"Name that wood" revisited
 

About a month ago I posted asking what a lightweight wood that looks just
like MDF raw, but with a faint grain when oiled, might be.
I got guesses of Luan, Ramin, Nothing, MDF, and Spruce.

I took it in to the local exotic wood dealer today. She said it was
gumwood. (my money is still on luan)

toller wrote:

About a month ago I posted asking what a lightweight wood that looks just
like MDF raw, but with a faint grain when oiled, might be.
I got guesses of Luan, Ramin, Nothing, MDF, and Spruce.

I took it in to the local exotic wood dealer today. She said it was
gumwood. (my money is still on luan)

Luan is a lump-name for many -- it typically is very open pore. Gum is
a NA hardwood (albeit it's quite soft) and varies greatly in color.
But, it's a close-grained wood, nothing like anything I've ever had
under the banner of luan.

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
toller wrote:

About a month ago I posted asking what a lightweight wood that looks just
like MDF raw, but with a faint grain when oiled, might be.
I got guesses of Luan, Ramin, Nothing, MDF, and Spruce.

I took it in to the local exotic wood dealer today. She said it was
gumwood. (my money is still on luan)

Luan is a lump-name for many -- it typically is very open pore. Gum is
a NA hardwood (albeit it's quite soft) and varies greatly in color.
But, it's a close-grained wood, nothing like anything I've ever had
under the banner of luan.

What is "NA"? This wood has no pores, even under magnification.

I call it luan because I bought 150sf of "mahogany" from someone. It
covers the full spectrum from chocolate brown to white (some is even
purple); most is highly figured, some has virtually no grain (or pores) at
all. Two wood dealers have identified the more interesting pieces as being
unidentified tropical wood, mahogany for the lack of a better name. I
believe, perhaps incorrectly, that the grainless wood is just an extreme
piece of the spectrum.

toller wrote:

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
toller wrote:

About a month ago I posted asking what a lightweight wood that looks just
like MDF raw, but with a faint grain when oiled, might be.
I got guesses of Luan, Ramin, Nothing, MDF, and Spruce.

I took it in to the local exotic wood dealer today. She said it was
gumwood. (my money is still on luan)

Luan is a lump-name for many -- it typically is very open pore. Gum is
a NA hardwood (albeit it's quite soft) and varies greatly in color.
But, it's a close-grained wood, nothing like anything I've ever had
under the banner of luan.

What is "NA"? This wood has no pores, even under magnification.

I call it luan because I bought 150sf of "mahogany" from someone. It
covers the full spectrum from chocolate brown to white (some is even
purple); most is highly figured, some has virtually no grain (or pores) at
all. Two wood dealers have identified the more interesting pieces as being
unidentified tropical wood, mahogany for the lack of a better name. I
believe, perhaps incorrectly, that the grainless wood is just an extreme
piece of the spectrum.

NA -- North American ... although there are a multitude of gums and
there are probably related specie outside NA as well.

Well, that puts a whole different context on the question--I didn't see
the previous posting that might have done same...

Yes luan is a catchall name...think of it as a similar convention to the
use of "white wood" for undiferentiated construction softwoods in the
US.

I'm sure there is a particular species as well, but I'm too lazy to go
into the other room and look up what Hoadley says about it...maybe I'll
remember tonight and if so, I'll check on it then...

Charlie Self wrote:
....
... Redgum is colorful and far from soft. ...

Yes, but... :) Not hard in the sense of hard maple, though...

Unfortunately, as followup, I couldn't find my copy of Hoadley last
night... :(

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
Charlie Self wrote:
...
... Redgum is colorful and far from soft. ...

Yes, but... :) Not hard in the sense of hard maple, though...

Unfortunately, as followup, I couldn't find my copy of Hoadley last
night... :(

Essence, if not the entirety

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fp.../fplgtr113.htm

Duane Bozarth responds:


Charlie Self wrote:
...
... Redgum is colorful and far from soft. ...

Yes, but... :) Not hard in the sense of hard maple, though...

Unfortunately, as followup, I couldn't find my copy of Hoadley last
night... :(

No, but hard maple is soft compared to some other woods (mesquite and jarrah
and ipe among a large group). I'm not really sure where red gum falls on the
Janke scale, but to quote Max Kline in "A Guide To Useful Woods of The World",
liquidamber styraciflua heartwood "works with unusual ease...with only a slight
dulling effect on the cutting edge of tools. Despite the irregular grain
pattern often encountered, the species planes to a good surface and sands well
with worked edges remaining sharp....Much of the timber is cut into fine
cabinet veneer...."

Red gum is moderately strong and stiff; the interlocked grain often forms a
ribbon stripe.

Wish I could find a Janka chart that included red gum: it is a bit hard to
find, but you'd think that somewhere, some time someone would have wanted to
use it for flooring, so a flooring manufacturer would have tested it. Except
that I think most of the manufacturers run the same chart that has been around
for a long time, with few additions.

Some day, I'll make a Janka test set up and run some less usual woods through.

Not this year, though.

Charlie Self
"Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder
respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." George Orwell

Charlie Self wrote:

Duane Bozarth responds:


Charlie Self wrote:
...
... Redgum is colorful and far from soft. ...

Yes, but... :) Not hard in the sense of hard maple, though...

Unfortunately, as followup, I couldn't find my copy of Hoadley last
night... :(

No, but hard maple is soft compared to some other woods (mesquite and jarrah
and ipe among a large group). I'm not really sure where red gum falls on the
Janke scale, ...

