A few months ago, heavy winds tore down our many of the trees along my street including 2 small eucalyptus trees. Because of associations, we rushed to dispose of the snapped trees. However, I did keep back a portion of one of the trunks, which is approx. 5″ diameter. For sometime, I kept it outside but based on some posts on Knots, I’ve since sealed the ends w/ latex and brought it indoors to dry.
1) Should I remove the bark from the wood to help the drying process as long as it stays inside?
2) I haven’t seen eucalyptus used much. Does it work well for any projects?
Thanks!
Z
Replies
Whether or not to keep the bark on depends on what you intend to do with the timber in the future. It does tend to blunted blades.
The other interesting thing about eucalyptus is that it tends to seal over cut edges fairly quickly making glue joints fail. The easiest way to deal with it is to sand the glue faces just before you glue up.
I don't plan on any project that includes the bark so I will probably remove it. As for sealing over the edges, thanks for the info. I tend to make that a habit for all cuts (sand just before glue-up) but I will make an extra effort on euc.
Z
You're welcome,
lulubelle
Zombee,
Re: "I tend to make that a habit for all cuts (sand just before glue-up)"
That's not really a good idea. A sanded surface makes a poor glue joint. Sanding just tears up the fibers and leaves lots of rough edges to which glue does not adhere well.
"Joint or plane just before glue up," Now THAT's a good idea as freshly jointed wood is the best glue surface of all.
Rich
I hadn't really thought about it that way. Thanks for the insight Rich.
Z
Pretty standard timber over here, Z.
Can be prone to checking and drying splits as a rule, some are greatly more susceptible to checking than others.
If it's not too late, you could try splitting it ( or chainsaw ripping it) down the middle to avoid drying stresses.
In any case, it should turn nicely to make up a couple of good bowls if that's what you want, or should make a decent little box.
It's a harder timber to work than most of your species as a rule, some types of eucalypt are very stable, some are prone to wild swings in movement. Depends on the tree - there's only about 200 commercial grades of eucalypt.
Cheers,
eddie
Thanks for the advice. I will plan on splitting it soon to hopefully minimize some stress.
Z
Hello!There are dozens of eucalyptus species.Generally eucalyptus is good for make paper,coal or metanol!Eucalipto is not used in fine woodworking.Here in Brasil there are lots of eucalipto.Brasilian paper is made from eucalipto,alias,Brasil is the more advanced country in the World that make short fiber paper.Eucalipto is natural of Australia.Navarro de Andrade,a engineer,introduced eucalipto in Brasil.Treated eucalipto is used in strutures and posts.GOOD LUCK.
Spock
'Eucalipto is not used in fine woodworking'
Got to take you to task on that one, BIG generalisation. They may not be in Brazil but some cultivars (approximately 530) sure are used here to make fine furniture, as you mentioned it is also used to frame & floor houses, build bridges, as railway sleepers & to carry power lines. It is a very large family with very divergent uses depending on the individual characteristics of each genus, & has recently been further botanically divided into 5 species.
Some are very dense at 1150kg/m3, many are much lighter down to half that, colours range from straw, thru brown, orange to dark red & ease of working varies from moderately good to down right bloody impossible, just like a whole bunch of other woods found around the world.
However some very talented people do make fine furniture from a variety of eucalypts & an entire furniture industry has grown up manufacturing products from timber & veneers provided by the 'gum tree'. An industry which is now threatened by low cost Asian imports, but that is another story.
Don
Dondownunder,You are rigth.Eucalipto can be used for fine woodworking.In Rio Claro,São Paulo State,Navarro de Andrade built a house using eucalipto,inclusive the furniture.Good 2005 woodworking!
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