Eucaliptus

[marcros]

Is eucalyptus any good for turning?

I have a colleague at work who has some that she wants rid of. It is large sections- by hand gestures she indicated about desk height and arms stretched out circumferance. It was felled about a year ago. I can get further details if anybody is interested. Based in Doncaster or thereabouts.

 

[monkeybiter]

The few bits of Eucalyptus that I've turned look lovely, to me anyway [the wood, not the turning ].

I was talking to an old school mate who is now a regional manager with the Forestry Comission and he reckons Eucalyptus is fast growing yet extremely inefficient in it's use of water and use loads. African villages have dried up their borderline water supply by planting them.

I think you can have a problem with checks, a goblet I turned for the comp had a small crack through the bowl, but I still like the look of the wood.

There are tens if not hundreds of different Eucalyptus species, some probably not so nice though.
Never-the-less that sounds like a huge lump of wood, I think you want it

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I believe there are 600 some odd species - they're bound to be different, they grow from N.Territories down to S. Tasmania.

 

[marcros]

The few bits of Eucalyptus that I've turned look lovely, to me anyway [the wood, not the turning ].

I was talking to an old school mate who is now a regional manager with the Forestry Comission and he reckons Eucalyptus is fast growing yet extremely inefficient in it's use of water and use loads. African villages have dried up their borderline water supply by planting them.

I think you can have a problem with checks, a goblet I turned for the comp had a small crack through the bowl, but I still like the look of the wood.


There are tens if not hundreds of different Eucalyptus species, some probably not so nice though.
Never-the-less that sounds like a huge lump of wood, I think you want it

I can assure you that I dont! My post was badly worded- it is an invitation for anybody else who wants them to be put in touch. I think that there are a few sections.

 

[gregmcateer]

PM sent.

 

[woodyturner]

I was given quite a lot a few years ago and turned most of it wet and it was great but I left some to dry out foe a few years then took some more logs into the work shop to cut into shorter lengths they looked fine on the outside but when I cut them every one was split wide open on the inside

 

[earthworm]

It should make your workshop smell nice anyway !!

 

[jumps]

Is eucalyptus any good for turning?

a quick search of this forum will show that this is a frequent question....

personally I don't think it's worth the effort and gave away huge quantities last year for burning - despite having the 'shop and lathe!

I have made some good use of the odd branch piece that I managed to air dry over 10 years without excessive splitting but, as someone's already pointed out, it tends to go at the centre in the heart wood.

If you want something to turn green and deliver character through distortion......this could be the wood for you!