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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Maitland
    Posts
    38

    Default Milling trees hit by lightening

    Hi,

    Just wondering if the timber would be any good cut from a tree that has been hit by lightening? Tree is still standing, has died and no visible spits or cracking from the outside. Guess once it is down will provide more answers as to what the inside is like.

    Interested in your thoughts or anyone who has cut any.

    Cheers,
    Marcus

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    It depends where the lightening has tracked. Usually it tracks in the fluid in between the sapwood and bark - you can tell this has happened because a strip of bark down the whole length of the tree is usually blown off. A tree hit this way is usually OK to mill. If it tracks down further inside the wood the wood may be cracked and you won't know if it's damaged until you cut into it.

    I have cut two Lemon Scented gums that were lightening struck and they were fine to mill.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    10,766

    Default

    I've seen a few trees hit, all had a spiral burn down the outside, or blown to bits. Only tried milling one, a red ironbark, and it had case hardened (i.e. turned to stone). For what was a living tree, it was like cutting a 100 year old dry one, not something that had leaves growing the week or so before. Cross cutting was hard enough so I didn't bother milling.
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Maitland
    Posts
    38

    Default

    Thanks Bob and Neil for sharing your experiences. One thing I was wondering and the reason I decided to post was if the timber somehow milled up brittle due to the high voltage passing through the tree when hit by lightening. Your experience of it 'hardening' confirms my prediction. Without any visual cracks on the outside of this particular tree, it is all but possible it could be shattered on the inside also. Will find out when it gets cut down.

    Thanks again

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