I know, but as a single generality (which was all I was doing) I'd lump
red gum as one of the "softer" vis a vis "harder" hard woods...it is,
however, one of the more variable specie in properties...

"George" george@least wrote in message
...

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
Charlie Self wrote:
...
... Redgum is colorful and far from soft. ...

Yes, but... :) Not hard in the sense of hard maple, though...

Unfortunately, as followup, I couldn't find my copy of Hoadley last
night... :(

Essence, if not the entirety

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fp.../fplgtr113.htm


Great link; thanks

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 10:57:05 -0600, Duane Bozarth
calmly ranted:

Charlie Self wrote:

Duane Bozarth responds:


Charlie Self wrote:
...
... Redgum is colorful and far from soft. ...

Yes, but... :) Not hard in the sense of hard maple, though...

Unfortunately, as followup, I couldn't find my copy of Hoadley last
night... :(

No, but hard maple is soft compared to some other woods (mesquite and jarrah
and ipe among a large group). I'm not really sure where red gum falls on the
Janke scale, ...

Probably below jarrah and above oak, but it's not listed here.
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/w...ness_chart.asp


I know, but as a single generality (which was all I was doing) I'd lump
red gum as one of the "softer" vis a vis "harder" hard woods...it is,
however, one of the more variable specie in properties...

Redgum, as in yewcallapeetus trees? They're a very tough wood. Many
of our LoCal redgums died off as a result of lerp psyllids (bugs,
David) about 1999-2001. Phully calls the stuff "Marri".


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If God approved of nudity, we all would have been born naked.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
http://www.diversify.com Your Wild & Woody Website Wonk

Larry Jaques wrote:
....
Redgum, as in yewcallapeetus trees? They're a very tough wood. ...

No, I was thinking of eastern sweet gum, which I got into the habit of
calling red gum (as did the locals) when in TN/VA...I actually had
forgotten that eucalyptus were called gum although I'm sure I've been
told in the past... :)

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 14:08:08 -0600, Duane Bozarth
calmly ranted:

Larry Jaques wrote:
...
Redgum, as in yewcallapeetus trees? They're a very tough wood. ...

No, I was thinking of eastern sweet gum, which I got into the habit of
calling red gum (as did the locals) when in TN/VA...I actually had
forgotten that eucalyptus were called gum although I'm sure I've been
told in the past... :)

I have a 35' liquidambar styraciflua (aka Sweetgum) in my front yard
which I sometimes refer to as my pawpaw tree. I love the lovely smell
of the tree in early mornings, but hate the damnable pawpaws. It gets
more colorful than my maple in the fall, with brighter yellows and
some really deep, glowing reds.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If God approved of nudity, we all would have been born naked.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
http://www.diversify.com Your Wild & Woody Website Wonk

Larry Jaques wrote:
....
I have a 35' liquidambar styraciflua (aka Sweetgum) in my front yard
which I sometimes refer to as my pawpaw tree. I love the lovely smell
of the tree in early mornings, but hate the damnable pawpaws. It gets
more colorful than my maple in the fall, with brighter yellows and
some really deep, glowing reds.

They are widespread in the Appalachian hills and make beautiful fall
colors, for sure...

Have some areas in E KS that have significant numbers, too...but you're
right, they can make a terrible mess...

House accross the street in So. Calif coast HAD a big liquidambar tree
that was gorgeous in the Fall. Cars stopped to pick up leaves that
had fallen asking for the name. Tree went at first suggestion of
drain problem by new owner.

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 12:37:38 -0800, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 14:08:08 -0600, Duane Bozarth
calmly ranted:

Larry Jaques wrote:
...
Redgum, as in yewcallapeetus trees? They're a very tough wood. ...

No, I was thinking of eastern sweet gum, which I got into the habit of
calling red gum (as did the locals) when in TN/VA...I actually had
forgotten that eucalyptus were called gum although I'm sure I've been
told in the past... :)

I have a 35' liquidambar styraciflua (aka Sweetgum) in my front yard
which I sometimes refer to as my pawpaw tree. I love the lovely smell
of the tree in early mornings, but hate the damnable pawpaws. It gets
more colorful than my maple in the fall, with brighter yellows and
some really deep, glowing reds.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If God approved of nudity, we all would have been born naked.
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
http://www.diversify.com Your Wild & Woody Website Wonk

Charlie Self schreef
Wish I could find a Janka chart that included red gum: it is a bit hard to
find, but you'd think that somewhere, some time someone would have wanted
to use it for flooring, so a flooring manufacturer would have tested it.

***
Actually it is in all the books
The figure given is 3780.80 N (850 lbf)
A bit harder than silver maple, almost exactly as hard as bigleaf maple

" wrote in
:

House accross the street in So. Calif coast HAD a big liquidambar tree
that was gorgeous in the Fall. Cars stopped to pick up leaves that
had fallen asking for the name. Tree went at first suggestion of
drain problem by new owner.


As did the house across the street from me in the SF Bay Area. Now, the
big bits are stacked in my woodpile, waiting on an opportunity to try a
little low budget green woodturning...

It took 1.5 of the large recycling rolling bins to clean up all of what
Larry called pawpaws. Those things make using the mulching leaf vaccum
exciting. But if you step on one of them on the sidewalk, turning an ankle
is a definite possibility.

We'll see how it turns. Like I said, the investment is pretty low.

Patriarch