Thread: spotted gum tree

Originally Posted by rustynail

She's a "spiraler." Every piece you cut will dry like a propeller. Sorry, as a miller I wouldn't touch it.

I was A little surprised that you expressed such a strong opinion Rustynail, but I have not used enough spotted gum to comment directly. One must ask if there are major regional variances with spotted gum?

In some areas, particularly Melbourne, spotted gum is a preferred material for flooring. I don't know anyone who wants a spirally floor.

Secondly, back in the days when ships were made from wood rather than steel, Tasmania had a major ship building and export business - clipper and cargo ships. The preferred building materials were:

• Framing - spotted gum - eucalyptus maculata (It was eucalyptus then),
• Planking - Tasmanian blue gum - E globulus,
• deck and masts - celery top pine.

I would have thought that ships required quite stable timbers.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

I was A little surprised that you expressed such a strong opinion Rustynail, but I have not used enough spotted gum to comment directly. One must ask if there are major regional variances with spotted gum?.

There are variances but these depends mainly on a number of conditions.

Size and shape depends on water availability. If they get plenty of water (eg a well watered garden) they can grow fast, tall and straight. In lower rainfall areas and if there is limited groundwater they grow slower, stunted and more twisted (but not necessarily spiralled). A good demonstration of this is in Southern California where they were planted in plantations for timber and while they grew OK they did not get enough water so they did not get many millable logs out of that lot. Meanwhile they self seeded and are now a bit of a pest.
Spirallers are another case. I might be partially genetic but it could be a growth response by the tree to a large leaning limb.

There is a pearler of a spiraller by the side of the road on my way to the supermarket. Next time I drive past I will stop and take a photo.

Hi Rustynail

Following Bob's above post I went back and had a good look at the photo in the OP. The spiral grain is abvious, but it had not registered.

It now dawns on me that you were referring to a particular tree and not necessarily to spotted gums in general. My bad.

Yes, I was refering to that particular tree. I am fond of spotted gum but when it presents with flaws it can be mungrel stuff to both mill and dry. Not only spotty but any of the cross grained Eucs tend to suffer the same problems. Tension in a spiraller is a nightmare.