Thread: River red gum

Originally Posted by Shedhand

Dried dressed and very little gum in it.

What's the world coming to? Everybody knows that what makes RRG so appealing for woodwork are the gum inclusions, squirrelly grain and never-ending issues with movement!

And now they're trying to fob off some cheap Malaysian import that's probably ten times more stable and without inclusions as RRG? Shame! Shame!

(I'm just jealous. I love the stuff, for all it's problems, and the few times I've come across good quality pieces it has always come up beautifully. )

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

What's the world coming to? Everybody knows that what makes RRG so appealing for woodwork are the gum inclusions, squirrelly grain and never-ending issues with movement!

And now they're trying to fob off some cheap Malaysian import that's probably ten times more stable and without inclusions as RRG? Shame! Shame!

(I'm just jealous. I love the stuff, for all it's problems, and the few times I've come across good quality pieces it has always come up beautifully. )

This RRG has been sitting in the guy's shed for 7 years. He put it through the thicknesser last weekend. I doubt it will move much. Anyway it will probably end up as legs on a coffee table with the weird red and cream asian stuff as the top. I been fangin' to get hold of some nice red timber for a while and out of the blue...well...I couldn't believe my luck.

[quote=Shedhand;565762]This RRG has been sitting in the guy's shed for 7 years. He put it through the thicknesser last weekend. I doubt it will move much.


Believe me, it will move. The idea of using it for the legs is good but it is bloody unforgiving if you want a perfect finish.

Carry Pine

Originally Posted by Shedhand

He also GAVE me 4 lengths of an unknown asian timber. 900 x 100 x 75. Its red and cream and dense as buggery.

Sounds like Indonesian "Mirrorwood"

Originally Posted by Groggy

Sounds like Indonesian "Mirrorwood"

Red - Cream (whitish) - dense as buggery...could be the missing bit of Big Bad Bustling Barry Hall...

is there such a thing as Indonesian Mirrorwood? I can't find it googling...

Redgum.... is there different varieties. Ive been told that the local west coast stuff is some of the most stable available. But what proof is there and can this be proved.

red and cream dense as buggery? , its not a nsw football team ? is it

Originally Posted by Tonto

Redgum.... is there different varieties. Ive been told that the local west coast stuff is some of the most stable available. But what proof is there and can this be proved.

Dunno, i think there are different flavours but i don't know what the different characteristics are. Guess I'll find out when I make something . The guy used to be a wharfie and collected all the wood that came into port as packing, wedges, crates , pallets &c. So the redgum could have come from any state i s'pose.

River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis) is probably the most widespread type of euc in Oz and although it's typically found along water courses this isn't always so. Naturally, there's a degree of variation depending on geographic area but in general it's really only suitable for heavy construction, such as fencing, flooring and framing. ie. no-one will ever seriously class it as "furniture grade" even though the odd near grade log does crop up.

It does hybridise with other euc species such as Flooded Gum (E. Grandis) and Blue Gum (E. Saligna) - these hybrids are generally more drought tolerant, have better form and are easy to propogate, so are gaining favour in industry. (Or so I'm told)

But I still reckon it's a mighty pretty timber if you make allowances for it's "flaws," mainly because of some of those self same "flaws!"

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Naturally, there's a degree of variation depending on geographic area but in general it's really only suitable for heavy construction, such as fencing, flooring and framing. ie. no-one will ever seriously class it as "furniture grade" even though the odd near grade log does crop up.

Huh

The most expensive tables for sale in the retail market now a made solely from Redgum. It is highly regarded for those exact reasons you stated. Its very durable and happily takes all the knock of life.....even a house fire in one case.

Originally Posted by martrix

Huh

The most expensive tables for sale in the retail market now a made solely from Redgum. It is highly regarded for those exact reasons you stated. Its very and happily takes all the knock of life.....even a house fire in one case.

River Red Gum is a Redgum. The other way isn't necessarily true... if 'tis a Eucalypt (and sometimes if it's not) and coloured red, people call it Redgum even if 'tis actually a Blue, Spotted or Widemouthed Gum.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

River Red Gum is a Redgum. The other way isn't necessarily true... if 'tis a Eucalypt (and sometimes if it's not) and coloured red, people call it Redgum even if 'tis actually a Blue, Spotted or Widemouthed Gum.

call me thick, but thats gone straight over my head. Are you referring to Sheddies query about whether or not it actually is RedGum he has?(Eucalyptus camaldulensis)

For me there is no mistaking Redgum when I have a piece in my hand.

Come on Sheddie, where the pics?

Originally Posted by martrix

call me thick, but thats gone straight over my head. Are you referring to Sheddies query about whether or not it actually is RedGum he has?

Where does he ask that? Now I'm getting more confused. But it's that time of night. He said he was given some River Redgum and some unknown Asian timber, though...

Then someone asked about different varieties of Redgum, mentioning that they'd been told it was stable. AFAIAC, River Red Gum's prone to movement in a big way even when well aged, unless it's one of the hybrids... which aren't really RRG anymore.

So, I'm pointing out that while River Red Gum is a redgum, redgum isn't necessarily River Red Gum.

Words, words, words... now my head hurts. Time to uncork another stress reliever. Gotta agree that pics would be nice though.

Originally Posted by Shedhand

Red - Cream (whitish) - dense as buggery...could be the missing bit of Big Bad Bustling Barry Hall...

is there such a thing as Indonesian Mirrorwood? I can't find it googling...

Gotcha - Mirror (wood) When you looked into it you saw something red, cream and as dense as buggery.....