Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 19
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Location
    mordialloc
    Posts
    1

    Default Norfolk Island Pine

    Hi All,
    I have a Norfolk Island Pine 13m tall, diameter of 80cm that I need to remove. I want to remove it economically but I would love the timber to be utilised. Any suggestions??

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    SE Queensland
    Posts
    62

    Default

    There is a thread further down the opening page that declares NP not to be a recognized timber.
    Try asking your question in the Wood Turning section.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Hobart, Tas
    Posts
    1,211

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bushie View Post
    ... NP not to be a recognized timber.
    Bushie, can you expand on what a non recognised timber is? Enquiring minds want to know.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by LanceC View Post
    Bushie, can you expand on what a non recognised timber is? Enquiring minds want to know.
    This is the thread Bushie is referring to.
    Norfolk Island pine

    We have about 10 NIPs in the milling yard. Dunno why the boss brought them back to the yard - from my limited epxoerience it's pretty ordinary timber

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    bilpin
    Posts
    3,551

    Default

    Each state has a Commercial Timber List. In NSW there is a bit over 50 species on the list. Many timbers are not listed for various reasons. NIP is one of them.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    SE Melb
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,277

    Default

    I suspect it's because it's too notty

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
    Age
    73
    Posts
    11,096

    Default

    Norfolk Pine is not a timber with which I am familiar. However, out of interest I went looking for it in Bootle's book "Wood in Australia:" It wasn't listed. However I started browsing through the other pines listed and in particular the Bunya Pine. Then that took me to the Hoop Pine and as a footnote to the Hoop pine there was this entry.

    "The Norfolk Island Pine. Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco produces wood of similar appearance though it may not be quite as strong. It is used as a general purpose timber on Norfolk Island. It's strength grouping is provisionally S6,SD6."

    I have quoted it exactly and I don't understand the reference to "Franco" unless that should have been in italics and is part of the name. Clearly as an Araucaria it is the same family. Hoop pine has slightly better characteristics than the Bunya Pine, but both are susceptible to blue stain during the drying process so that may be applicable to the Norfolk Pine too.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    The CSIROs "Forest Trees of Australia" lists Norfolk as an "ornamental" tree.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    SE Queensland
    Posts
    62

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by LanceC View Post
    Bushie, can you expand on what a non recognised timber is? Enquiring minds want to know.
    As BobL here and others have stated in the tread I tried to point out down the opening page, it does not seem to be a desirable timber.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    489

    Default

    It all depends on what you want to make with the timber. Balsawood is bugger-all good for anything until you want to make a model airplane. You may well find NI Pine is actually quite a good timber for certain applications, in the same way Paulownia has both it's advantages and limitations. Just because it isn't in someone's book doesn't mean it's of no value. Work out what you want to do with it and then get it cut to suit that project. It could be a heap of crap but you won't know until you try.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Old Hilly View Post
    It all depends on what you want to make with the timber. Balsawood is bugger-all good for anything until you want to make a model airplane. You may well find NI Pine is actually quite a good timber for certain applications, in the same way Paulownia has both it's advantages and limitations. Just because it isn't in someone's book doesn't mean it's of no value. Work out what you want to do with it and then get it cut to suit that project. It could be a heap of crap but you won't know until you try.

    Agree - eg its nice for boxes up to about the size of a sea trunk.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    10,766

    Default

    It's a beautiful timber for turning. The centre of old trees will be spalted and usually turned green into bowls/lamp shades or boxes etc. The timber will get blue stain quickly and break down hence why it's normally turned green. If left though good results can still be achieved however it needs to be stabilised.

    The branch heads can add beautiful features as the branch stems extend all the way to the centre of the tree and are a darker figured timber. The branch stems are very hard though so can present difficulties wrt to turning and sanding due to the contrasting hard/soft timber.

    I'd be blocking it into 2x dia lengths (at least dia either side of the branch heads) and seal the ends with external PVA if you have some. You could then advertise pickup on these forums or any of the Facebook Groups like these ones I help run Australian Wood Selling Group Woodturners of Australia

    As the tree sounds a decent size I would get in the pros to take it down. You're not going to get anyone to chop it down for free for the timber.
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
    Age
    73
    Posts
    11,096

    Default

    Neil

    Your comments emphasise the difference between commercial timbers and the rest.

    Many of the "boutique" timbers are really only of interest to the hobby woodworker or wood turner, but have a niche for that purpose. There are many reasons why a timber is not considered a commercial proposition and they ultimately come back to being non economic. Such reasons could include, but not be limited to, insufficient quantities, no application in the larger commercial world, difficulty in drying successfully and possibly unawareness of a timber if sufficiently uncommon.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  15. #14
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    489

    Default

    I would think that if you went to Norfolk Island you would find lots of things built out of their native Pine. Islanders, being a resourceful breed of people, tend to make use of what they happen to have regardless of what is written in a book.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Interesrting commet in Wikipedia.

    In the late 1950s, a trial shipment of Norfolk pine logs was sent to plywood manufacturers in Sydney, Australia, with the hope of developing a timber export industry on Norfolk Island. Although the plywood companies reported excellent results, the industry was deemed not sustainable by the Norfolk Island Advisory Council, which decided to reserve timber production for local use. The timber is good for woodturning and, together with the similar Cook pine, is extensively used by Hawaii artisans.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Norfolk Island Pine
    By Oldgreybeard in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 26th November 2015, 11:02 AM
  2. Norfolk Island Pine
    By comgreserv in forum TIMBER
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 25th January 2014, 10:35 AM
  3. Norfolk Island Pine WIP
    By Swino in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 47
    Last Post: 14th January 2011, 10:53 AM
  4. Norfolk Island pine...?
    By reeves in forum TIMBER SWAP
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 6th May 2009, 10:41 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •