Satinay

Satinay is a hardwood that also sometimes called Fraser Island Turpentine. As its name suggests, it is found mostly on Fraser Island, though it grows in small areas in Coolala on the mainland. As the area in which it grows has World Heritage listing, it is of limited commercial availability, but it has been used for flooring, paneling, decorative veneer, chisel handles, mallet heads and heavy furniture. 

The heartwood of satinay is reddish brown, while the sapwood is usually distinctively paler, and fuming with ammonia produces a greyish plum colour. The texture is relatively fine and even, and the grain rather interlocked, giving some ribbon figure to the radial surface, which also has a subdued ray fleck. The wood resembles turpentine but is easier to work, and the logs generally have very few defects.

The sapwood is not susceptible to lyctid borer attack and it is termite resistant. It also accepts preservatives easily. It is good for firm carving, though it is hard to glue and care is needed when dressing because of the interlocking grain. It takes polish, paints and stains well.