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Banksia Nuts for Turning

Banksia Nuts turn beautifully to reveal swirling, speckled grain much like walnut burl—great for ornaments and small vases!
Item #
31104
Rating:
86% of 100
(18)

Banksia nuts are the fruit of a small tree that grows in the remote deserts of Western Australia. Once turned, they have a similar color and texture to walnut burl, with an exotic twist featuring beautiful, patterned voids. The nuts have been dried for years after harvesting, and have a hard, solid consistency, especially towards the center. They take excellent detail on the lathe, and the material is easy to turn, though a dust mask is recommended to protect against flying seed and dust.

(1) Banksia Nuts for Turning
More Information
Weight 1.2500
Tech Spec
  • Each Banksia Nut is approximately 6'' to 10'' long (average 7'' - 8'')
  • Approximate diameter is 2-1/2'' to 4'' (average 3'')
  • Sometimes called Banksia Pods or Banksia Cones
  • Easy to turn, and great for small ornamental projects
Length Nominal
Width Nominal
Thickness Nominal
Blank Type Wood
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4.3 / 5.0
18 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
11
4
2
0
1
Cool tuning
Cool turning project makes for a great discussion piece
October 10, 2019
Purchased
 2 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Advanced
Great product
Very good size and have not turned a raw one yet. Have turned pen blanks and loved them
September 24, 2019
Purchased
 2 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Advanced
Fun item for turning!
Nice pods for turning bottle opener handles. Will also try some other items.
I made a bottle opener with blue resin in the openings. It came out pretty well!
I made a bottle opener with blue resin in the openings. It came out pretty well!
June 29, 2019
Purchased
 5 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
it is so cool
It is so cool that i cannot bring myself to turn this thing. So many ideas, and it is so unique, I just have it on my desk. My son thinks its a dragon/dinosaur egg. Little worried about him, being 35 and all, but at least he has stopped writing to santa.
....I think.
Anyway, it is something to own however you use it, and thank you Rockler for bringing this special item into my life.
May 18, 2019
Purchased
 6 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
Attached is picture of Banksia Nuts in a newest pool cue.
Here is the pool cue finished using two Banksia nuts. It was a unique expierence for me to work with this type of wood.
Pool Cue using two turned Banksia Nuts 1
Pool Cue using two turned Banksia Nuts 2
Pool Cue using two turned Banksia Nuts 3
February 18, 2019
Purchased
 9 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
banksia nuts
great for small projects
February 13, 2019
Purchased
 9 months ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
Too early
Haven’t cut in it yet.
March 12, 2018
Purchased
 1 year ago
Woodworking Experience:
Advanced
nice
made some candle sticks with these.. Very neat look
January 22, 2018
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Odd Turning Experience
Fortunately I met someone at Rockler that had already turned one of these nuts, and he gave me lots of tips. Use a good face shield because there will be seeds remaining in the nut, and when your turn it they fly! Use very sharp tools. I think the result is a unique piece and I would definitely turn more of these. I've never seen these Banksia nuts and am glad I had the experience to turn one.
Banksia Nut Turned Pot
Banksia Nut Turned Pot
December 23, 2017
Purchased
 1 year ago
A fun project that came out well
User submitted image
Added Dec 16, 2016
December 16, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
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Browse 6 questions Browse 6 questions and 51 answers
Why did you choose this?
Rockler Store
Looks interesting
cary j on Nov 10, 2019
These make some really cool turnings when filled with colored epoxy.
JOHN P on Oct 27, 2019
Looks interesting
cary j on Nov 10, 2019
I am interested in a new project with new turning materials. These look awesome and I want to try them.
Jimmy S on Nov 1, 2019
These make some really cool turnings when filled with colored epoxy.
JOHN P on Oct 27, 2019
Turning Project
jeffdawgfan on Jul 20, 2019
Bought one and tried it, loved it and now ordering more. Bigger ones if you can. Thx.
Mitchell M on May 7, 2019
Please try to pick a larger one. I want to make a vase for my Mother.
Mitchell M on Apr 28, 2019
