What is Myrtle wood?

[art3427]

Where does myrtle wood come from? The reason I ask is every other year we prune the crepe myrtles in our front yard. Did this last week. I have an abundance of limbs 2" in diameter and above in lengths of 8 - 10 feet. Couldn't bring myself to send them off to the landfill. They are in the back yard drying for about a year. Thought I might try some rustic outdoor furniture stuff with them.

Did the same thing last year after a heavy prune on our Bradfdord Pear tree. Didn't build anything but it dried out in time to produce about 3 weeks worth of fire wood this winter past.

I just hate throwing wood in the dump.

art

[sawduster]

We had to take out one of the trunks from one of our crepe myrtles last summer when we replaced the fence and I've had it drying since then. Figured I'd maybe make some candle sticks and other turnings from it. Haven't opened it up yet to see what it looks like, but . . .

[dicklaxt]

It is notorious for splitting when sectioned up in say 2 foot pieces or less and you don't seal the ends.It's a wood that has a lot of pent up stress and if you make a cut it goes poof.I never found it much good for anything.



good luck

dick

[Leo Voisine]

I love Myrtle pen blanks

I think it makes gorgeous pens - one of my favorites.

[Mark]

Myrtle wood, at least as recognized on the left coast, is a variation of the Bay Laurel tree. The Bay Laurel is where the aromatic "Bay Leaves" in the missus' spice rack come from. But, the myrtle of interest to woodworkers, is represented by only one genus called Umbellularia Californica, which exists only in a region between Eureka CA and Florence Ore. It's different, in that the leaves are not quite as enticing to the pallet, as the Bay Laurel, and the wood is more variable in figure and coloration. The difference is believed to be due to the chemical composition of the soil in this geographic region. I think Crepe Myrtle is an entirely different branch on the taxonomic chart, not related to "Myrtlewood".

Myrtlewood is beautiful wood, with color ranging from light tan to molasses brown, and a few shades of green in between. It exhibits many different figures as well. It is a broadleaf evergreen tree, and harder than conifer type evergreens. It is over-exploited, and becoming rare.

I've turned some of the west coast myrtlewood, and it's very good working wood, with tight, non-splintering and easily polished characteristics. The pieces I've turned maintained the green color in the heart-wood.

Check www.realoregongift.com/Myrtle_Tree_Story/myrtle_tree_story.html for more details, both scientific and folklore.

From the Upper-left corner of the lower 48,
Mark