Author Topic: Is this an Australian hardwood??... (Read 1270 times)

KiwiCharlie · « **on:** June 18, 2005, 12:50:17 am »

Hi Guys,
Im pretty sure this is an Aussie hardwood but would like a positive ID if possible. The colouring is is very red, and its very dense wood. The grain is a little wavy in places, but mainly is tiny small flecks (almost like oak). I guess its one of the eyucalypts?
I left it a bit late to take photos this evening, so will try for some better ones in the morning, but these 2 should get you going!

Cheers
Charlie.

sawmillsi · « **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2005, 01:21:01 am »

Hi mate,

Could you supply some more information?

Specifically:

Description of tree (pics if possible), including bark, leaves and if possible woody seed capsuls.

Simon

KiwiCharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2005, 04:25:53 am »

G'day Si,
Sorry - only have the sawn wood! It was a packet of timber at work, that had water stain (turns out only about 30% in round the edge of the pack) and some sticks had cupping. They sent it down to our shed to use for for packaging material!!

I went through it and found some nice sticks.
I know what your thinking - ask them what it is! Apparently its been in the yard for years, and no one really could tell me with any certainty what it is!

From what I can find on the web, it could be Ironbark, Jarrah or maybe Saligna.
This web site - http://www.batangabee.com/whiterbros/timber.htm - has some pics, and the colour of the Ironbark and Jarrah are pretty close to what Ive got.
I will try to get some better pictures in the morning.
Cheers
Charlie.

KiwiCharlie · « **Reply #3 on:** June 18, 2005, 06:08:18 pm »

Hi Guys,
Heres a couple more close up pics. The surface has been planed, but it hasnt made it totally smooth. The tiny flecks that you see are actually indentations in the surface. There are also small spots of what Im guessing is gum resin in places.

Cheers
Charlie.

Ianab · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2005, 08:37:08 pm »

99% sure it's one of the Eucalypts

The grain pattern in the last picture is the same as the bluegum (E globulus) that I've got in the shed. Colour is wrong for that though.

The Euc's are tricky enough to tell apart when you can look at the tree, let alone just a sample of wood. It's probably very hard and strong wood though? Usefull for something even if it remains known as 'mystery gum'

Cheers

Ian

KiwiCharlie · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2005, 10:22:40 pm »

Hi Ian,
Yes, very hard and durable! Will be used for something for sure, even if I cant ID it! Really nice colour to it.
Cheers
Charlie.

sprucebunny · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2005, 11:24:46 pm »

I don't know anything about native woods down there but that looks alot like a mahogany or luan

Tom · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2005, 08:55:59 am »

I sawed some Jarrah for a fellow that brought bridge timbers back from the Perth area. It looks quite a bit like what you picture. The grain is a bit course but the stuff is so hard that it polishes anyway. He was going to use it for table tops. His beams were 14 and 16 inches square and I cut as wide as I could.

He truned a bottle stopper for me and gave me a 3"x3"x6" piece too. My wife has put them in a "safe" place. If I can find them, I put a picture on the forum.

sawmillsi · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2005, 01:21:13 am »

Hi Charlie,

If the timber was grown in NZ then I think it would probably be the Sydney Blue Gum (euc. saligna).

KiwiCharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2005, 02:31:40 am »

Hi Tom,
Jarrah is a very nice timber - I saw a load arrive in just this week (from Australia) but it was much darker than the wood Ive got. Very hard and would make a great flooring wood. Yes the grain is quite coarse. Its a really nice timber to look at, colour-wise.

Si - I would say it came from Australia, as we get a lot of wood from you guys. We do get Saligna, other eucs, and woods like Spotted Gum and Tasmanian Oak (Victorian Ash?).
I was told by someone at work that the wood I have is Saligna, but they werent 100% sure.
Cheers
Charlie.

Ernie · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2005, 04:22:21 am »

KiwiCharlie

I've got some saligna stacked in the paddock, it's too dark now 9:35 pm but in the morning I'll take a couple of pics and post them so you can compare.

KiwiCharlie · « **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2005, 11:27:32 pm »

Hi Ernie,
That would be good. Thanks.
Charlie.

Arthur · « **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2005, 12:16:48 am »

KiwiCharlie

Im sure simon can ID the wood with some additional info.

how heavy?

kg/cu m. Bluegum is half that of iron bark.

how hard?

can you put a nail in and draw it out again without effort for do you need to drill first and then never get it back out???

Ive just been dressing some pink bloodwood and turps. The turps looks close to that grain and colour, but then so do a number of others.

I can tell that its not grey ironbark or tallowood, mountain ash or tasi bluegum.

arthur

Ernie · « **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2005, 02:08:51 am »

Sorry Charlie

No pic today, I went to town early and didn't get home till after dark, these short days are a real pain.

oops got to go, the test is just starting.

KiwiCharlie · « **Reply #14 on:** June 26, 2005, 12:29:59 am »

Hi Arthur,
Im not making it easy am I!!

My very basic weight figures would make it 750kg/m3. I would drill it first if I was going to be nailing.
Thanks for the input.

Ernie - I know what you mean! I head off to work in the dark, and its more or less dark when I get home!
Cheers
Charlie.

Arthur · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2005, 03:36:54 am »

charlie

with that weight it is most not likly to be turps or ironbark as they are up around the 1400kg mark.

Sydney Bluegum is about 670kg and somewhat soft although when dry will split when nailed.

Flooded gum is in your weight and is fairly hard so this may be what you have.

Process of ilimination.

Bluegum sawdust makes me sneeze, some folk have heavy nose bleeds with the dust so try sawing some and see what your reaction to it is. Take note of the smell as well.

best of luck

arthur

Ernie · « **Reply #16 on:** July 01, 2005, 06:53:03 pm »

Charlie

Sorry for the delay with the pic, never got home before dark for a while. Have been milling some Miro and Totara way back in the wops.

A chunk of saligna from our pile/stack in the paddock.

Steve · « **Reply #17 on:** July 01, 2005, 08:09:50 pm »

Here is an Australian Hardwood hijacked to Hawaii

Robusta eucalyptus

Real nice curly bookmatch

KiwiCharlie · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2005, 09:12:52 pm »

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the relipes. I would say that the dust makes me sneeze - certainly no nosebleeds!
My weight workings were very limited, so the 670kg/m3 for the Blue Gum could be close.
Thanks for the pic Ernie - looks a bit red coloured?
Cheers
Charlie.

sawmillsi · « **Reply #19 on:** July 03, 2005, 07:24:56 am »

Hi guys,

I would say that it is probably saligna.

Hi Arthur,

Euc. grandis is lighter (less dense) than saligna and also more orange/pink than the pink/red of saligna. I like milling saligna (and have never had any problems with bleeding - other than cuts and splinters).

I would suggest that the weight of the timber would put it within the saligna range.

Out of interest sake, I am in Angola at the moment (setting up a monster bandsaw mill - 72" headrig). I a looking at setting up a second mill to cut some very large saligna plantations in the south of the country. I will be flying down in about a month - I will post some pics.

Hi Steve,

The Euc. robusta you have is called Swamp Mahogany. It grows on the east coast of Australia, from about 200 km's north of Sydney to about Brisbane on the coastal plains and flood areas.

It is a little brittle, but has really nice grain.

I would pre-drill any screw/nails that you plan on putting in.

From deepest, darkest Africa

Simon

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Author Topic: Is this an Australian hardwood??... (Read 1270 times)