Thread: large tree

I LOVE Crow's Ash, it's the prince of timbers!

If you can't find anything to do with it I'll look after it for you

You could use it for furniture. I think it cracks a bit though so you have to be more careful on how you go about drying it, the wood lasts for a hell of a long time on the scrub floor.

Also known as Australian teak. Strong, durable, hard to dry (surface checking) .Must be dried slowly. Ideal for outdoor use. Sought after by boat builders. Greasy and hard to glue. Just a suggestion... When sawing, keep lengths as long as posible. The boaties will love you.

great timber for a lot of things, verry hard when dry, mill it ASAP.

Correct genus (Flindersia), wrong species. That is definitely a Silver ash (Flindersia schottiana). I have milled a dozen or so over the years and a beautiful timber in its own right. Amongst other things the angulation of the branches from the crotch - steeply angled then reverting to dead vertical - is a give away as to its true identity.

Thanks timboz was not sure myself , what sizes would you mill for best use of timber?

Hi JMax,
You should be able to cut straight ,stable 100 by 100's and plenty of 200 by 50 boards out of a big butt log like that. If you run a lucas or a Peterson try cutting some 400 wide boards (a bit of a pain with the Lucas - I have one) or easy with a Peterson. A word of caution though - the difficult to distinguish lictus susceptible sapwood can easily be 60mm thick so make up some iodine solution to spray on the log face to identify it (it will turn blue/black when it complexes with the starch). Alternatively you can spray any likely sapwood with borax solution to keep the powder post beetle (lictus) at bay until you seal your finished piece.

Although the same genus crows ash and silver ash are very different. For example, silver ash is easier to dry, lighter, easier to work, glues better etc.

Sorry not first hand experience as with others before me on this thread. Just me wearing the charlatan's hat and quoting from Bootle's bible. Plenty more information to hand if you want. Just ask. I don't want to be tedious quoting detail that is not required.

Crows ash is certainly recommended as being especially good for dance floors. I guess it would come in handy in the shed for when you drop that sledge hammer (for making the mortice and tenons fit) on your foot.

Regards
Paul

You're quite right about the different properties Bushmiller, and when you throw in Qld Maple (F.Braeyliana)and Maple Silkwood (F. Pimenteliana) along with a few other Flindersias you realise that as a cabinetwood genus it ranks alongside the Dalbergias (Rosewoods) for providing quality timbers.

Great score !!

Saw a floor once with an inlaid Silver Ash pattern. Gorgeous!!