My dog ate 1 of a pair of candle holders made from these.
John H on Feb 19, 2019
I'll use as a part of a pool cue, core out with a bright colored wood dowel.
Richard B on Jan 27, 2019
Wanted something different
Harry C on Jan 26, 2019
Looking for something fun and different to try on my lathe.
David C on Nov 28, 2018
just getting some wood
Robert R on Dec 27, 2017
wanted make some xmas tree ornaments
Ronald G on Dec 5, 2017
looks like great handle for a knife
stephen p on Mar 25, 2017
To turn tea candle holders. Beautiful !!
MIKE T on Feb 20, 2017
price was right
james z on Jan 20, 2017
As a gift for my father-in-law, who enjoys wood turning.
Chris A on Dec 26, 2016
Got a new lathe. Trying new turning challenges
Brian P on Dec 24, 2016
Christmas present
Janice K on Dec 13, 2016
A Christmas present, something different that my dad has not tried to turn before.
Tracy M on Dec 5, 2016
Looking for something to spark my creativity at the lathe!
Bryan C on Dec 1, 2016
Using for Christmas gift
MICHAEL S on Nov 28, 2016
Always wanted to turn a Bansia Pod pen blank. Great price, made the time right to give it a try.
Joseph L on Nov 24, 2016
first time making this pen
LAZARO M on Jun 23, 2016
Something different to try to turn.
Earl Fogler - C/O Baylor College of M on May 22, 2016
interesting
robert r on May 19, 2016
Christmas ornament
JAMES E on Mar 4, 2016
Some new and different that we thought would challenge us.
Diane on Dec 23, 2015
I think my dad will have fun with this for Christmas!
Laura M on Dec 18, 2015
Saw a video about turning these, and they look like a lot of fun to turn.
Brian A on Dec 14, 2015
I don't think my husband has turned this before and I thought he might enjoy something different. Good stocking stuffer!
Lois W on Dec 14, 2015
Unique. Turned them on the lathe, making a candle holder. Looks sweet.
Tim L on Nov 28, 2015
I made flower pots from them
D B on Nov 13, 2015
For Pen Blanks
Herb M on Oct 3, 2015
I wanted it.
Matthew K on Sep 30, 2015
I love turning something different & they are cool. If you can get me one's that are cone shape with not to many void's I would greatly appreciate it THANK YOU Greg.
Greg H on Aug 16, 2015
To try lathe turning into something nice.
Linda S M on Jul 16, 2015
bought this in australia and love it
Kavita N on Jun 16, 2015
Pen design
Patrick L on May 19, 2015
I saw them in the store, and they looked very unique. It will be fun to turn them into something nice.
Steven G on May 11, 2015
Wanted to try to turn these.<br /><br />Went fine-very light cuts!
Mark G on Apr 24, 2015
I am interested in a new project with new turning materials. These look awesome and I want to try them.
Jimmy S on Nov 1, 2019
Turning Project
jeffdawgfan on Jul 20, 2019
New to me. How and with what do you turn them? Tools?
Jill L on May 31, 2015
BEST ANSWER: Square the end off as parallel as you can in a chop saw. Mount between centers and turn the outside husk off the pod. There is a "hairy" layer under the crust. Turn through that to get to the hard center and go from there. I always cut a tenon on the bottom end and use my chuck after I get the husk off it. You can cut the tenon first and dehusk in the chuck as well. I use carbide turning tools but sharp HSS will work also. Wear PPE, face shield as sometimes seed will fly out of the holes and wear a long sleeve shirt. I have found the crusty husk can be irritating to your skin. Enjoy
Do these need to be stabilize first before filling in the voids with resin?
DCRIII on Jun 7, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I personally have not filled any of the pods but I would not think they need to be stabilized prior to filling. Once you get the crusty exterior and hairy fiber layers off of the core it is pretty hard and resilient. I have never found them to be unstable at all. They turn beautifully
Do you need to have some type of respirator or mask?
Aiden N on Jul 1, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Oh, indeed! My wife's the one who used it, and, besides wearing a respirator, she wheeled the mini lathe out into the driveway where there was a brisk breeze blowing..
Would you be able to use these for pepper mills? Need a liner of some kind?
Mark G on Dec 28, 2015
BEST ANSWER: Would need a liner of some kind as the holes go through to the center after hollowing.
Prop 65 WarningWARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding or machining wood products can expose you to wood dust, a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/wood.
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