Madrone

JohnSR · March 06, 2013, 02:30:19 PM

Don't know how many of you not on the West Coast ever heard of Madrone (Arbutus Menziesii). It is a tree which grows along the mountain range of the Pacific Coast. This is one of my favorite trees to work with. When green, it is very easy to mill but forget it when it is dry. It would give the Aussies Ironwood a run for its money. I wouldn't even try to mill a dry log.
After a board comes off the mill, it is like a wet noodle so need a lot of stickers to keep it from warping but once dried it almost impossible to get a nail into it.
The main problem is getting some large enough. Most of the logs are only 4-6 feet and the largest I have cut was 14 inches dia.
It is a beautiful wood when dry. It has a light rose color to it but must be dried very slowly to keep down the cracking.
Last century, the lumber was used for hardwood flooring and furniture manufacture but now it is the favorite wood for the fireplace when people can get a hold of it as it burns for a long time.
One good thing about it is there is no problem getting rid of the lumber. The local cabinet maker loves the stuff and takes all I can cut.
The piece in the photo is still green so hasn't started changing colors yet.

Jay C. White Cloud · March 06, 2013, 02:34:37 PM

Thank's John, I love the stuff too. It is a great timber framing wood for Asian style work. Very beautiful. If you ever mill any with some curves and live edge, I would love to see photos.

Regards,

jay

redbeard · March 06, 2013, 03:14:34 PM

Yes Madrone is my best seller also. John Your right about the stability when drying it moves around a lot and the small cracking can ruin a nice piece of wood.

thecfarm · March 06, 2013, 05:30:50 PM

Another piece for jeff's ceiling. ;D

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,18953.0.html

m wood · March 06, 2013, 06:21:12 PM

I spent a couple years in Yachats Oregon in my youth. Loved to see those trees hanging all twisted out over the ocean cliffs. BEAUTIFUL. Never made lumber from them though. nice firey design in that board!

forestrunner · August 16, 2013, 12:59:49 PM

Thanks for the reality check John. As the redwoods and fir grow here they take away the light from the madron. As a result I have a lot of beautiful dead standing madron. I had been thinking of taking my Alaskan mill to a rather large down tree. I just hate to see it go to waste, but you're right. The madron is an incredibly hard wood once dried. As I see from your efforts, it sure does make a nice slab though.

AdamT · August 16, 2013, 04:00:25 PM

It's always nice to learn about a different species. Thanks for posting this.

justallan1 · August 16, 2013, 10:38:35 PM

John, do you know if madrone and manzanita are the same family?
I've cut both for firewood in northern California, but never made anything from either other than walking sticks and jewelry holders out of the branches.

Allan