Stick #22

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On the 13th of October 2019 whilst peregrinating the RJ Hamer arboretum in the Dandenong ranges, specifically Manna gum track, I came across a silver wattle downed by windfall. This good sized straight stick caught my eye and was my companion for the day’s wander.

Acacia Dealbata is a fast-growing evergreen tree or shrub growing up to 30 m tall, typically a pioneer species after fire. The leaves are bipinnate, glaucous blue-green to silvery grey, 1–12 cm (occasionally to 17 cm) long.The fruit is a flattened pod 2–11.5 cm long and 6–14 mm broad, containing several seeds.^] Trees generally do not live longer than 30 to 40 years, after which in the wild they are succeeded by other species where bushfires are excluded. In moist mountain areas, a white lichen can almost cover the bark, which may contribute to the descriptor “silver” The Latin specific epithet dealbata also means “covered in a white powder”.

What is the wood used for?

http://worldwidewattle.com/schools/wurrundjeri.php#:~:text=Shields%2C%20digging%20sticks%2C%20spear%20throwers,had%20many%20uses%20for%20wattles.&text=In%20the%20Yarra%20Valley%20around,likes%20living%20near%20river%20banks.

Our first Nations people know this tree as Muyan. The Wurundjeri people note that when the blooming wattle flowers fall it is time to fish for eels. Eels feed on a particular grub that lives in the wattle flowers. This feeding is part of the eels preparation for their autumn migration. The wood was used for weapons and implements.

 This was my first specimen of dealbata that I have crafted. Back at the workshop, I removed the bark dabbed PVA glue over both ends and put it away for curing. On the 15th of March 2021 I began the crafting work. Acacia naturally splits, and this piece was no exception,  but it was not bad enough to consign to the firewood stack. No requirement for steam bending. Filled the cracks with Timbermate Blackwood Filler then sanded to 100 grit. The Handle was chamfered with a drawknife and a pocket knife. A 6mm hole was drilled for a leather lanyard. The tip was shaped for a brass cane tip and a 3/16th zinc coupler was fitted inside to harbour a 3/16th tapered bolt. The stick was then hand sanded through the grits from 120 to 600. The serial number was engraved at the foot of the stick. A final sanding of wet and dry from 800 to 1200. The stick was then finished with 1 coat of Sikkens exterior satin base coat walnut. A polish with a homebrew Yilang Yilang mix buffed with lambswool.

The completed stick length is 128.5 cm with the rubber stopper. It has a diameter of 26 to 21 mm and weighs 418 grams. It is suitable as a hand around hiking stick for heights of 170 cm to 190 cm. It was officially commissioned with serial #OOW22 on the 28th March 2021.