Thread: Can anyone Assess this Timber by looking at a pic? Are you a guru of reclaimed Timber

If you can get him to cut the end off a piece and take a photo, that would help greatly. Could be anything though.

Hi Jason,
It looks to have some Tar on it, so there maybe a bit of Gravel mixed into the Tar. I also think there would be a lot of Sand & other Grit as well.
Like was said, cut the End off + a bit down the side to give someone an idea of what it maybe.

Wot they sed!

Looks like a bit of work is needed but there should be some useful timber there.

Someone told me recently that they used a lot of Turpentine timber on wharves in wet areas and especially the posts that are actually partially submerged. I am sure there is a nautical term for these things but I am a landlubber

The piles are usually turpentine as it is resistant to marine borers and rot but the cross members and decking could be almost anything. Red gum, spotted gum and box were common but a lot of others were also used. As the rest said try and get a pic of a cut end. Piles are round logs so those bits are not turpentine.

Regards
John

Hey guys,

Thanks for the quick response.I actually saw this timber on ebay. It is very poorly advertised and I think you could get it for a bargain. It's proving to be to expensive and difficult for me to get it up to here in Brissie. So anyway if your quick you may get yourself a bargain. It's only sitting at $100.00 at the moment so hope someone get's a good bargain. Check it out if your interested.

Bidding is closed. Added by .

G'day Jason,
This may not help. Crows ash (Flindersia australis) was used widely in wharfs, because it was not greatly effected by borers.
It is a hard greasy timber also used in dance floors. It would have been expensive.
It is difficult to glue and nail because of its oiliness. I have recently polished a large floor and it is a pleasant honey colour.
Ironbark was also used a lot in bridges and it may be ironbark.
Les

Hi All,
Yes, if that Wood is Turpentine, I wood keep all the Saws away from it, as it certainly Dulled mine when I tried to cut up a piece many years ago.
I was given a piece of it being a Electricity Pole.
To Turn it is not a problem, as you can resharpen your Turning Tools, but is a different story trying to resharpen a saw blade.
Hope I never see any of it again

Most wharf decking I've played with has weather cracks full of grit. I can't imagine

any commercial mill cutting it for you. Even docking it up for firewood with a chainsaw

would chew up chain. I wouldn't touch it

It looks good to use for sculptural plinths or rustic framing say around a mud brick wall or six but no good to cut up or dress. It is also very hard to get so if you have a use for it you should grab it.