Monkey puzzle

[Stihlben]

Hi all,

I'm felling a large monkey puzzle tomorrow if any of the timber is of interest to anyone (beaconfield) the tree is almost 3 foot across and dead standing....

[se7enthdevil]

at that diameter the base should be planked as it should yield some good quality timber.

[Daniël Bos]

at that diameter the base should be planked as it should yield some good quality timber.

 

Quite boring at the base IMO. Fairly plain and light coloured, soft and not very durable.

 

The branch whorls higher up could make for some interesting figured wood.

[Stihlben]

It's a site clearance, an in and out kind of job. Was thinking of cutting into manageable lumps in order to get them out, if I am able to leave the but whole for a couple of days ill go in with the Alaskan at the weekend if anyone would like some slabs....

[se7enthdevil]

supposed to be good for joinery purposes, not turning.

 

the wood is very light and should be excellent for model makers interior doors or any use where hemlock or fir would be considered.

[Stephen Blair]

If it's standing dead timber you have won a watch!

The last 1 I felled was stinking around the base and oozy!

It was only as rotten as the sap wood then solid .

It's got milled straight away and some is a floor of an outdoor summerhouse , some is currently getting made into wardrobes and the rest is going to be a floor in a castle!

[Big Beech]

I have seen many stunning bowls turned from the branch sections. Like big orange eyes in the wood.

A turners dream i beleive...

[se7enthdevil]

i'm currently finding it a nightmare to turn a bit i got from luckyleaf.

 

it goes from very hard to soft in comparison. the knots blunt your tools too.

[nepia]

supposed to be good for joinery purposes, not turning.

 

Turners love it!

 

If I had time/opportunity I'd come and get as much as I could carry but I'm afraid not.

 

Re milling Monkey Puzzle - I've asked this before but didn't get a definitive answer... don't the knots simply drop out of the sapwood as soon as they dry and shrink?

[devon TWiG]

I do not really think Monkey Puzzle is worth milling , the only real value to turners is the rings towards the top of the main stem where branch stubs are visible in the bark ( or where branches have been removed ) and cut in to rings between nodes ( whorls of knots ) and used end grain to turn bowls or hollow vessels ( see pic ? ) it is not pleasant to turn , it stinks when part dried , and is horribly resinous when fresh , but can yield pleasant results , as a guide the useful pieces fetch about £5- £10 per ring if about a foot or so in dia . I have turned plenty and it has never blunted my tools !!! it is very soft and not easy to get a good finish on and can be a" bumpy ride" whilst turning ! This piece is slightly spalted !