Thread: Macadamia

It is similar looking grain to Grevillea or Casuarina, a bit like to Silky Oak but brown, not pink/red/orange.

Interesting looking because it has a dark/light contrast that shows up the rays in it.

Not sure how it works as timber, I have seen the small branches cut up a plugs to fill holes/faults in turned items 'cos the end grain of a small branch looks very interesting.

I have some macadamia, very similiar in appearance to the oaks with the prominent medullary rays, the stuff I have has a purplish tone with darker flecks, I think I'll take some pics, it machines allright, fairly hard dense timber, I havent made anything out of it as yet but I would say it is worth milling up.
And it should be cut on the quarter to show up the flecks for visual appeal.
How much have you got? Sizes? I could be interested in some more.
Peter

Thanks for the replies guys, very helpful. I think I'll go ahead with some milling. To answer your question pjt I am heading out this weekend to have a look at what is supposed to be 300 trees which need to be removed. Base diameters are 12-15 inches, but I have no idea of what percentage will have a straight trunk, and what length. Will post the outcome. What do you get up there - ironbark, bloodwood and bluegum?

Lovely wood - makes a modest bowl look quite stiking.

Jeff

If that bowl is macadamia, you've sold me on it! Very similar to silky oak then except maybe harder to work.

Take all you can get, and become a macca specialist. Has some features similar to silky oak - really nice to work as well. Heres a side view of the bowl too.

Jeff

oops - pic attached this time.

Nice bowl ogato.

Originally Posted by timbertalk

Thanks for the replies guys, very helpful. I think I'll go ahead with some milling. To answer your question pjt I am heading out this weekend to have a look at what is supposed to be 300 trees which need to be removed. Base diameters are 12-15 inches, but I have no idea of what percentage will have a straight trunk, and what length. Will post the outcome. What do you get up there - ironbark, bloodwood and bluegum?

Yep that's about it, there wood be more species but i'm no expert in the id area, slowly learning tho.

I did take some pics will load them on shortly, stay tuned.

I don't know the general shape/form a mac. tree takes but even if u can get a straight bit of trunk a meter long x 300 of them, i'd say that be all right, you might even be able to pull them out with root ball intact, bit of work in cleaning off the dirt but usually results in speccy grain patterns and it should add to the overall length of trunk, even if you only did some, can you get hold of a pressure cleaner and lots of water?

Has anyone else gone to the effort of cutting up a log with root ball intact?

What would be your ideas on doing the job? do you need a hand?
Peter.

I'm going out tomorrow for a look. Mac farmer's plan is to cut trees off a foot or so off the ground so excavator has something to pull on later. Will come back for a load of root balls then, but tomorrow will be happy with a load of trunks, and a look. Ken

I've turned pens and knife handles from Macadamia. Lovely stuff and good to work. Not as soft and porous as the Grevillias and Cardwellias.

People who have turned THIN WALLED bowls and vases tell me it might be OK and then up to 3=-5 years later just split. Ogato's beautiful bowl may prevent this with its chunky style.

Took some pics...flecks r lighter not darker as I previously said
Let us know how u get on when u have a look.
Added a few of the bansaw showing my trolley setup for cutting logs slabs etc... just the thing for cutting up mac logs hint hint.
Prolly be a fair thing to separate root ball from trunk anyway.
Peter.

Similar thread here.

Ok, I went out for my look. Unfortunately size was down, I came back with 10 trunks but biggest diameter only 10 inches (pic attached) . About one quarter of the trees are this size, rest 8-odd inches. I did 4 hours work for it too...
Hey pjt, were those maca boards straight off the saw, or had you applied something? Looks very dark/purplish, and very nice grain pattern. Beaut bandsaw setup too, good thinking. I was going to use my chainsaw mill, but it is wasteful with 8mm kerf. Was going to cut the 'logs' straight down the guts, then take a 2, 3, or 4 inch board from each half. The logs seem too small to fully quarter cut as I'd end up with only 2-3 inch wide boards from it. I'm not so into making jewellery boxes. Any comments? If anyone wants some of these maca trees there are plenty there, I'll probably only take another load of the biggest trunks I can get (or maybe more for firewood ). You still interested in this size pjt? Thanks for the other thread too Cliff. Ken
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