Just another Red Gum table

[ROb McGilp]

I know how you guys hate our timber  , so here's a hall/sofa table in Red Gum.
This one is going to Houston with a family returning to the US after 6 years here. They wanted a memento of their time here.
Its about 1.1m long, 0.75m high and a tad under 0.4m wide.
The tools used were TS75, Domino, RO150, ETS150/3, Kapex and a DTS400.

Regards,

Rob

 

[nickao]

Rob straight on view in the first picture the wood color looks like Santos Mahogany. The table top looks much more orange in the third picture. Which is the actual color of the Red Gum?

Do you have the scientific name of the wood handy. Is it "Eucalyptus camaldulensis", actually in the Eucalyptus family, usually found in Australia?

I have over 600 woods in my collection. I was just wondering if I have the wood. I do not recognize the grain and color combo.

Nice table!

Nickao

 

[ROb McGilp]

Hi Nick,
River Red Gum is camaldulensis. In Australia it is now a protected species. Much of the timber we get now is from trees that have been lying on farms for years and is now being harvested. These pictures show the variation found in different boards from different areas. The timber can vary from almost salmon pink through to a brownish red. The timber for this table was purchased from two different merchants. While it is not obvious in the pictures, the top shows flame figure in amongst the grain. The pics were taken with a flash also. In fact, I'll go take some pics without the flash and post those for you.

Regards,

Rob

 

[ROb McGilp]

Hi again Nick,

Here are some photos taken at ISO200 with no flash. I think you can see that there is still considerable difference in the appearance of the timber.  Its one of the great things about Red Gum, colour (and of course grain).

Regards,

Rob

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Rob,

Beautiful timber and a very elegant looking piece.  Based on your comments, it seems that the color shown is the natural color.  True?

 

[nickao]

The center piece appears to be of the Curly variety. I have some wood that is a different species, bit boy it looks the same! I will post a pic.

Nickao

 

[ROb McGilp]

Hi again,
Shane, The only finish I have used is Scandinavian oil. Over time this may darken the timber, but it was only finished yesterday, so what you are seeing is the natural colour.
Nick, The curly appearance is not uncommon in Red Gum and can vary from striations to almost flame.
Here's some pics, all of red gum which I hope will show the variation for you.
In the first pic, the doors are Red Gum,
In the second the frame is Red Gum,
In the third the lid inlay is Red Gum.

Regards,

Rob

 

[nickao]

Now that's a seller! Flaming Curly Red Gum. I would love to use that in an Inlay.

I have a wood and it looks identical to what I see on my screen in your pictures. I only have a very small piece of it.

It smells really sweet when it is cut. What odor does the Red Gum have?

Nick

 

[ROb McGilp]

Hi Nick,
To me it has a slightly sweet smell, but has more the aroma of freshly turned earth. By the way, it makes excellent firewood! 

 

[nickao]

I just love the flame and curly woods. They are my favorites, in any species. If it is curly, flaming or highly figured in some way, I like it.

Great work and Great wood!

Nickao

 

[ROb McGilp]

I couldn't resist just one more.
This is Red Gum that I cut for the front leg of a chair. Never used it though.
Pic #1 No flash,ISO 200
Pic #2 ISO200 with flash.
This piece of timber was oiled and friction sealed three years ago. I have used no further finish (shellac,poly or wax)

 

[nickao]

Alright, where do I get some quantity of this for my next project?

Hey nice band saw in the back.

Nickao

 

[tallgrass]

here in so cal this wood is used for fire wood. i have always have been told it is too unstable......so what gives.....this stuff looks great, whats the deal.

 

[ROb McGilp]

Hi Tallgrass,
Several Eucalypt species are farmed in other countries, including Red Gum and Blue Gum. Unfortunately, the change in growing conditions can lead to the timber being unsuitable for building or furniture. This is usually because the trees grow too fast and don't retain the structural strength of their ancestors here in Oz. I would suggest that you could try some of the stuff you buy as firewood on a small project such as a box. It may be that you can use it like this even though you could not frame a house with it.

Regards,

Rob

 

[The Dude]

Hi Tallgrass,
Several Eucalypt species are farmed in other countries, including Red Gum and Blue Gum. Unfortunately, the change in growing conditions can lead to the timber being unsuitable for building or furniture. This is usually because the trees grow too fast and don't retain the structural strength of their ancestors here in Oz. I would suggest that you could try some of the stuff you buy as firewood on a small project such as a box. It may be that you can use it like this even though you could not frame a house with it.

Regards,

Rob

We sell a ton-o-gum here in the store.  The prices have gone out of the roof lately on that species.  Here in Lincoln there was a Molding Company that operated circa 1920-1950.  Nearly all the "affluent" homes that were put up during that time (NO HOMES WERE CONSTRUCTED In LINCOLN BETWEEN 1941 and 1945) used either Basswood or Red Gum for the trim.  It is amazing when a contractor comes in and has pulled this molding down, stripped it, and asks up "what the heck type of wood is this?  The home owner wants to go back to the original bare wood look, and I can't find anything that matches up."  After looking at the profile, My first question question to the contractor is "Where is the home located? and is this the original molding?" 

Over time, the "purply" look of the gum will go brown, similar to Poplar Green going brown, and when we tell them it is Red Gum, they just look at us and go "Huh?  Do you have that?"  Well we keep a bit on hand, but when we tell them the price, they say "How can we fake it."

A bit of Transtint Amber, and a Garnet Schellac on Poplar comes pretty close.  However, you don't have that wild grain that the Gum typically has. 

Rob, that is a sexy looking table!  It is nice to see the use, of what was once a very abundant wood, not so much now , being used and incorporated into the project.  Killer job dude!

Timmy C

 

[Eli]

You can get it in fenceposts too. There's a bunch of places around that pull down old bridges and resaw. Just amazing stuff. Weight and density of steel anvils. I've burnt about a half a cube of it already this winter. You can put a single piece in the woodstove at night and shut the vent and it's still throwing heat in the morning.

Another beautiful piece Rob. Your work gets better and better every time. 

Some rain today eh?

 

[dirtydeeds]

much more work like that and you will win the first festool prize 

 

[nickao]

Another project worthy of consideration. The final results are awesome the wood used is fantastic.

I can only comment that there could be some project pics, this may have been stated before the contest though, so I do not hold it against Rob at all.

I am nominating this as a contender too.