Also guilty of being a timber stacker. Mainly have jarrah beams, have used some of the smaller stuff around the house. But going to hold onto the rest for a rainy day.
My father has an old bus parked on the farm that looks like that inside... he has a severe back injury though and wouldn't have stood at the lathe in probably ten years, haven't looked at the condition of the timber for a long time.
As long as it has not gotten wet and stayed that way to the point of rotting it should be fine. You could have some real treasures in there!
Even a mono-culture of native tress is not good. In WA jarrah forests there have been attempts (and sadly many successful) to reduce areas to monocultures by poisoning the other large native tree. And it is the oldest trees that give most to the ecosystem rathern than the small ones, in terms of animal and bird habitats. Everything from seed dispersal to animal populatons is affected by this type of action. Ecology - the study of consequences.
Absolutely. Try Red Cedar. When grown in clumps, it would appear to be a bigger target for the red cedar moth. When grown "naturally" ie dispersed amongst other natives, it would appear to be less of a target.
Wait until property hits rock bottom, buy cheap acreage, Plant as many trees as possible, in 30 years time when they increase the carbon tax 10 fold you've got all the carbon credits you'll need and more, sell em off to the big companies $$$$. If not, let the loggers come in for $$$ or just make a kick arse tree house to live out your days in your own personal fern gully!
Until the greenies go slap TPOs all over your property and your lovely plantation gets appropriated for the greater good
All I can say is that we have to fight to protect, preserve, and restore what's left of the great forests. Without proper stewardship we'll be losing a lot more than the trees.
THE price of sandalwood has gone up to $15,000 a tonne, causing a surge in illegal harvesting in Western Australia......more Here
How did I miss this thread? i'm looking at putting in a tree plantation. Finding that there are some species that stock will not eat or destroy so it's possible to plant them straight into paddocks without protection and continue to utilize the country for grazing. Stocking rates would be slightly reduced but the stock get the benefit of shelter from the trees and the pastures also benefit from reduced wind speed and frost protection. Stock for cashflow/income+ timber harvest after 20 years + 20 years capital growth on the land sounds like a pretty good proposition to me. C
Here's a list of trees cattle will eat. scroll down half way. http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/4789_16031.htm
Reminds me of a line from Lord of War: African Warload: "We can pay you in timber...or in stones." (diamonds are scattered on tabletop) Ukrainian Arms Dealer: "I don't think the tree trunks will fit in my hand luggage, so I'll take the stones." (eagerly scoops up diamonds)
I met a married pair of timber industry workers back years ago. They had just finished the first stage (planting and immediate early sapling survival) of a mixed blackwood and white-wood Eucalyptus plantation. The plan was to thin off the white-wood softwood timbers twice over about 40 years leaving, hopefully, sawmill quality hardwood blackwood grown tall amongst the soft timbers and in sufficient volume for their grandchildren. No exaggeration, this was an investment for 2 generations away. They knew the qualities of blackwood as a timber in demand for cabinetmakers and know how low the stocks of it are. If I had the land and the nous I'd love to have timber as an investment. Good luck to anyone with timber as an investment.
Great thread My personal favourite timber is Silky Oak An aunt and uncle of mine used to live in Stanthorpe in Qld and had a house in town that was built in the 20's/30's Its was like a normal weather board Queenslander on the outside, but on the inside, all the VJ walls were solid Silky Oak and had a beautiful dark patina to them. I thought this may have been a one off house in the area until last year, my better half and I went down there to visit an old watchmaker and low and behold, he lived in a brick/stucko house with Silky Oak VJ walls. I think back in that era Silky Oak must have been a very popular local timber and used in nearly everything until it was wiped out. I see more and more S/O trees about now but very rarely you see the big old ones. In the recent bad weather we have had in Qld I have kept an eye out for any old S/O that could not stand up to the wind, but I am still looking :/
Really Beautiful timber - when I was making furniture that was pretty much all I used One downside is not everyone can handle it - some people can be allergic to it and never get to appreciate working with it (they can only get to touch it after it's been worked and sealed)
Silky Oak is stunning Something worth far more to me than my silver (excluding my great Grandfathers silver fobwatch) is a Silky Oak chair that my Nan bought for her mother out of her first paycheck, another is a beautifull rosewood cabinet that my Dad made using timber my great uncle had stored since prior to WW2. The Silky Oak chair was second hand when Nan bought it in the early 1900's so I have no idea of it's true age, it is a thing of true beauty.
