Thread: Redgum garden bed

Have a look into cellavit

Thanks for your reply. Will this stop splitting from occuring?

Redgum is extremely hard and consequently long-lived underground (consider the number of redgum fence posts around). You might consider not bothering with timber protector for the underground sections. I built a redgum garden bed and just whacked it in.

If your timber is splitting it is very probably because it is green. The moisture is exiting the freshly-cut sleeper and as it dries the timber cracks, often quite quickly in a much dryer environment like a shed. It would be highly unusual for a split to travel the entire length of a sleeper but if it does then you have solid justification for returning it and getting a replacement from the supplier. Some splitting at the end is not really a problem and does not pose an aesthetic concern.

As for retaining the red colour, I agree it looks better, but after some thought I just gave in and left it. You could try oil but this will require re-application twice a year or so - can you be bothered?

With respect to cabinet-making I anticipate that you will be buying timber from a reputable dealer who ensures that it is correctly kiln-dried to an appropriate moisture content that largley eliminates the possibility of cracking. So I would discourage you from considering the redgum sleepers as an appropriate choice for woodworking.

All the best.

Hi, I'm a sawmiller and to reduce the end checking ( cracking ) it is a good idea to seal the ends with timber sealer. If you can't get a small amount, paint or seal with any thing will reduce the end checking. The reason it cracks is the moisture can escape from the end easier, hence the end will shrink quicker causing it to crack.
That's my understanding of it anyway.
I wouldn't expect the cracks to go very far.

good luck,
Mal

Great, thanks for the tip. Ill look for some brands today.