I was watching a show the other night in which Kaori wood was discussed. This native of New Zealand is a very old species and trees are being recovered from bogs which are 35,000 – 50,000 years old. The conditions in the bogs preserves the wood and gives it a very beautiful sheen. I Googled Kaori and found very little information about it. Mostly resorts in the South Pacific with woodwok done in Kaori. Even Google New Zealand didn’t have a source for purchasing it as far as I could tell. Do any of you have any experience with Kaori? How about a source for purchasing it? I’m looking for the old stuff pulled from a bog, not newly harvested stuff. I have a woodworking project in mind for the wife and I want to use very special wood.
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If you do a search for kauri wood (spelled with a U) you'll get some information. Could this be what you were looking for?
Just got back from a trip to NZ. This is very prized wood and not harvested any longer except in rare cases. Most of the items that are made from it are recycled from other items. We have a couple of bowls and jewelry box the wood is great.
Ahhhh - summertime in NZ is FINE, fine indeed.
(I better shut up since I never shared any of my NZ pics on BT from my 3 weeks there last Feb07...well, unless my profile pic counts?)
"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."
— Kahlil Gibran
Kia Ora Mate, sorry I didn't relpy sooner, been at the Rolex24 at Daytona. I hope to post a couple of building pics from NZ soon. I just takes me time to wade thru them. By the way Wife and I did the 86KM Heaphy Track the last week we were there. That is where you see some of these trees still standing, magnificent.
When I was there over 20 years ago we stayed only on the North Island and people were trying to get us to go to the south island where they had lots of snow, mountains and trees.
Coming from Canada it was a no brainer to stay in the warmer North Island.Like duh!
roger
You really missed something.
Both islands are beautiful and even in the South Island there are many places you can swim. But I agree, Abel Tasman is not Pahia
Re Kauri: Talked to people who had Kauri furniture in their homes. Very rare, now that the trees are protected. They get some occasional limbs but the tree harvesting is practically over. What is available now is mostly small short stuff used for bowls, spoons, etc.
Another option would koa wood from Hawaii but it is not readily available either.
I have only been there in November (twice) and I found the weather to be close to the same. It is like saying that it is warner in Georgia than in South Carolina in May, a matter of a few degrees. The south Island has fewer people and more open spaces. Toured the north island this time for a week and found it very nice also, still prefer tramping in the south though.
yes, and when you consider that almost a third of the population lives around Auckland.
What I really liked was: you hardly saw any overhead wiring. Very friendly folks. Little traffic in the country.
The only time I spent on the North Island of NZ was at the Auckland airport transferring en route to Christchurch airport (CHC) on the south island.
And everything I see posted here by you and others who've made the Kiwi trek - is right on the money! Even someone's remark about GA and SC (having lived in SC...I got a clue bout their climate too...)! <g>
Here's a few pictures taken from the plane, on approach to NZ...fun to reminisce looking at these:
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Gotta git back there. Never been anywhere else during my entire life and my int'l travels to date, where a country and its people grabbed my fancy as totally and deeply as the Kiwis and NZ...
"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."
— Kahlil Gibran
What happens in NZ, stays in NZ?
LOL
now now
methinks you're thinkin..."vegas, baby"!
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"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."
— Kahlil Gibran
McK
Try asking this question over at KNOTS - I'd bet you get some good info regarding the wood.
Doug
There's a site I saw in FWW- ancientwood.com or something real close to that. Great pix of individual slabs, with pricing out of the world. Make sure you're wearing a bib when you go there.
Steve
That is the right site!
Dang it boy......That wood is not cheap! A 12"sq log 12' long is $5000
Four pieces for turners are $200.......If I get good after Shep shows me a thing or two I may spring for some! :-)
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
As stated before, they are protected. Very few of them left. I have a picture of me standing beside I think the biggest and I think the trunk must be at least 10 feet across though the tree isn't really that tall. In north america a tree 10 feet across is usually coniferous and really tall but in New Zealand they are I believe deciduous.
I read something about the sap of these trees, which I guess used to drip on the ground for centuries, used to be dug up and sold I think for varnish or something. Apparently there was more money in that than the trees. Times change.
roger
Very good article in Smithsonian on the pox that's harming the Kauri.
ck this out:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/phenom-yi07.html
"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."
— Kahlil Gibran
When we were in N.Z. in '99 we went to Dargaville to a mill. There was a wood turner there named Rick Taylor, had a great shop and was knee deep in turnings. Bought a bowl, 'bout 4000 years old. Dark brown in color. Anyway, there are very few people licensed over there to dig out the swamp or bog Kauri. The giant live trees are now protected, and I do mean GIANT. They are a smooth white barked tree on the order of our giant Redwoods. Saw one in the Kauri museum that was cut in half (14' diam.) and 30' long piece. It is said that when a gummer went up sometimes they would drop one of their two hand prongs and just have to wait and die on a branch or jump to their death. They climbed with two foot prongs and two hand held hooks, something like an ice hook. Just a few thoughts on the Kauri.
Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
It is said that when a gummer went up sometimes they would drop one of their two hand prongs and just have to wait and die on a branch or jump to their death. They climbed with two foot prongs and two hand held hooks, something like an ice hook. Just a few thoughts on the Kauri.
What in the hey is a gummer?
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
I guess a guy who was getting gum or sap from the tree. As I mentioned in an earlier thread I think the sap was worth more than lumber.
It took me a several reads to figure out what he meant.
