eucalyptus

[Brushcutter]

I've burnt Euc for the last few winters. It gets very hot but it does take an age to dry. I have a feeling that Euc has a massive calorific value as well which is why it has been planted as energy crops.

[Steve Hall]

thanks for the help need to do more reasearch i think !

[Steve Hall]

hi brushcutter , any idea which species you are using ?

[sandbach-sticks]

We looked into planting these on some wet farm land as they grow quickly, however, a friend said they were expensive to buy samplings and the trees are prone to snap in high winds. I was given four massive eucalyptus trees two years ago and have just finished burning this and selling it. I thought the wood was great the flame hot and seemed to roll off the wood in my stove. It was the cost and risk of wind damage that put us off, if you do grow it please keep us informed of your progress.

[Guest Infinitree]

We looked into planting these on some wet farm land as they grow quickly, however, a friend said they were expensive to buy samplings and the trees are prone to snap in high winds. I was given four massive eucalyptus trees two years ago and have just finished burning this and selling it. I thought the wood was great the flame hot and seemed to roll off the wood in my stove. It was the cost and risk of wind damage that put us off, if you do grow it please keep us informed of your progress.

 

Would a shelterbelt not be of any use?

[dave fox]

i personally think we should be planting native species. but as for euc i cut it into thin rings and it splits naturaly with drying.

[djbobbins]

Euc burns well as has already been posted on here but the thicker stuff (16" or so) couple I felled took three years to be properly seasoned IMO.

 

It is an absolute witch to split by hand; I haven't got a splitter so if you're better equipped you might be okay, but on an 8-10" round, the maul pretty much bounced off it without making a mark (other than where there were very big cracks from drying). I ended up having to take a 14lb sledge and wedges to a good proportion of mine.

 

Have a butchers at this:

 

Prima Bio - eucalyptus specialists - promoting new uses for eucalypts

[Taupotreeman]

Heaps of it planted here to be mixed in with Pines for paper milling. It's a faster growing species, seasons quickly and burns hot and long. I also cut down some big ol daddy gum (technical name) that is as heavy now a year on as the day I cut the stuff down. Burns OK on full heat but not when the fire is down low so I reckon it still needs a bit longer in the wood shed. Gum is one of the more expensive woods here as it burns so well but I'd have no idea on species. One piece of the bigger, slow growing stuff will go all night in a fire box .

[Chris Gagen]

i got given a load of euc that once processed made 5cbm. the main trunk was over 3ft and knarly as hell, as said a killer to split, i fell in love with my splitter all over again dealing with this stuff:001_wub:. going by previous comments i'm now not sure whether to sell as 100% euc in 5 bags and charge a premium or to mix it with all the other hardwoods as it apparently takes an age to dry, now all in 9" lengths split down to max 5":confused1:.

[Taupotreeman]

ALWAYS split Gum when it's still green if it's a big old tree rather than the smaller faster growing stuff. It's like concrete when it's dry and tends to explode if it's been left to dry completely. I wore a fair chunk right in the nethers trying to split it on a hydraulic splitter. I'm a lot more cautious with the stuff now. Burnt really well though so proved to be worth the pain.