Eucalyptus Wood?

[Night Phoenix]

Hope all are well.
I recently took down a dead eucalytpus tree. Having a look at it the wood seems mostly sound though obviously not green. I really dont want it to go to waste but its a tree i have never really worked with.
Any ideas folks?

 

[hiraeth]

Had the same thoughts myself last year, was told it was not much good for working so I left it , would be interesting to hear if the info was wrong though.

 

[S.C.M.]

I know it's used for posts and roofbeams here, because it grows fast and straight. Dunno about relative strength though, I would guestimate the roofbeams being 50cm apart and 10cm diameter. the main beam (at the top, supporting the others) is about twenty or more, maybe 25cm across.

Edit: that's in traditional house building. Nowadays they use square pine and/or concrete

 

[HillBill]

I use it for knife handles.... needs to be properly seasoned and any surfaces to be glued need wiping down with white spirit to get rid of the oil, but i find it a nice wood.

 

[hiraeth]

I use it for knife handles.... needs to be properly seasoned and any surfaces to be glued need wiping down with white spirit to get rid of the oil, but i find it a nice wood.

That will teach me not to follow my gut feelings, will have to keep an eye for some more now, Thanks for posting Mark.

 

[HillBill]

If you look on google you will see its used to make all sorts
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=eu...Wb1AWelYCQCA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAA&biw=1274&bih=876

 

[woodspirits]

hi night phoenix, ive found it carves nice from green

 

[HillBill]

Did you not get any oxidisation when carving it green? When i cut it up, the outer surfaces went a greenish colour.....

 

[woodspirits]

not that i recall Mark, i remember the cut wood darkened quickly though? my lad an arborist cut it and i worked it within a couple of days.

 

[Night Phoenix]

Thanks folks. I have discovered that the wood splits quite well. I am thinking i might actually try and make a split digiridoo since its totally new to me unless another idea catches my attention

 

[Hugo]

I found it carved well enough, I made spoons and spatulas and an axe handle .
A picture of my last spoon from it.

 

[Night Phoenix]

Pretty The wood is not exactly green thats the only thing but i might give it a shot

 

[S.C.M.]

eucalyptus can be used for axe handles, huh? I shall see if I can procure some then

 

[AussieVic]

Eucalyptus is a hardwood. It starts hard, and as it dries it gets harder and harder.

There are many species of eucalypt and each has its own properties. Some species are routinely used for construction and some for cabinetry,

.... and axe handle too, Spotted Gum is one of the preferred timbers – worked green.

 

[Oldwoodyrock]

Depending on which authority one uses, there are between 350, and 500 seperate Eucalyptus. One can find just about any characteristic required in a wood from this species. You want fire resistance, use Jarrah, etc. etc.

 

[Gaudette]

I have a walking staff carved from a piece of eucalyptus. Very strong

 

[mrcharly]

You want fire resistance, use Jarrah, etc. etc.

The bark is fire-resistant. The wood isn't. It is very very water-rot resistant tho'.
(I spent a large part of my childhood chopping red gum and jarrah logs for the stove. They burn very well.)

 

[robotchicken80]

Hi there

We have large forests of Eucalyptus trees in the north of Spain, so I know a little bit about them. A couple of guys already mentioned that there are many different species of eucalyptus and each one of them with different properties.
In the north of Spain the most popular eucalyptus tree is the white eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus) which was imported from Australia in the 1800's.
Looks like the one of the most common eucalyptus trees in the UK is the Tasmanian Snow Gum or Eucalyptus Coccifera. Maybe you can google this type of tree and look for some more specific properties.

Eucalyptus wood (again, in Spain) is mainly used for cellulose production (paper). And because of its strength and flexibility is also quite popular for tool handles: axes, shovels, etc.
However it needs to be really dry (minimum 2 / 3 years) in order to reach its full potential.
Hope that helped a little.

 

[spandit]

I was given a load to burn - might look at using some for tool handles now!

 

[Night Phoenix]

I believe it was a tasmanian snow gum I am trying to find time to experiment with it at the moment

Thanks for all the advice and help folks

Hi there

We have large forests of Eucalyptus trees in the north of Spain, so I know a little bit about them. A couple of guys already mentioned that there are many different species of eucalyptus and each one of them with different properties.
In the north of Spain the most popular eucalyptus tree is the white eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus) which was imported from Australia in the 1800's.
Looks like the one of the most common eucalyptus trees in the UK is the Tasmanian Snow Gum or Eucalyptus Coccifera. Maybe you can google this type of tree and look for some more specific properties.

Eucalyptus wood (again, in Spain) is mainly used for cellulose production (paper). And because of its strength and flexibility is also quite popular for tool handles: axes, shovels, etc.
However it needs to be really dry (minimum 2 / 3 years) in order to reach its full potential.
Hope that helped a little.