee from a local timber merchant here in Cairns who had a palet of meter long logs ranging in diameter from 100mm to 150mm. The piece I bought was 150mm and the only one out of the lot that was any thing like straight and cost $168
From what Ive read the purple one is found in small pockets ranging from about my latidude down to mid NSW and at least 2-300 KM off the coast. At that price I wouldn't mind finding a patch my self, just need the time to go and look,,,,,,one day ,,,,,can't wait for one day, heeps of stuff's gona happen when it finally gets here.

Rob.

[danceswithdingoes]

Lots near Narrabri in the Pilliga

[bigbob]

Thanks Rob and Dances, guess I'll file it in my memory bank for now Wont be getting too far into the scrub at the moment.

[jonow]

Not sure whether it is purple gidgee or not but I live pretty close to a couple of varieties of gidgee here.
I have a pile of dead stuff in the front yard for cooking outside with
If I can be of any assistance let me know, I know gidgee is a beautifully dark heart wood.

Jono

[bigbob]

Thanks for your answer Jono, looking at your location to mine I 'm afraid the distance involved would make it impractical, but thanks greatly for your post. Its just something i thought if it was available locally [ and it may well be] i might be able to source some here.

[perry]

I cut a Purple Gidgee Tree back in 95 on a huge Property that had the Bulloo River Flowing through it out Quilpie way, Something like 80 Miles x 30 Miles x 45 Miles or something equally as Big. Had the Dog Fence running through it and we Camped at the 50 Mile Hut - literally 52 Miles from the Homestead.

I made a Selfbow and dozens of Footed Arrows from the section of Trunk I brought home. I can't remember but I think I destroyed that Bow in one of my how far can I push this Timber experiments. I don't recall it being a better Shooter than any other Aussie Hardwood Bow I'd ever made

I do remember the Chainsaw had a hell of a time cutting through it and like all that type of Tree [ Gidgee , Brigalow, Mulga ] tightly grained and was Work to Split. Gorgeous bright Purple Heartwood and a Pale Yellow Sapwood. Darkened as it seasoned and did I mention it is Hard, bloody hard. Locals out there call it Dead Finish and reckon it's great for Fence Posts

From memory it had a longer more Silver Leaf than Garden Variety Gidgee, a Yellow Flower ??? and a distinctive odour. Stained my Hands bad aswell. I never got back out to that Property, I would like to bring home another Silver Gidgee Tree. Last Tree I bought home was a Beefwood, back in 08. Beefwood makes a beatifull Bow Lamination, still have some Laminations here somewhere and hundreds of Arrow Footings cut up.

regards Perry

[bigbob]

Great info Perry. I recall that there was a tree up around my previous stomping grounds of N.Q that the locals referred to as dead finish. It was just a tree that i thought if I came across some at some time it might be useful.