Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 19
Thread: Norfolk Island Pine
-
23rd February 2021, 03:15 PM #1New Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2021
- Location
- mordialloc
- Posts
- 1
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??
-
23rd February 2021 03:15 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
12th March 2021, 05:02 AM #2Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2015
- Location
- SE Queensland
- Posts
- 62
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.
-
12th March 2021, 07:14 AM #3
-
12th March 2021, 09:00 AM #4.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,823
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
-
12th March 2021, 03:22 PM #5GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
- Location
- bilpin
- Posts
- 3,565
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.
-
12th March 2021, 11:46 PM #6GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- SE Melb
- Age
- 65
- Posts
- 1,278
I suspect it's because it's too notty
-
13th March 2021, 10:39 AM #7
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
PaulBushmiller;
"Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"
-
13th March 2021, 10:47 AM #8.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,823
The CSIROs "Forest Trees of Australia" lists Norfolk as an "ornamental" tree.
-
13th March 2021, 10:54 AM #9Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2015
- Location
- SE Queensland
- Posts
- 62
-
16th March 2021, 06:34 AM #10Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2009
- Location
- NSW
- Posts
- 489
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.
-
16th March 2021, 08:42 AM #11.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,823
-
16th March 2021, 02:30 PM #12
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
-
16th March 2021, 03:48 PM #13
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
PaulBushmiller;
"Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"
-
17th March 2021, 04:21 AM #14Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2009
- Location
- NSW
- Posts
- 489
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.
-
17th March 2021, 09:14 AM #15.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,823
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.
Similar Threads
-
Norfolk Island Pine
By Oldgreybeard in forum WOODTURNING - GENERALReplies: 18Last Post: 26th November 2015, 11:02 AM -
Norfolk Island Pine
By comgreserv in forum TIMBERReplies: 9Last Post: 25th January 2014, 10:35 AM -
Norfolk Island Pine WIP
By Swino in forum WOODTURNING - GENERALReplies: 47Last Post: 14th January 2011, 10:53 AM -
Norfolk Island pine...?
By reeves in forum TIMBER SWAPReplies: 26Last Post: 6th May 2009, 10:41 PM