Thread: Anyone used coachwood

I have to say that I had never heard of it.

I did a Google search and came up with http://www.woodbin.com/ref/wood/coachwood.htm

It seems to be a nice timber. No comment about burning though.

Depends what you want to use it for, but I've used coachwood for boxes and it's really nice. It can have a nice figure, has a fine grain and polises up very nicely. It also has a pleasant caramel smell. I haven't tried it, but I expect that it would burn readily...although perhaps not - I believe it was used for the woodwork on the SLR rifles that we used in the late 60s - 70s, so may have been chosen for it's heat-resistance. Don't know.

Just realised, you're probably thinking about it burning when profiling with a router. If so, I haven't had a problem with it.

I expect that it would be good for furniture as well.

Originally Posted by AlexS

I can have a nice figure,

Hmmmm sweetie..

Al

oopth! Think I'd better edit that!

I scrolled an eagle on a piece of 1" thick coachwood once, due to its thickness it burned a little on the tight turns but other than that it was a nice wood to scroll. Comes up nicely with some oil aswell.

I agree with AlexS on the nice smell. Dont think you could use the sawdust to make muffin tho

Hi There
I've been off air for a long while but thought I'd have a look at the BB. Gee, it's changed a bit, looks great.
Coachwood works very well. Was once a common joinery species but not so now. I have some stocks, 25mm, 38mm and 50mm.

If you are looking for some call on 02 62806467 and we may be able to assist.
Cheers
Shaun

Hi Arron
When coachwood was plentiful around here I turned lots of it never had the luxcury of using it for bowls. i used it for goblets candle sticks small lidded boxes etc mostly available in 2x2 or 3x3 inches very fine figured grain clean cutting and easily sanded and mostly finished very well I didnt experience any burning , though i expect it could with a router not moving router fast enough.
Cheers Tony

I have used a lot of coachwood for structural use in wooden bodied coaching stock for the railways, and never had any problems with heat.

It is very light, and extremely strong, which is why it was popular before the use of steel structures, and is the premier timber insofar as trying to balance weight issues on older carraiges when doing restoration work.

I have never had any problems at all as far as heat goes, from rough cutting, thicknessing, routing etc, but when doing very fine work it isn't very forgiving if you miss.

There is another species, daymar minyak (or similar) which has similar characteristics and is a little cheaper.

I was lucky to get some stock averaging 6"x3" not so long ago, but now I would love to get some 4"x4" soon to make some structural door pillars, 2.1m lengths, 10 off. If anyone out there has some in stock, send me an email.

Thanks guys. It sounds as though I can put the problems I was having with burning down to having blunt finger-eaters due to machining brush box.

Arron