A ' Curly ' one .

[Charles in Aus.]

Much has been said about the difficulty of splitting Australian hardwood timbers . I am sure that every major treed continent has its fair share of easy and difficult woods used for heating fuel .
Today I split a cubic metre of Tasmanian Bluegum, generally not the most difficult of timbers , not the easiest either . This section of trunk , from a tree felled on my farm five years ago was an exception. Curly and tough are not misguided patriotic exaggerations . This stuff was hard ! I was truly exhausted when finished .

 

[RedMF40]

That’s some tough wood. Do wood-turners seek it out in your parts? Looks like it would have interesting grain.

 

[47fivewindow]

That 's what I thought when I saw the pictures. I want to turn a bowl.

 

[jniolon]

the surfer dudes in Cali would say " Gnarly, Dude !" You use axe and wedge or hydraulic splitter ? that stuff looks seriously tough

j

 

[560Dennis]

Thanks for posting the photos.
Reminded me of local Osage orange a little. We could make a bow out of it.

 

[showcrop]

I'll bet that it would be very good fuel for an outdoor wood boiler.

 

[Charlie M]

My experience is straight grain wood splits well, even by hand. anything that changes a straight grain will be hard to split. I love splitting wood by hand but I wouldn't even try the stuff you are showing without a splitter.

 

[Richard G.]

Much has been said about the difficulty of splitting Australian hardwood timbers . I am sure that every major treed continent has its fair share of easy and difficult woods used for heating fuel .
Today I split a cubic metre of Tasmanian Bluegum, generally not the most difficult of timbers , not the easiest either . This section of trunk , from a tree felled on my farm five years ago was an exception. Curly and tough are not misguided patriotic exaggerations . This stuff was hard ! I was truly exhausted when finished .

That is some tough old stuff.
My homemade splitter would do pretty well with it though.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

I have a wood lathe , a fairly basic one I rescued from the local scrapyard and have never used .
I am interested now , might practice on some softer wood first , but yes rather than just firewood it might just make an interesting bowl .

 

[Richard G.]

Charles, I have 2 wood lathes and I have never used them.
When I slow down some, I hope to play with them.

 

[560Dennis]

Osage orange statues photo . I copy for comment of discussion . To me it’s similar.
Does the they make archery’s bow out of it like Osage Orange ?

https://i.etsystatic.com/35377370/r/il/b2280a/6068518568/il_1588xN.6068518568_phfy.jpg

 

[Janicholson]

There are several wood turning channels on youtube that are worth the effort. One safety comment Keep the rest close to the work 10mm or less. Saw cut blanks to near round first. Jim

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Osage orange statues photo . I copy for comment of discussion . To me it’s similar.
Does the they make archery’s bow out of it like Osage Orange ?

https://i.etsystatic.com/35377370/r/il/b2280a/6068518568/il_1588xN.6068518568_phfy.jpg

It is a hard brittle timber , it does flex but then snaps with great vigour .