Tallowwood Timber, Highly Durable For Outdoor Use
The Tallowwood belongs to the hardwood species and can be found preferring the coast as well as the coastal ranges from the Hunter River in New South Wales all up to Queensland in the Maryborough area. It thrives on moderate to fertile soils in sheltered but sunny forests. The tree cannot tolerate drought and frost.
This large tree also known as Eucalptus microcorys is a native Eucalypt species. It can grow on average at 40 meters and at times as high as 70 meters. Its rough bark covering continues all the way up to its small branches. It can be from brown to red-brown in color and it is soft as well as fibrous. Its flowers grow in umbels of 7-11 and the leaves are from 8-12 centimeters long, which are known to be eaten by koalas. Its nectar is also highly valued by many apiarists.
The heartwood of the Tallowwood is a grey-yellowish shade with a trace of olive green. It is a hard and moderately close-grained kind of timber. The sapwood is identifiably lighter in color. The timber itself has no gum veins, which is a rare occurrence in most eucalypts.
When you touch the timber of the Tallowwood, you would notice that it has a slightly greasy feeling. This is why it gots its name because when the wood is cut, its extracts make it greasy. This is brought about by a high dose of triterpenes in its extracts. This particular characteristic has an effect on the adhesive bond strength to the wood product. You can remedy this by washing with a 10% solution of sodium hydroxide the particular area that you will be gluing.
The Tallowwood has a heartwood that is particularly known for its durability. The timber is easily manageable, which is why it can be used for a variety of applications like flooring, decking, house support, heavy commercial usage, marine structures, sleepers, poles, piles and bridges. Because the timber is naturally oily due to its high tannin ingredients, it is more used as decking. Fairly recently, it has been popularly used as garden furniture. Its distinct yellowish-brown to olive green shade are very attractive to the eye.
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