Uses for Sweetgum?

[aburnette165]

I had a few good size sweetgum trees fall from the storm a couple weeks ago. What would be a good way to mill these trees? Are the best for post or maybe 2xs or what have y'all used them for. Thanks

[Reddog sawmill]

Not sure the difference in black gum and sweet gum but my log cabin is built with probably 80% black gum. It was used primarily for rafters years ago but im not sure why. I saw tons of it at work.

[outpost22]

Not sure the difference in black gum and sweet gum but my log cabin is built with probably 80% black gum. It was used primarily for rafters years ago but im not sure why. I saw tons of it at work.

Black gum is from the genus Nyssa
Sweet Gum is from the genus Liquidambar
The two are not closely related.  Not sure about milling Liquidambar either.

[Den-Den]

Sweet gum is easy to saw, the problem is that it tends to warp and twist when it drys.  The heartwood is fairly stable and very pretty but most trees have lots of sapwood and it is bland looking and unstable.

[FloridaMike]

In this area (Florida) sweetgum is commonly used for building crates and pallets.

[Coltbodi]

Louisiana is full of sweetgum and I have never herd of anyone using it for anything other than pulp wood. But from what that guy said about the heart being good I might just lay one down and block the heart, see what happens.

[tmbrcruiser]

I cut a few into 8" x 8" s to set lumber on after it was stickered. Won't last long on the ground but long enough for lumber to air dry.

[pineywoods]

The grain in sweetgum spirals around the trunk. Lumber cut from a sweetgum log will twist, bow, and warp because of the spiral grain. I may just be lucky, but I tried quarter sawing some, dried it and used to build some small tables. Worked good, takes a stain nicely..Spalted sweetgum can be quite nice...

[nativewolf]

I think they peel the logs on plywood mills.  In addition to seconding the pallet and uses like that.

[WDH]

If you don't quartersaw it, get ready for some wood pretzels.

[tmbrcruiser]

Not sure if local lore is accurate but it is my understanding popsicle sticks and tongue depressors are made from sweet gum. Reason being unlikely hood of splinters and no taste in the dried wood. The other use I am sure of was produce baskets like strawberry boxes and peach baskets.

[Woodmonkey]

I just used sweetgum a few months ago to enclose a large mobile home porch--14x22--(the mobile home was torn down but the porch was in good condition). It has a slant roof, 7' from floor to ceiling, tapering down to 6'. I sawed the sweetgum into 3/4x10s and used board and batten to enclose the entire porch to use for storage. I put it up wet and attached planks using galvanized ring shank siding nails in a siding nailer (single row of nails right down the center of the board) into 2x4 furring strips spaced 2' apart. Battens were cut 1x3 1/2 and nailed using 3 1/2 galv. spiral shank nails. I'll see if I can get a pic later today, but it's been a few months now and there is no warping, cupping or twisting.



  

 

[fishfighter]

I cut a few into 8" x 8" s to set lumber on after it was stickered. Won't last long on the ground but long enough for lumber to air dry.

I saw two sides on small logs of sweet gum to stack lumber on. And yes, direct ground contact, it rots out real fast. Last long enough for the lumber to air dry. ;D Got tons of it growing on my place. :(

[sealark37]

Heavy equipment mechanics and construction folks prefer sweet gum for blocking and cribbing.  Common sizes for this are 2x6, 4x4, 4x6, 6x6, and 8x8.   Regards, Clark

[ESFted]

I keep an eye out for large sweetgum with decent heartwood to use as turning stock.  It also spalts nicely, but you really have to watch it or it will go too far. Here are a couple of bowls showing red heart and spalting:

[WDH]

The heartwood is beautiful.