Banksia

**Fumbler** · 2nd April 2019, 03:21 AM

I was lucky enough to be close to a naturally felled (storm) Banksia. I was also doubly lucky that the SES came round and chopped into logs for everyone, well, mainly to be in manageable sized pieces, but hey, I think they though dicky could do with some more timber just to clutter up my single car garage with only 2sqm of vacant floor space, (and that's not 2x1 that's about 2.5 x 750, possibly even smaller, anyway you get my drift). And thirdly I just so happened to be around when the tree services guy came to chop up and remove the rest.

So putting on the nice face and charm, I asked if it was possible to slice the log that was over hanging the garden bed. he aid "what ya gonna do with it", I said probably some bowls or jewellery boxes., he then said yo know..... I said yes, cutting him off, I know, I wont be able to use for quite some time he said, oh, you know.. I said yep. he said how would you like it cut? anything i don't have to make tiny to fit in th chipper is helping me.

Anyway his chainsaw wasn't the sharpest for what I needed, so i've ended up with some odd sized timber.

anyway my question to the good folk out there in WWF land, is Banksia a nice timber to work with (apart from the Pods), does anyone have any pics of things made from Banksia.

heres a few pics o the load, there is also a 20-25" diameter log at the very back of the ute which is not clearly visible.

**Mobyturns** · 2nd April 2019, 07:44 AM

It produces some very attractive & workable timber. Like all timbers it has its "ways" that you have to accommodate in working with it. I use a fair bit of "costal banksia" (Banksia integrifolia) that I have processed from sawn green wide boards supplied to me by a saw miller. Some of it will collapse badly & it does develop internal drying shakes. I have also used TAS silver banksia supplied by Somerfly - a very attractive and workable timber to.

My advice process it down to the sizes plus a generous drying / machining allowance for your preferred sizes. If leaving it as bowl turning blanks seal the blanks very well to slow the drying process in the hope that you will minimize the drying shakes.

**auscab** · 2nd April 2019, 07:51 AM

One possibility is cutting and laying as veneers .

https://www.leski.com.au/m/lot-detai...epth-22cm-13cm

https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/colle...st-fleet-table

**Euge** · 2nd April 2019, 09:38 AM

Most important is to cut in half (lengthways) and seal the ends (with a paint to slow rate of drying). Stack and store in a cool dry place to dry slowly for a year or two. It dries fairly quickly. Sometimes it will cracks, sometimes it won't, depending on stresses inside but the wood is pretty especially quarter-sawn surfaces

**BobL** · 2nd April 2019, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Euge

Most important is to cut in half (lengthways) and seal the ends (with a paint to slow rate of drying).

Absolutely critical you seal the exposed/cut bits ASAP.
A pity it was butchered in the way shown in the photos.
I Have also acquired some and will be milling it in the next few weeks.

**Fumbler** · 2nd April 2019, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by BobL

Absolutely critical you seal the exposed/cut bits ASAP.
A pity it was butchered in the way shown in the photos.
I Have also acquired some and will be milling it in the next few weeks.

I am happy he couldn't do any more slicing in that regard Bob, as it can now be sliced properly with minimal wastage.

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