Thread: Free Timber

Seems it could be Tamarisk Tamarix aphylla or Athel Pine which is a declared or restricted pest plant in most states. Make sure you haven't inadvertantly spread seeds with your timber.

If you go to TTIT's eggs web page you will find it is #97 All the eggs so at least you will see what the timber looks like. Vern may have some clues on processing the timber.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Seems it could be Tamarisk Tamarix aphylla or Athel Pine which is a declared or restricted pest plant in most states. Make sure you haven't inadvertantly spread seeds with your timber.If you go to TTIT's eggs web page you will find it is #97 All the eggs so at least you will see what the timber looks like. Vern may have some clues on processing the timber.

Thanks heaps for that web page. I have seen TTIT around the forum pages for years, we have probly even exchanged views from time to time, but I had no idea he had such a wonerful collection of timber & such a well put together web page.I'll get on to him & ask for more info.Thanks again.

Steve

Had a row of Athel Pines growing in the school grounds at Rufus River.
After rain they would look like their needles had turned to frosted glass.
hey sucked up the salty water and exude the salt through the needle.

Hey Arty, you do get around this forum don't you.

Well, these are growing just off the dunes along the beach and the needles do look like they shine.

Have you ever made anything from the timber? Might make nice pen blanks, but what do I do with 47 million pen blanks? (Please don't say "make 47 million pens")

I haven't really processed much Tamarisk myself but I have a bit here that my old man milled in Vic' many years ago. He rarely bothered to seal the end grain on anything, preferring to just lose a bit when it came time to break it down further but I have 4x4" lengths and some 6" diameter roughed spindle blanks out there with no cracking in them at all. From that you could assume it is either a fairly stable timber whichever way it's cut OR that is all he recovered between a lot of general cracking
Not much for colour but the timber has a visible medullary ray which is always appealing and it works nicely too. Considering how common it is through Queensland at least, I'm surprised it doesn't get more use. I certainly wouldn't knock back a large log dropped in the driveway

Hey TTIT,

Thanks for weighing in, much appreciated.

I hear what your saying about not sealing the ends, but down here in SA, we tend to a have hotter & Dryer climate than up around your stamping ground.

I haven't had much to do with drying timber, infact, the first peice I have dried to rescue from the chipper is still waiting to be cut, although, I recon it should be getting close by now. Do you recon that you would seal the ends in SA, or do you think the climate differance is not relavent.

Just thinking as Im typing, (& they say men can't mutitask), I guess I could seal some of it & leave some of it & sit back & wait to see the results.

My other question is

Should I wait untill it is dry enough to use before I cut it into boards, I should I slab it & set it on stickers for it to air dry?

Thanks.

Tamarisk.jpg

Steve

Depends what you've got planned for it If you're a flat worker, absolutely slice and sticker it now - best way to avoid cracking altogether. If your turning it, halve or quarter it and seal the ends or even turn it green for some fun!

Thanks TT,

Illl get on to slicing that up as soon as I Can.

You & the others have helped me quite a bit I think.

Steve