Bottlebrush, anyone???

[PilbaraBass]

Have any Luthiers here used Australian bottlebrush (banksia) for tops on any of their pieces?

I recently helped a friend clear an overgrown front garden and when we cut through one of the old bottlebrushes on the property, my jaw dropped.

It had a beautiful reddish/burgundy type tone offset by a lighter, almost golden bit of sapwood. GORGEOUS!

If ANYONE has used it for ANYTHING, I'd like to see some photos. Please?????

thanks

[PilbaraBass]

El Bumpo

[PilbaraBass]

BUMP-A-RONI

Wikipedia says this:

Woodworking
Banksia wood is a red colour with an attractive grain, but it is rarely used as it warps badly on drying. It is occasionally used for ornamental purposes, such as turnery and cabinet panelling, and has also been used to make keels for small boats. The large "cones" of B. grandis are used for wood-turning projects. They are also sliced up and sold as drink coasters; these are generally marketed as souvenirs for international tourists

I'm talking about using it as a top laminate...

ANYONE? ANYONE?
BUHLER? BUHLER?

[emils]

You never give up, don't you!

[FBB Custom]

I've never seen anything but the pods.

My guess is your best shot is to slice it thin, dry it VERY carefully. Glue it with a vacuum press if you can get one.