Hello all,

Any ideas on which local timbers might have similar properties to madrone burl if turned green? Specifically, I'm after something that will move as dramatically as madrone seems to. See here for an example: Bill Luce - Entropy

The only one I've come across that might be similar is tassie myrtle burl. Any thoughts?

Thanks

john

Anything that is very (very) wet. or you won't get the movement in it as it dries.

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Dragonfly
No-one suspects the dragonfly!

I read in Fine Woodworking some months back that Madrone has a way higher water content than most other woods, some thing in the 90% range compared to 60 to 70% in woods like cherry. Only thing I have seen that moves almost as much is Sycamore/London Plane. The thing with Madrone though is that the warping is never predictable as in warping is never symmetrical. Odd shapes like triangles, rectangles, up and down, etc. Most of the Sycamore is a consistent oval.

Don't know if that helps or not.

robo hippy

The tree that had the most radial:axial shrinkage for me was Irish Strawberry (Arbutus unedo). Not sure if it has burls.

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Neil

"It's only woodturning"... Written first here on this forum by Tim the Timber Turner, but according to him it was originally said by Terry Martin to Theo Haralampou "when he was getting a bit carried away"...

Well, I googled the Madrone, and it is Arbutus Menziesii, and one common name is Strawberry tree, which I had not heard. My favorite wood.

robo hippy

john,
dunno if myrtle is related but it sure moves allot and it does have burl. I have turned a fair bit. Its a soft wood, easy to turn. I lost some blanks due to bad splitting [ only good for pen stock ]
I reckon it would come real close with the movement, be worth a try.

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hughie

Dont worry about life cos' your not gonna get out of it alive!

Thanks for the input guys. Have to see if I can get my hands on some nice wet myrtle...

Given that the amount of water retained is clearly a key to dramatic movement when drying, maybe a Bottle Tree ( Brachychiton rupestris ) might be the go. That's only aussie tree that springs to mind when thinking about lots of retained moisture. No idea where to go for one of those though. Wonder if anyone's tried it?

john

Try pepper tree. I've been turning a fair bit of it lately. It's REALLY wet and moves heaps. Lots of birdseye going on inside as well, particularly near the bark. The birdseye 'pops' as it dries, leaving holes and the surrounding wood sinks in around the birdseye. There's lots of creepy crawlies in the bark though so don't keep it hanging around inside the workshop for too long. It microwaves ok and is easy to chainsaw and bandsaw. It shouldn't be too hard to find, it's in most creeks. Give it a bash.

Bottle tree is pulpier (if that's a word!!!) than Kurrajong (brachychiton poulneus) which I've had a go at. While it shrinks enormously while drying, it doesn't change shape much so I doubt it would produce the reuults you're after. Bottle tree just dissolves away into slush - can't imagine turning it at all

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Sorry, I missed the bit about you wanting an 'Aussie' timber. I was thinking you just wanted something readily available here.

Harvesting in the wet season would help as well.

robo hippy

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. Much appreciated.

john

John

I havn't seen anything move as much as freshly cut eucalyptus nicoli. Don't stop for a cuppa until your finished.

This was turned two days after it was cut.

Picko

P1010120.jpg P1010123.jpg

Yep, that one takes the cake.

Can't beat that!

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Neil

"It's only woodturning"... Written first here on this forum by Tim the Timber Turner, but according to him it was originally said by Terry Martin to Theo Haralampou "when he was getting a bit carried away"...

That looks like a winner. Thanks Picko.

john