Thread: Cook Pine timber

I had a quick search online and Cook Pine is used for woodturning.
I’m in Concord, have a flat top ute and am retired.
When it’s felled I’d be interested in some bowl blanks as I have a decent size lathe.
I would also be able to pick up and store some for other forum members if they can’t get there to pick up in person when this tree comes down.
H.

I do not know the tree, James, but google says it is more commonly known as the New Caledonia Pine, as in the Isle of Pines. You might get more responses under that name?

With the multiplicity of side branches, any timber is likely to have a very complex grain pattern. This could be a spectacular asset, or a liability. But I have never seen the timber.

Thanks for the replies. I've gone to a few timber yards and not got any interest.

It has to be felled and I plan to have it milled into slabs/planks on site. I've heard a year or two for it to season.

Then I will offer it to local Men's Sheds and secondary schools.

I'll keep you posted with updates.

Thanks again.

The "top" of the tree will be of interest to some wood turners who want to try turning translucent bowls. However to be successful the wood has to be harvested well, with the knots positioned within the intended bowl profile, cared for well, then turned green as an end grain bowl. Most of the "Norfolk Island Pine" translucent bowls that you see are actually Cook Pine.

Norfolk Pine (kellydunnwoodturner.com)

Woodshow Gallery 2004 (hawaiiforest.org)

I will contact a mate in Sydney, a younger and gifted turner, to see if he may be interested.

Happy New Year to everyone.

We had our Cook Pine felled back in August. I now have ~40 slabs seasoning in the front yard. They are all beautiful with good grain. 1.5m to 2m long.

They should be fully seasoned and ready for working in August 2022.

Drop me a line if you are interested in purchasing. I'm in North Ryde.



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What sought of $'s are you wanting per slab?

Hi Ray,

I'm told the really good slabs are worth $400each. (Approx 2m x 0.7m x 0.05m)

The others from $200 upwards.

cheers

James

Hi,

if you've been following this thread then here's a quick update.

The slabs have been seasoning in my front yard for 12 months and so are ready for use. I racked them with recommended spacings and support and covered them with a big tarp.

Sizes range between 1.5m to 1.8m long. 50mm or 75mm thick, 400mm to 600mm wide. (All approx but there are over 60 to choose from.)

Ideal for table tops. Also short logs from the crown available for turning into bowls.


regards

James

Originally Posted by JamesSmith62

Hi,

if you've been following this thread then here's a quick update.

The slabs have been seasoning in my front yard for 12 months and so are ready for use. I racked them with recommended spacings and support and covered them with a big tarp.

Sizes range between 1.5m to 1.8m long. 50mm or 75mm thick, 400mm to 600mm wide. (All approx but there are over 60 to choose from.)

Ideal for table tops. Also short logs from the crown available for turning into bowls.

regards

James

I reckon they will need another 12 months minimum to season

Possibly 2 years for the 75mm stuff

Log Dog

Originally Posted by JamesSmith62

Hi,

if you've been following this thread then here's a quick update.

The slabs have been seasoning in my front yard for 12 months and so are ready for use. I racked them with recommended spacings and support and covered them with a big tarp.

Sizes range between 1.5m to 1.8m long. 50mm or 75mm thick, 400mm to 600mm wide. (All approx but there are over 60 to choose from.)

Ideal for table tops. Also short logs from the crown available for turning into bowls.

regards

James

James, if you wish to sell these slabs via the forum, I suggest you read up on the rules and then advertise them in the Timber Sales section in the Market Place, otherwise all posts asking for calls etc will be deleted.

DJ

ADMIN

Out of interest I looked up Cook's pine in the CSIRO book of Forest trees of Australian and found it not there. Neither is Norfolk Island Pine which is to be expected since its from Norfolk Island. Turns out Cooks pine is from New Caledonia. Both trees are Araucarias, a family of ancient pines dating back to the Jurassic/Cretaceous periods and were growing all over the world. Other members of this family are Hoop, Bunya and King William pines.

One of the interesting things the Wikipedia entry for these trees shows is that no matter where Cooks pines are growing on earth they tilt slightly toward the equator - north in the southern Hemisphere and South in the northern hemisphere.

If you get a chance can you post some closeup pics of the grain?
Thanks

Hi DJ Admin,

My apologies. This thread started as a general enquiry for help.

I will make a new post as you suggest under Timber Sales. I will just reply to a few commenters though.

Thanks

James

Thanks Log Dog.

Any tips on how to tell if they ready?

Hi BobL,

I can confirm the weird tilt. It's just noticeable in the photo at the top of the thread. It was dead due north. I now see them everywhere I go.

For years we thought it was a Norfolk Island Pine but the tree feller put me right.

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