Needs Pictures: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 15
-
15th January 2019, 04:18 PM #1SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2003
- Location
- Brisbane, Qld
- Posts
- 942
Alexander palms coming down - worth keeping?
Hi folks,
Got a couple of mid size Alexander palms (at least that's what they are, according to the arborist) coming down at my place - any point in keeping some of the remains for turning?
I am set up to stabilise wood so I'll keep at least some to try it out, but not sure if keeping any significant amount would be worth the storage space!
Cheers,
Danny
-
15th January 2019 04:18 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
15th January 2019, 05:32 PM #2China
- Join Date
- Dec 2005
- Location
- South Australia
- Posts
- 4,475
NO no no no
-
15th January 2019, 05:53 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2003
- Location
- Brisbane, Qld
- Posts
- 942
That bad? Am I even wasting time trying to stabilise?
-
15th January 2019, 10:10 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Aug 2004
- Location
- Perth WA
- Posts
- 2,035
The inside of palms are just strands of fibres with lots of moisture. When cut and they dry out all the internall fibre falls apart. The only thing you will be left with is the outer shell/trunk
Experienced in removing the tree from the furniture
-
15th January 2019, 10:53 PM #5SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2014
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Posts
- 251
-
16th January 2019, 01:52 AM #6GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 1,557
-
16th January 2019, 09:25 AM #7SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2003
- Location
- Brisbane, Qld
- Posts
- 942
There's definitely some turnable palms (notably black palm), particularly if stabilised, and I would be able to pick and choose bits (older posts suggest the chunk of trunk just above the root ball is the best bet). Will post some pics if I keep any!
-
16th January 2019, 04:47 PM #8China
- Join Date
- Dec 2005
- Location
- South Australia
- Posts
- 4,475
Any palm I have ever had any thing to do with was a complete waste of time how ever I have nver venture in "stabilising"
-
16th January 2019, 07:01 PM #9Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2013
- Location
- Townsville NQ
- Posts
- 100
Large royals and large foxtails, lower trunks set rock hard, once all moisture has gone, however they still do have that fibre/strand nature to them. Like a coconut husk does.
-
17th January 2019, 01:57 PM #10
I hope your aborist brings a few spare saw chains with them. In my experience (I'm not sure which species it was, but it was dry by the time I was cutting it up) the stringy fibre killed the edge on my chains.
Sent from my ZTE T84 using TapatalkStay sharp and stay safe!
Neil
-
17th January 2019, 06:49 PM #11
There are a number of palms around the world that produce useable "wood" which is rather different to the woods we are more familiar with. The density of the wood is at its maximum near the outer bark and is almost un-useable pith at the centre. The various "black palms" are well known as is red palm. Various projects are established to utilize Cocos wood (coconut wood) in Pacific nations.
For domestically grown palms the quality of the wood appears to better the harder and harsher their growing environment. Fast growing well nourished & well watered palms don't seem to develop any useable wood. Alexander palms are not regarded as "wood" producing palms but I have seen end grain turned bowls turned from the section of the trunk just above the root ball. Same goes for Royal palms and a few others.
Search Dewey Garret as he has turned a number of hollow forms, bowls and goblets from palm wood. From memory I believe that Brissy turner Kerry Cameron has turned Alexander Palm.Mobyturns
In An Instant Your Life CanChange Forever
-
17th January 2019, 11:04 PM #12
I have turned a black palm root ball, it was quite spectacular showing all the "eyes" of the many roots coming from the stump. It wasn't all that hard to turn either. I have turned coconut palm as well. I will have a look in the morning, to fime the bowl I made from coconut palm and post a photo. That wasn't all that hard to turn either.
JimSometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important...
-
18th January 2019, 09:01 PM #13
Took some finding but as promised I found the bowl made from a coconut palm tree. It measures 260mm wide and 110mm at the highest point. As you can see it is a natural edge bowl with the "bark" intact.
Jim
Coconut palm bowl.jpgCoconut palm bowl1.jpgSometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important...
-
19th January 2019, 10:32 PM #14Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2009
- Location
- Cooran
- Age
- 73
- Posts
- 132
I've turned a bit of Cocos Palm, and Bangalow Palm with some success. Usually only the lower 1m or so of the trunk is solid through the centre - above that it tends to get a bit soft and 'stringy'.
I use the Tony Greig 'key' test to gauge whether the the wood is firm enough. If the key penetrates the middle section, it certainly won't hold a chuck.
Here's one I made earlier - from Cocos Palm.
Unfortunately I can't help with info on Alexander Palm - haven't tried it . . . . yet. Triangle Palm though, tried and it didn't work - too wet and not firm enough.
P1012228e.jpgP1012225e.jpgP1012226e.jpgLast edited by ogato; 19th January 2019 at 11:05 PM. Reason: additional info
-
20th January 2019, 12:42 AM #15SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2003
- Location
- Brisbane, Qld
- Posts
- 942
Many thanks, Jim and ogato!
The photos have convinced me it's definitely worth a go to try to keep the lower part of the trunk. Might be a dismal failure, but that's OK!
Similar Threads
-
Stanley 210 ... Worth Keeping?
By Tahlee in forum ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TOOLSReplies: 6Last Post: 29th July 2016, 06:33 AM -
Gifted Lathe - Worth Keeping?
By Redback in forum WOODTURNING - GENERALReplies: 16Last Post: 30th May 2016, 09:09 PM -
Timber ID/ What is worth keeping
By Bismar in forum TIMBERReplies: 2Last Post: 30th June 2013, 09:18 AM -
Worth keeping this shaper?
By yashinskiy in forum METALWORK FORUMReplies: 13Last Post: 21st May 2012, 11:20 AM -
Worth keeping alive .
By dopeydriver in forum CLASSIC BOAT RESCUE & ADOPTIONReplies: 0Last Post: 14th March 2010, 09:26 AM