Jarra

[Bryan Milham]

Rather fell on my feet yesterday, while out looking for some oak I called into the Weston-super-Mare Wood recycling centre. No oak, or at least not enough, but I spotted a lump of Jarra, 11 1/2" x 2 3/8" x 38".

Setting a price I'd be prepared to pay into my mind I asked 'how much?', £20 said the man, I stopped chewing at his elbow.

All I know is it's an Aussie wood, so very full of silica and will need lots of tool sharpening to work it.

Anyone out there turned the stuff, anything else I need to know about turning Jarra?

[seventhdevil]

if it's really dry and old then it can be a bit dusty but other than that it's easy to turn with good sharp tools.

i there is interlocked grain that tears too easily then i've found that light scraping with very sharp scrapers cleans it up.

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

Bryan knowing your turning ability you should not have any troble with this, you know the advice, sharp tools , good cuts and all that. Take a bit more care to finish it and it will look beautiful. I usually go for an oil finish,loads of coats, maybe 25 or so? But it will finish really well.
  I'm green with envy. Once you have turned your 6" bowl can I have the offcuts?

[ColWA]

G'day Brian,
Jarrah  or Eucalyptus marginata is a beautiful timber to turn or make furniture from.
Can vary from dark pink, red, brown to purple depending on soil type .
Comes in curly, pleated, &  black fleck grain & of course burls.
Takes all types of finish, although oils tend to turn it darker.
Non-woodworkers use it for firewood as it really throws out the heat.

HTH
Col

[Bryan Milham]

Col,

Thank you for that. Your description seems to match what I have, a lovely red with black flecks in the grain rings, and very heavy.

[ColWA]

Yes Brian, It is heavy timber.
The day before we went to the Gold Coast for "Turnfest" I dropped a 200mm x 80mm Jarrah bowl blank on my foot.
It landed up at 45° which 2 cut toes &  cracked one toe.
But it was curly Jarrah so it wasn't so bad.

Col