casuarina spp wood

Re: casuarina spp wood

Jon Arno

>Eduardo, casuarina is similar in appearance and working characteristics to oak. In fact, in Australia it is referred to as she-oak. It is reddish tan in color, moderately coarse textured and its figure is dominated by large rays. It's also rather unstable..so, if you intend to turn it wet, leave the wall thickness comfortably heavy to allow for some distortion once it's dry and you put it back on the lathe for final turning.

Re: casuarina spp wood

Eduardo Sarmiento Hall-Lima Peru

>Thanks jon you have hit rigth on the spot that is the wood Im talking about thanks for the info

Re: casuarina spp wood

Arch

>Hi Eduardo, Florida's casuarina (so named because the needles resemble the feathers of the Australian cassowary bird) is called Australian pine, She-oak or Beef-wood. It grows tall and is salt resistant and strong, so it was planted along beaches and canals as a windbreak. It was also used as a yard hedge, but if untrimmed becomes a nuisance, often blotting out the seascape.

It is a nondescript turning wood and timber from standing dead trees is hard as concrete--you don't turn it, you machine it. IOW, I don't like it!

I hope ypur experience is better than mine.

Best regards, Arch

Re: casuarina spp wood

Ralph Tursini

>I have not turned casurana myself but have heard it is an obstinant species - ecologicly and also a challenge to work. It is seemingly a lively wood in terms of its propensity to warp when dried as well.

Roughing, drying, then returning was suggested to shape it. Another option which might fit the nature of ths species is to turn and sand green then dry the piece - carefully. This will result in a warped form that can be dramatic when used as an intentional design element - especially where there is crotch or irregular figure.

-Ralph