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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Ipswich
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    Default Moreton Bay Ash or Carbeen

    I have access to a fair bit of Moreten Bay Ash or Carbeen. The grain looks nice, but seems difficult to work based on one quick test with a jointer & plane.

    Before I use any more fuel or energy slabbing it, can anyone tell me if this stuff is any good for anything? I was thinking of benchtops or perhaps for turning.

    Advice appreciated.

    Cheers
    ...Phil

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  3. #2
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    Apr 2005
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    Nambour Qld
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    Default

    You don't seem to be flooded with replies Phil.
    Eucalyptus tesselaris, Moreton Bay Ash.
    I've never knowingly used it and a grazier I know who has scads of it on his place says it's useless. I think that means he doesn't find it good for fence posts.
    "Australian Timbers Vol.2" says it has been extensively used for timber bridge construction and is good for tool handles.
    Air dry density 1010 kg/cu.m so it's darned heavy,
    Brian

  4. #3
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    Sep 2006
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    Default

    I've seen it used for turning, small work (boxes), marquetry and veeering.....nothing large
    Ours is not to reason why.....only to point and giggle.

  5. #4
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Wizened of Oz View Post
    You don't seem to be flooded with replies Phil.
    Eucalyptus tesselaris, Moreton Bay Ash.
    I've never knowingly used it and a grazier I know who has scads of it on his place says it's useless. I think that means he doesn't find it good for fence posts.
    "Australian Timbers Vol.2" says it has been extensively used for timber bridge construction and is good for tool handles.
    Air dry density 1010 kg/cu.m so it's darned heavy,
    Hi Brian.
    Spot on about the grazier! I have a mate in precisely the same situation - reckons I'm wasting my time with it. But I hate to see big heaps of timber pushed into a pile & burned without at least trying to find a use for it first.

    Perhaps it is considered useless because other species are easier to work. Perhaps because no-one's really tried to use it. Or perhaps because it really is crap.

    Too many "perhaps's" there for my liking, so I'll keep researching it until I get a more definative answer.

    And yes it is very darned heavy - as my back muscles can confirm.

    Cheers.
    ...Phil

  6. #5
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    Apr 2006
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    near Mackay
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    Hi Phil,
    a while back I got about 4 M/3 of Morton Bay Ash logs, have slabbed up about half of it so far.

    Havent used any yet (except for a few bits for a dog kennel floor), so I cant comment too much, but it does seem to be very stable, no movement or splitting.

    The logs that I have, dont have much feature in them, but the timber is a nice chocolate brown with pale sapwood.

    If you can get it for the right price, I would go for it

  7. #6
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    Jan 2002
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    Melbourne, Aus.
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    Default

    Is that the same as Moreton Bay Fig?

    I've turned a small bowl out of it and it had some nice medullary rays.
    Cheers, Ern

  8. #7
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    [QUOTE=rsser;521656]Is that the same as Moreton Bay Fig?
    QUOTE]

    Nope. Moreton Bay Fig is Ficus macrophylla, way different genus.
    Brian

  9. #8
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    Mar 2007
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    Ipswich
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    Default Carbeen for tool handles

    Several sources said that Carbeen is useful for tool handles and bridge construction. I don't have much call for a bridge so I cut a piece of log down to make a chisel handle as an experiment.
    The timber certainly worked nicely on the lathe (for a raw beginner) & the handle looks and feels good. The timber is still quite green & it will be interesting to see how it behaves as it dries over time.
    So I still haven't ruled Carbeen out as 'useless'. Yet!
    Cheers
    ...Phil

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    Durong Qld
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    Have a read of this http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/hardwoodsqld/13272.html It could be the fact that the sapwood is lyctus susceptible that puts the farmers off?! Sounds like a good useful timber to me. I think they are a lovely looking tree, so wont be cutting any of ours down in a hurry. But if one should happen to fall down, that is entirely a different matter!

    Donna

  11. #10
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    Sep 2007
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    Default

    new and just seen this old post i have milled 10m3 of carbeen for T&G flooring very nice timber but must be treated for borer . only sap wood is affected .sapwood and hart wood can be distinguisted use the hartwood only if not treating the timber .

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