A gummer (a guy) would climb up this smooth trunked tree , very high with those special climbing tools. If he lost his grip on the tools and dropped one, WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY down. He was stuck without any means of getting down.
roger
Ahhhh, ok, I see now! Thanks!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Sorry about not explaining better, but you guys came through and fig'red it out ok. They tell of actually finding parts of skeletons up in the trees. We're headed back there next month for some tramping with a Toyota Camper Van on South Island. M'be we'll even run into Gandolf in them high mountains. The Kauri forest is on the North Island. We'll be checking out some of the South Island wood workers, I hope.Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
Take a cell phone encase you too get stuck!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Yep, we got the Wife's set up for International calling, didn't want mine, don't want no business calls to bother me nohow, noway. We did the north half of North Island last time, traded two houses here for two over there. Worked out just fine. Had a little car trouble one day, but "no problem mate", as people stopped to see what they could do, even towing us 30km to a gas station. The guy worked on it for 2.5 hrs. and no charge, so we had him tow it to Auckland to the HO's regular mechanic. We paid him more than he wanted for the tow. Very hard to tip the people over there. They just want to help you. Wonderful. Starting to get excited now, but how am I going to finish up all these projects here if I keep typing on this site????Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
A pic of the Kauri bowl.
Oh well, I put it in twice, I'll get the hang of this dang machine someday.Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
Edited 1/27/2008 9:23 pm by Hoohuli
Here's a pic of a Koa table I have on the lanai, measures 8' x 2' x 2". Temporary legs until I find something in raw wood that looks good. With our plexiglass panels on top we can seat 10 easily around it and still see it through the glass. I just use oil on it for protection.Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
Nice work and a good piece of wood with flame!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Mahalo, I've got one more piece that is still rough cut, but it is 3' x 6' x3" with the natural edge only on one side. The other three sides are all straight, so maybe a desk top or something. It's been stored under the house now for 12 years, don't want to rush into anything. Still needs to be planed, sanded, lots of work there. Koa is a neat looking wood.Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
Since we are best friends and you really don't need it............ LOL
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Being friends and an ex-Army Grunt I don't think I understand what a jarhead would do with a really nice piece of wood????????????Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
Being friends and an ex-Army Grunt I don't think I understand what a jarhead would do with a really nice piece of wood????????????
LOL!!!
We'll just leave that alone!!! LOL
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Actually, mahalo to you for your Service and if you were here I would give the piece to you, but shipping from or to here is a real killer. Same with shipping from N.Z. only 10 times worse!!!!! We love the licorice from down there and had some friends pick up a couple of pounds for us, then they had to buy a bag to bring it home in because the shipping was almost $80. We bought the bag and the candy from them, way cheaper than shipping it back.Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
I LOVE that "no tipping" culture in NZ. I like that they work for a LIVING WAGE (i.e. something one can actually live on!) in NZ, whether that's gas station attendant or busboy or waitress or whatever. I found it disturbing to see that the influence of foreigners is starting to cause a "tip/appreciation cup" to be at a few cashier's stands in NZ when I was in CHC.
I feel we really should try hard not to corrupt their culture with our ways. (ok, I'll get off my soapbox now).
Your experience with Kiwis being so helpful and friendly and not wanting/expecting/taking a "tip" for their assistance - is the norm, I found. Just absolutely awesome people. The practice of treating others as you'd like to be treated, is readily seen there on a daily basis.
They epitomize that Maori saying, which I can't remember exactly but to paraphrase:
what is the most important thing in this life? it is people, people, people.
It's just kinder, gentler style of human interaction there. And at same time, they're brutally honest in their signage (e.g. "SMOKING KILLS") etc... and quite no-nonsense in their immigration laws, and legal stance on personal accountability (e.g. you wanna do what? ok, then sign off your rights to sue here...and we'll let you do it as safely as we know how to make it.) I just found that whole combination, refreshing, enchanting, and wholly enticing.
"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."
— Kahlil Gibran
Hoohui posted nice pic of a Kauri bowl.
Since someone also mentioned Koa - also very nice, but different, here's pic of a Koa box for comparison.
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"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."
— Kahlil Gibran
Been to NZ a couple of times, the first time was about 8 weeks and the last a few days. I found the young Mauri boys must be about the biggest young males I ever see. I would take notice of these guys walking around and their calves were the size of my thighs. This was a common observation.
I would really like to read more about the Mauri Wars where they battled the British. Even just one of these guys rushing at me, regardless if he was armed or not, would scare the hell out of me.
roger
I saw some VERY HEALTHY sized young men while in NZ; but learned it is not always easy to tell by sight, who's got native Maori blood in them, and who doesn't.
The first time I saw some young Maori in semi-traditional garb was in Christchurch at one of the museum's grounds - at a reflecting pool actually, where a young Maori troupe was putting on singing and dancing demonstration - as part of fundraising efforts by their group, to be able to go to some big annual competition.
My brother and I stopped and watched and listened. Here's pic from that day.
"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."
— Kahlil Gibran
Those guys don't look native to me. The ones I used to see all over the North Island all had black hair and looked Hawaiin. I think I read that they were polynesean(?). Did I mention they were BIG I mean REALLY FRIGGIN BIG.
I'm 6-1 and they seemed to tower over me and they were WIDE andSOLID.
roger
oh
OK!
"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them."
— Kahlil Gibran
There is an account of the Maori Wars in Queen Victoria's Little Wars by Byron Farwell. Another reference on the Maori is Queen Victoria's Enemies (4): Asia, Australasia and the Americas by Ian Knight. It is #224 in the Osprey Men-At-Arms series. I picked up both of these books on eBay for just a few dollars.
BTW kauri wood is "Agathis Australis" if anyone cares.
Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)