Macadamia branch gall WW casts

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Dai Sensei

Dai Sensei

Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Messages
482
Location
Gold Coast Queensland Australia
I found these strange looking lumps on some dead branches in the work carpark. I picked them up and put them in the car for casting, or turning, depending on how hollow they were. The next day I found the car full of black ants, the lumps contained a nest :redface:.

1_branch_ball1.jpg


The guys over here have told me it is a Macadamia tree, and the lumps are called Galls, caused by Hall Wasps. They are like mini burls with heaps of hollows the ants love building their nests in. Anyway, I cut the smaller one into slices, then placed the pieces in a tray mold and cast them with Antique Copper Pearlex PR resin.

1_branch_ball2.jpg


Finally got to turn one today for a GR gent II.

1_mac_gall5.JPG


I noticed from the photo the sizes of the blank didn't look right. I was quickly reminded by other members I have assembled the bottom half back to front, hence the component mismatch. Lucky the bottom half is easy to dissemble.

I'm going to cast some more next weekend, but this time I'll use just a little Pearlex and some blood red dye, as I think it will bring out some more of the reds that are in the timber naturally.

Cheers

The next
 
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Very nice looking pen. I had similar encounter with ants inside a mesquite log they were not much fun to deal with.
 
Ants huh? Good thing it wasn't those wasps!
Did you get the ants out of the car yet?

Sorry....been there, done that(different wood)..... Wife won't allow me to put anything in the truck cab now. But I digress.................



Great looking casting, and seeing the finished item helps even more. Can't wait to see what the red-ish cast looks like!





Scott (come on warm weather) B
 
Nice find! I like the character in the wood. I agree with you using something a little brighter in the next pour. Looking forward to seeing the next one.
 
Thanks for the comments.

We have had a heap of floods down this way so I have been pretty busy. The ants probably drowned :biggrin:, no sign of them now.

I'll post some more pics of the red ones when done.

Cheers
 
Sounds like fun. I too love playing with stuff like that. I like the look of the wood but as mite have figured out next one you cast try a more contrasting color. That looks like a dark wood so a lighter or brighter resin. I think the more contrast in color with worthless wood cast the better. I really like that wood and great story you never know what you going to find in wood.
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bruce119 said:
Sounds like fun. I too love playing with stuff like that. I like the look of the wood but as mite have figured out next one you cast try a more contrasting color. That looks like a dark wood so a lighter or brighter resin. I think the more contrast in color with worthless wood cast the better. I really like that wood and great story you never know what you going to find in wood.
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Click to expand...

I normally do use brightly coloured resins, like the below with Red Mallee. I wanted to try this stuff as I was under the impression it looked like the dark coolabah burl when cast. The next cast I do I am going to try some "blood red" dye I have, as I have had good results with that, and I like the colour :wink:. I might do some brights ones too. I'll post when finished.


1_red_mallee_casts.jpg
 
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