Monkey puzzle

[Shiny steve]

Hello, is there any interest in a bit of monkey puzzle in Kent. I'm bringing down a 35-40 ft tree about 18" diameter at base. 

 

Not sure if I'm going to plank it or ring it for turning blanks 

[Lord]

Nobody really wants piranha pine.

 

doesnt last well outside. Pretty well useless 

[Squaredy]

3 hours ago, Shiny steve said:

Hello, is there any interest in a bit of monkey puzzle in Kent. I'm bringing down a 35-40 ft tree about 18" diameter at base. 

 

Not sure if I'm going to plank it or ring it for turning blanks 

Turning blanks surely the way to go.  Unremarkable as boards - just knotty softwood, but I think turners may like it due to the symmetrical knots.

[maybelateron]

I had no problem selling Monkey Puzzle on ebay to woodturners. They prefer trunk sections that take in the ring/collar of branches due to the grain, as Squaredy says. Made OK money on it too.

[nepia]

18"dia is on the large side for turning as you need a fair lathe for it (that some do indeed have): 12"dia is more saleable I've found in the past.

[Shiny steve]

Cheers chaps turning blanks was pretty much my decision, I just hate ringing up reasonable lengths of wood. 

 

Any local turner's about . . .

[openspaceman]

13 hours ago, Lord said:

Nobody really wants piranha pine.

 

doesnt last well outside. Pretty well useless 

Monkey Puzzle is the same family but not the same species from which parana pine comes. After the war it was used a lot for things like indoor cills and architraves, general shelving and stairs. It was mostly painted over but I remember it having a beautiful rosy flame like pattern. I imagine as baltic  timbers came back online it could no longer compete coming from south america.

[nepia]

8 hours ago, Shiny steve said:

Cheers chaps turning blanks was pretty much my decision, I just hate ringing up reasonable lengths of wood. 

 

Any local turner's about . . .

Depends what you call local.  Westerham is local to me, Ramsgate isn't!

[gobbypunk]

Hi shame you are so far away big monkey puzzle should be milled ace for indoor furniture resin coat it with all those cool nots in it ace for kitchen worktops etc 

[nepia]

Don't give up all hope Mark:  we don't know which part of Kent the guy's in yet.  I'm watching this space for you!

 

Jon