Anybody milled eucalyptus ?

[arbwork]

I have a client who would like a trunk milling and looking at the cut stump and the ends on each piece of timber they already look like expanded metal ! where the wood is drying out, I have seen this before on logs/firewood and have found it quite intriguing but not given it much thought as to how this would look in sawn board situation, anyone else experienced sawing this?

[agg221]

I haven't got hold of any yet (still looking) but understand it is very temperamental to season as it dries unevenly. The shrunken end bits will be useless, but if there's enough length left in between then it's work doing if they can keep it covered (straight off the mill) and stack in the shade, covering the sides, end and top of the stack in the day and only opening it in the evening. I would also use 1/4" stickers. Ideally you would wait until late September to mill it as it will be much easier to keep it.

 

It doesn't have much grain but it makes very good carcassing if you can get it to dry well, as it keeps away clothes moths etc.

 

Alec

[arbwork]

Thanks for your reply, I have passed suggestions on to client, see att. Pics of wood opening up whilst drying out in this weather!! Fresh cut colours almost salmon pink in places

[tree monkey]

woodturners dont use it because of the splitting.Would be interesting to see how it procresses.

[Albedo]

I don't mill but here's a mushroom I carved from euc.

 

The last pic looks like what you would expect from euc, I'm surprised those good bits are so good. Is that before they split or have they survived intact?

 

Usually its Gunnii (Sp) here isn't it there are eucs in the world that behave quite well for woodworking purposes.

[arbwork]

Produce taken back to client, ends have been cut back to un split wood and sealed and stacked with cover to slow down drying, as suggested, I if get feedback from client I will pass it on,

[agg221]

They need to remember to uncover the sides at night, and on rainy days, to avoid mildew. I'll be very interested to hear whether they get a decent result as I want to get hold of some to mill for carcassing in my suite of bedroom furniture (has to be custom built with a sloping back to follow the roof pitch).

 

Alec