Thread: Can I say spotted gum? Timber ID

Hmmm, my inkling is not Spotted Gum, but it might be with regional characteristics.

based on your location -- Melbourne -- and the stated age -- 100 years -- my first guess is Mountain Ash

where did you get the pews from?
that may give a further clue

Originally Posted by ian

based on your location -- Melbourne -- and the stated age -- 100 years -- my first guess is Mountain Ash

where did you get the pews from?
that may give a further clue

It's from a church built in 1919 in Geelong. Latterly they decided to go for modern plastic seats.

I can see some 30mm of sap wood on some edges of a paler color.
As the shavings show there are open pores on them.
thanks all

Fingernail

Is spotted gum an easily worked species found close to Geelong or Melbourne?

There's a strong possibility that the trees for the pews were sourced from the hills behind Geelong (that's if there are any places like the Dandenongs behind Geelong).

alternatively the timber could have actually come out of the Dandenongs.

Can you find out what the common commercial hardwood species were in Geelong 100 years ago?
Perhaps the local historical society can help.

Another couple of indicators: SG is significantly harder, heavier and tighter grain than MA and is much more prone to tearout from a plane than MA (which is usually quite well behaved)

Hi All,
This may sound silly, but going on the Shavings in Photo 1, & Photo 3, it looks like Meranti.
Surly they wood not have used Meranti for Church Pews way back then

A Church I know quite well & well over 100 yrs. in South West Vic, the 54 Pews, Elders Chairs, Pulpit, Table are all NZ Rimu.

This wood does not look like it anyway, So who will get it right.

Blue gum maybe. Maybe take some to your local mens shed and see if any of them know what it is. Cheers WC

info from www.timber.net.au

Spotted Gum,
Common uses -- Heavy engineering construction, piles, poles, shipbuilding, agricultural machinery, flooring decking, plywood.
natural range -- NSW to Queensland

Mountain Ash, Common uses -- General construction, furniture, plywood, joinery, panelling, flooring, oars, skis, agricultural implements, handles, cooperage, wood wool. Relatively easy to work
natural range includes eastern Victoria


so based on the age of the pews -- about 100 years -- and their location -- Geelong -- I'm thinking Mountain Ash

I'd also be looking for evidence that the pews were flattened or shaped with an aze

All I found out by now is that,
1. It was from a Presbyterian Church in west Geelong (not far from your place, itsatree, )
2. The church was first set up around the yr of 1913 and in 1919 they changed the direction of the pews, until finally removed.
3. I saw saw marks on back sides of the boards, (pity no adze marks). The joints were T&M for the back and screw/nailed to the seat boards.

also, I noticed an interesting tenon style, that uses two wedges on either side of a tapered, through tenon, maybe some locking mechanism simulating a dovetail ?

I'll take more pics on Sunday.

Thanks all above, very inspiring!

I am planning for a miter jointed (lock-shoulders joint) frame-panel table if only sure about the timber movement.

Fingernail

Some marks on the boards
saw marks in the 2nd picture and pew numbers

Some mortises seem have been made by machine
the 2nd shows an arch at the bottom. Chain Mortising machine?

Don't know what I did wrong but can't see pictures when reply

I use a fair bit of SG here in Bris and from pics the grain does look similar but the auger marks and mortices show a very different character. There are a lot of good things about SG but it does not work well. If I had to make a church full of pick handles it would be my first choice, for hand worked pews I'd try everything else first.

Matt