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Kathy Marshall
04-24-2011, 4:51 AM
On the way home from work last night I stopped by the tree trimmer's to see if they cut anything interesting during the week. The only thing they had was some citrus and eucalyptus that they were holding for a guy that wanted it for firewood, but they said I could take a look and see if I wanted any. Wasn't really interested in any citrus, but I thought I would take a look at the euc to see if it was anything like the last euc I got from them.
This was not the typical euc you see all over Phx. Most of the eucs here have a stingy bark that sheds leaving a smooth trunk. This had typical tree bark. So I took a couple logs to play with. I've seen a few of these trees around town and have been wondering what the wood looks like, and now I know.

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Trimmed the logs up and got them sealed today, but kept out 1 piece to give it a try.
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The picture doesn't show the color well, but after a fresh cut the heartwood was red, faded to a pinkish/salmon color when the surface dried (took all of about 30 seconds here). As with the other euc I have turned, this stuff likes to crack, especially around the pith.
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This wood cut very nice. What surprised me was how quickly it dulled my gouge considering the wood is not that hard. I've also never had a piece of wood that wore out sandpaper so fast, but it did sand up nicely.
It has a coat of BLO and I fogot to measure, but it's probably about 8" x 5" x 4" or thereabouts. It's sitting in a plastic bag now, hopefully it won't crack more.

As always, comments and critiques are welcome.

Dan Forman
04-24-2011, 5:07 AM
That's some very good looking wood, and great form on the bowl. Hope it remains intact as it dries. Wonder if it has a high silica content causing the dulling. Things are still slow in the tree trimming front around here, but should pick up soon. I have enough to keep me busy for a while, but hope I can score a good bunch of walnut this year. Sounds like you have a nice candy store near you. :)

Dan

Michelle Rich
04-24-2011, 7:14 AM
I think all of us want your wood supplier...great turning & form on this..nicely balanced and nice small flat on bottom..this lifts right off the table.

John Hart
04-24-2011, 7:20 AM
yeah...I'm wondering about the sand as well. Walnut loves to ingest sand and wears out everything sharp. Very nice piece by the way. It's difficult to come up with a pleasing form, and you nailed it. :)

John Keeton
04-24-2011, 7:50 AM
Pretty bowl - and, well worth the sharpening effort! I do think silica content is the culprit.

Russell Eaton
04-24-2011, 7:58 AM
Kathy great looking bowl. You did that piece of wood justice for sure. Great job of keeping the bark on.

David E Keller
04-24-2011, 9:40 AM
Pretty stuff! +1 on the silica... I seem to remember reading somewhere that some of the eucalypts are especially tough on tool edges for that reason.

Rich Aldrich
04-24-2011, 9:44 AM
Kathy - really nice form and nice wood. I really like this one.

Hayes Rutherford
04-24-2011, 10:10 AM
Kathy, that shape is just right and in my experience a best seller.

Steve Schlumpf
04-24-2011, 10:17 AM
Congrats on the wood! Sure is some pretty stuff! Very nice looking bowl! Hope it holds together for you while drying!

Cathy Schaewe
04-24-2011, 10:05 PM
That's a really pretty piece - as usual!