Blackbean - Castanospermum australe

Blackbean trees attain heights of 130ft with a diameter up to 4ft.  The bole is not prominently buttressed. At a distance the wood is not unlike European Walnut or ‘Queensland Walnut’ but is slightly heavier. The tree is found in the moist scrub forest from New South Wales to Queensland.

• Blackbean is one of the finest of the Australian woods for decorative purposes. It is used in cabinets making, joinery, furniture and interior fittings. It is used for decorative veneer.
• The sapwood is white to yellowish and up to seventy five millimeters wide which is very distinct from heartwood.  The heartwood is dark brown to chocolate, sometimes with fine white streaks from vessel content. It ages to almost black, relieved by paler tissue surrounding the vessels.
• A prominent figure caused mainly by tissue associated with the vessels. The grain is coarse and usually straight but can sometimes be interlocked. Vessel lines can be seen on longitudinal surfaces and rays are visible without a lens. The timber can feel greasy to touch.
• Seasoning is a delicate process. To avoid severe checking and collapse, slow drying is essential in well constructed, well protected stacks. If drying in a kiln the schedule must be mild. Stacks should be closely filleted and the end of boards should be coated with timber grease to reduce checking and splitting. 
• The timber is slightly difficult to work with either hand tools or machine tools as it has soft and hard patches and more care than usual will need to be applied. A clean finish is obtained in most operations. It has reasonably good nailing and screwing properties, the finishing treatments give excellent results. The dust can cause dermatitis and irritation of mucous membranes. Dust extractors, good ventilation and masks are strongly recommended.
• Suitable for boat building, furniture and cabinet making, plywood, musical instruments, joinery, turnery, paneling and flooring.